Tuesday, February 14, 2012

'Wheatly'

'Wheatly', the E.D. Morgan III estate designed by McKim, Mead & White between 1890-1900 in Old Westbury. Click HERE for more on 'Wheatly' (be sure to scroll past today's post).

8 comments:

Old Grey Dog said...

Thank you, Zach, for posting this beautiful handcolored post card !

The Ancient said...

Does anyone know ...

When all these postcards appeared, was it always with the consent of the property owners? Or were photographers and printers free to do what they liked?


SEC word: gishes -- Lillian and Dorothy

Kellsboro Jack said...

The Ancient - I'll be interested in the answer to that as well. It's always been something I've wondered. While flattering you'd almost think back in the day it was like trading cards for would-be cat thieves!

For the visual good and bad, here is a solid example of a MMW home (it was auction last year) with most of the detail perfectly in tact:

http://www.scoutingny.com/?p=4166

And the bad (although maybe hope - Hurstmont was sold in Mar 2011):

http://morristowngreen.com/tag/hurstmont/

(Also Lillian and Dorothy = Bostwick)

Anonymous said...

Kellsboro...any update on the MMW from the scout site. It's so nice to see a home with all it's original kitchen and bathroom fixtures. I always dreamed of having a shower such as the one taken from the oceanliner.

The Devoted Classicist said...

While I do not know the circumstances with this house, residences that could be photographed from a public street were a source of civic pride and it is my understanding that, even today, permission is not required. My guess, however, is that the owner was asked and the courtesy was extended. But someone with true legal credentials may be better prepared to answer.

Kellsboro Jack said...

Sorry Zach for the hijacking of the topic with the MMW citations elsewhere.

Anon - the Sep 2011 auction didn't immediately result in a sale as there was a very lengthy closure period. Per public records the closing occurred December 06 2011 for $3,132,000. (It was listed at $7.5M in April 2011)

The auction firm did set up this still working site just for the sale:

http://www.stanfordwhiteauction.com/

The Down East Dilettante said...

Re: Postcards---I know who to ask, but in the meantime, conventions were obviously different a hundred years ago. There are many vintage postcards of estates up here, entrances, gardens, etc. that could only have been taken on the property and with the owner's permission. Likewise in vintage guidebooks.

The Ancient said...

There are many vintage postcards of estates up here, entrances, gardens, etc. that could only have been taken on the property and with the owner's permission.

I'm sure you're right about that. (Zach and others have posted cards with pictures that could only have been made with the owners' permission.)

Maybe, back in the day, allowing someone to issue half a dozen postcards of your place in the Hamptons or on the North Shore was the functional equivalent of AD or WoI. (My impression is that architects and landscape designers were usually permitted to take pictures for their portfolios. I wonder, however, how many of those shots -- and others -- migrated to commercial outlets.)