Tuesday, January 17, 2012

'Wrexleigh'

'Wrexleigh', the John Anson Garver estate designed by Stephenson & Wheeler c. 1913 in Oyster Bay Cove, with landscaping by the Olmsted Brothers. Click HERE and HERE for more on 'Wrexleigh' and HERE to see the residence as it looks today as the Harmony Heights School for Girls. Click HERE to see 'Wrexleigh' on google earth and HERE on bing. Interiors tomorrow.








Photos from Architectural Record, 1914.

4 comments:

The Ancient said...

It's a lovely house.

(Given the contingency of such schools, I hope it may someday make its way back into private ownership.)

Kellsboro Jack said...

Agreed with The Ancient in that its a lovely house today. Surprisingly for its institutional use it is rather minimally marred with outdoor fire escapes and the like.

Should it ever cease being a niche school and available as a public residence again I dare say the conversion back looks far less painful than others.

The lovely stone entry archway (in Zach's earlier posting with current photos) I assume is something grandfathered in and couldn't be built today. It's my understanding that most community codes do not allow physical restrictions of emergency services (firetrucks and the like) from being able to navigate onto the property. Or am I completely mistaken?

Jeanne Sorosick Hunter said...

We grew up with our mother talking about Garvers Estate. My grandfather ....Jan Antony VanSorosin....known as John Sorosick (a blunder at Ellis Island).....was the superintendent there....My mother and father lived in the superintendents house on the property when they were married....before moving to 28 Harbor Road.....John and Mary Sorosick. ...children..John and Jeanne Sorosick. Suit. VanSorosin won many prizes for his greenhouse flowers. I have more Garvey Estate stories...if anyone is interested

Anonymous said...

The school closed and the house sold this year. https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/57-Sandy-Hill-Rd-Oyster-Bay-NY-11771/31160837_zpid/