'Crossroads' Aerial

A 1938 aerial of 'Crossroads', the William Russell Grace Jr. estate designed by James O'Connor c. 1919 in Old Westbury.  Also seen are neighboring 'Catawba Farm' and the shared race track and polo field.  Click HERE for more on 'Crossroads'.  Photo from Stony Brook University's Digital Archive.

'Crossroads'

 'Crossroads', the William R. Grace Jr. estate designed by James O'Connor c. 1919 in Old Westbury.  Click HERE, HERE and HERE for more on 'Crossroads'.  Click HERE to see the estate on google earth and HERE on bing.

Photos from The Architect, 1926.

The Indoor Tennis Court at 'Crossroads'

The indoor tennis court at 'Crossroads', the William Russell Grace Jr. estate designed by James O'Connor c. 1919 in Old Westbury.  Click HERE and HERE for more on 'Crossroads'.  The exterior was recently repaired but is already showing signs of wear.

'Crossroads' Indoor Tennis Court in Winter

The indoor tennis court to 'Crossroads', the William Russell Grace Jr. estate designed by James O'Connor c. 1919 in Old Westbury, as seen in winter. Click HERE for more on 'Crossroads'.

'Crossroads' Indoor Tennis Court

The indoor tennis court at 'Crossroads', the William Russell Grace Jr. estate designed by James O'Connor c. 1919 in Old Westbury. Click HERE for more on 'Crossroads'.

'Crossroads' in 1925

I got an email from someone named Elizabeth in Bristol, U.K. who was looking for help in identifying this house. Her aunt had been a nanny in the U.S. in 1925 and had accumulated a variety of photos (including one of her with J.D. Rockefeller). She's not sure how these wound up with the rest of the photos (or who the people are in the photos themselves) but the house is William Russell Grace Jr.'s 'Crossroads' designed by James O'Connor c. 1919 in Old Westbury. The house looks in the best condition I've ever seen in these pictures.

'Crossroads' Interiors

Some accompanying interior photos following yesterday's post on 'Crossroads', the William Russell Grace Jr. estate designed by James O'Connor c. 1919 in Old Westbury. Click HERE for more on 'Crossroads'.

Pictures from Architectural Review, 1919.

'Crossroads'

'Crossroads', the estate of William Russell Grace Jr. designed by James O'Connor c. 1919 in Old Westbury. Grace was a director at W.R. Grace & Co. and was vice-president of Ingersoll-Rand. The grounds consisted of a colonial farmhouse that had been added onto over the years and Grace brought in O'Connor to turn the house into a full fledged estate. The plans below do not include the sunken indoor tennis court which O'Connor added shortly afterwards. Click HERE for more on 'Crossroads'. Click HERE to see 'Crossroads' on google earth.

Pictures from Architectural Review, 1919. Click below to see 'Crossroads' intact with the 1/4 mile race track and vegetable garden intact in a 1966 aerial shot.

When Crossroads' Indoor Tennis Court Caught Fire

11 years ago this month, the James O'Connor designed sunken indoor tennis court (click HERE for more) that is part of William Russell Grace Jr.'s 'Crossroads' estate in Old Westbury caught fire. The owners of the house were doing some kind of work inside the building and about 4 hours after the construction workers left, one of the columns caught fire. A small glow was noticed from the outside of the building, something that was clearly not normal. The fire was discovered, thankfully in enough time to keep the damage minimal, but the following photos show the relative chaos that ensued trying to get it under control.

The original glass roof was smashed by the firemen on the left side and warped by the heat on the right side. All the windows were smashed and every piece of glass had to be replaced.

Picture of the Day

The rear entrance to 'Next Door', the guest house to W.R. Grace Jr.'s 'The Crossroads' in Old Westbury.

Crossroads' Sunken Indoor Tennis Court

The James O'Connor designed sunken indoor tennis court to W.R. Grace Jr.'s 'The Crossroads' estate in Old Westbury.

Picture of the Day

A fountain on the side of 'Next Door', the guest house to W.R. Grace Jr.'s 'Crossroads' in Old Westbury.

Picture of the Day

The rear of 'Next Door', the guest house to W.R. Grace Jr.'s 'Crossroads' estate in Old Westbury.

Picture of the Day

The sunken indoor tennis court to William Russell Grace Jr.'s 'Crossroads' in Old Westbury.

'Crossroads' Indoor Tennis Court

The James O'Connor designed sunken indoor tennis court to William R. Grace Jr.'s 'Crossroads' estate in Old Westbury.

Next Door in Winter

'Next Door', the home of W.R. Grace Jr.'s youngest daughter Patricia and her husband Alan Corey Jr. and their family, seen in winter.  

'Crossroads' Indoor Tennis Court

The rear of 'Next Door', the guest house to W.R. Grace Jr.'s 'The Crossroads' in Old Westbury. To the right is the James O'Connor designed sunken indoor tennis court that is attached to the main house.

The Crossroads Carriage House

The carriage house and stables to William Russell Grace Jr.'s estate 'The Crossroads', in Old Westbury. These were also designed by James O'Connor.

'Crossroads' Gate House

The gatehouse to William Russell Grace Jr.'s estate, 'Crossroads' in Old Westbury.

Next Door

'Next Door' was originally two houses which belonged to an Inn that sat on the property which predated 'The Crossroads'.  In 1941, when W.R. Grace Jr.'s youngest daughter Patricia married Alan Corey Jr, the home was renovated into a single family residence which became their home.  Alan Corey was one of the best polo players of his day, and it made sense that he would want to live next to his father in-law, who also played polo.  Click HERE to see 'Next Door' on google earth.

The house sits very close to the Grace mansion.  The indoor tennis court forms one of the boundaries of the backyard.

This fountain originally sat in the rear of the house, but was moved when the house was renovated.  Behind the wall is a small horse stable.

A massive weeping beech tree.