'
Germelwyn', the
Leonard J. Busby estate designed by
C.P.H. Gilbert c. 1896 in
Glen Cove. Click
HERE for more on 'Germelwyn' and
HERE to see what it looks like today (as the North Country Day School). Click
HERE to see '
Germelwyn' on google earth and
HERE on bing.
Photos from
Scientific American, 1904.
9 comments:
Ok, OK, it is a bit of an odd house- and a bit odder "in the flesh" with the yellowish/buff brick used on the entrance facade and that huge Federal style portico on the driveway front that seems to have been lifted from a different house altogether. Nevertheless, I rather like its quirkiness.
The grand-daughter of a former owner told me that it was used as a backdrop for a silent film, "Miss Washington". I have tried, without success to obtain a copy. I wonder if that entrance facade wasn't used as a stand-in for the White House, clever camera angles concealing the fact that it was welded onto a shingle style Edwardian summer house.
Oh Zack you shouldnt have. What a treat on a Monday morning.
Odd and quirky indeed and wonderful with a great carriage house and now accompanying plans of the carriage house to boot. For whatever reasons or just shear luck the school has not really altered the buildings beyond recognition to suit their current needs and the complex looks fantastic driving down Crescent Beach Road.
Except, alas, for the paint job of yellow and white. I think the unpainted shingles looked better.
Interesting property and its adaptive resuse - from the Bing view at least - looks to be sympathetic to the original layout and architecture as much as can be expected.
Out of curiosity what are the series of shack-like buildings in a curved L formation opposite of the stables? They almost appear to be a variation of quonset huts. Maybe arts & crafts buildings for different classes?
As an aside, I'm sure others have seen this but the infamous Clarendon Court of the late Sunny von Bulow was announced as sold last week. ($13,126,000, a record price in the state for 2012. A fair profit considering it was bought in 1988 for $4.3M) An auction of some contents was conducted on-site July 6th ...
http://antiquesandthearts.com/events/auction.asp?id=27277&type=1
A minor note that gives me a chuckle- One day in the early 1930's, the owner of the house, Gertrude Leeming (Leonard Busby's daughter) and her sister, Winifred Dabol, decided to clear out some of the attics and third floor rooms. They were apparently having a merry time of it, tossing all of the unwanted furniture and household detrius, including a stack of old mattresses, out of the third floor windows onto the driveway below. They were interupted in the midst of their singular task by the butler who announced that the very grand Mrs. Herbert Pratt, chatelaine of the Braes down the road, was in the front hall to pay an unannounced call, she and her limousine having apprently dodged all sorts of projectiles on their journey around the driveway. Apparenty, Mrs. leeming and her sister instructed the butler to inform Mrs. Pratt that they were really and truly "not at home".
Miramar was sold for 17 M several years ago, so it seems foolish to discuss the Clarendon Court price in terms of records. As for this house- just as unattractive as the rest of Gilbert's oevre- however, it seems great as a school- much more charming than most!
Scientific American - Thats a new one.
my earliest memories, as well that of all my five siblings, start in this house. The house was magical, through the eyes of a child.
HPHS---Scientific American Building Monthly, the predecessor to American Homes & Gardens, published a lot of excellent house articles.
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