Wednesday, August 1, 2012

The Lester Hofheimer Residence

The Lester Hofheimer residence designed by B.L. Stern c. 1917 in Woodmere.  Hofheimer was president of the Nathan Hofheimer Foundation, a philanthropic organization founded by his father.  It appears that the house has since been demolished.  Photo from House & Garden, 1918.

7 comments:

The Down East Dilettante said...

So many of these handsome houses, by relatively unknown architects--lessons to be learned

The Devoted Classicist said...

Too bad it didn't have a tile roof, but handsome none-the-less.

The Ancient said...

From The American Contractor, Volume 37, 1916:

Res. & Garage: $18,000. 2 1/2 sty. 73x54. Wood Lane & Willor rd., Woodmere, L.I., N.Y. Archt. B.L. Stern, 36 W. 45th st., New York City. Owner, Lester Hofheimer, 1733 Broadway, New York City. Frame. Bldr. John P. Streigler, Edgewater Crest, Far Rockaway, L.I. Plmg. & htg. let to Smith Bros., Far Rockaway.

The Ancient said...

I looked at the blocks between Wood Lane & Willow Road and didn't see it. There are a few older houses, but the area is largely built over.

The Ancient said...

A few links --

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F10C1EFA3E5512738FDDAF0894D9405B868DF1D3

(In 1916, Hofheimer buys a plot containing 18 lots on Wood Lane, Woodmere, where he intends to a build a house.)
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http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive/pdf?res=F60613F7355D1B7B93C3A91789D95F428385F9

(Hofheimer dies in 1936, following an appendicitis attack. He was 56.)
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http://174.123.24.242/leagle/xmlResult.aspx?xmldoc=19437752cutc773_1677.xml&docbase=CSLWAR1-1950-1985

(Hofheimer's lawyers try a post-mortem tax fiddle.)
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http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive/pdf?res=F30C17FD3F55127B93C0A81783D85F478685F9

(His wife's obit, from 1963. Note the breadth of her charitable giving.)
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http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?intObjectID=4387865

(Hofheimer's daughter's estate sells a picture. "Her parents, Mr. & Mrs. Lester Hofheimer, lovers of opera, theater and ballet, furnished their homes with fine English and early American antiques.")

Richard D said...

As two commentors have already said, handsome. Confident, understated, and the floor plan is a solid A. A library would have been nice, but it seems space constraints prevented it.

Anonymous said...

Does not state the amount of land. Anybody have an idea?