Welcome to All in the Detail... I am so glad you are here!
In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald describes
the protagonist's house as "a factual imitation of some Hôtel de Ville in
Normandy, with a tower on one side, spanking new under a thin beard of raw ivy,
and a marble swimming pool, and more than forty acres of lawn and garden."
As it turns out, the real-life mansion that inspired
that sentence is standing tall on the Gold Coast of Long Island, and while the
lot is a mere 5.3 acres and there's no ivy or swimming pool, the house is now
(and has been since August 2017) on the market for $13.88 million. BONUS: the price has been dropped $3 million from its
original listing price!
Realtor's Description of the Home:
Realtor's Description of the Home:
5.3 Waterfront acres with 391ft of sandy beach.
One of the most iconic and significant residences
on the North Shore of Long Island, designed by Mckim, Mead and White.
Only second owner of this treasured Estate.
Meticulously restored and renovated with all up
to date amenities and systems and magnificent architectural detail.
Sun filled rooms lead to a gracious loggia with
Fireplace - The perfect spot for Al Fresco Dining.
Enchanting Gardens, Caretakers Cottage, Beach
Cottage, Tennis Court
Features:
|
Price
|
$13,888,000
|
Bedrooms
|
14
|
|
CC/Maintenance
|
N/A
|
Bathrooms
|
8
|
|
Monthly Taxes
|
$0
|
Partial Bathrooms
|
1
|
|
Listed
|
96 days ago
|
Rooms
|
N/A
|
|
Size
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
Built
|
1926
|
Property Type
|
Single Family House
|
So if you are a fan of breathtaking architecture, a fan of beautiful interiors or a fan of wonderful fiction, this home (or at least this post) is for you!
Scroll down for a look inside or even better CLICK ON THAT LINK ABOVE (please, please, please) to enjoy the realtor video. It will be the best one minute and thirty seconds you will spend today!
Scroll down for a look inside or even better CLICK ON THAT LINK ABOVE (please, please, please) to enjoy the realtor video. It will be the best one minute and thirty seconds you will spend today!
The 13-bedroom, 8.5-bathroom house was designed in
1928 by McKim, Mead & White. The firm is also known for New York's original
Pennsylvania Station, the Brooklyn Museum, and Columbia University's main
campus.
It's located at 235 Middle Neck Road in Sands Point,
on the North Shore of Long Island. Mary Harriman Rumsey purchased the land in
1923. Rumsey was the founder of Junior League of the City of New York and a
daughter of railroad magnate E.H. Harriman. Her brother, W. Averell Harriman,
became governor of New York.
Rumsey and her house were important to Fitzgerald. "In
addition to helping Fitzgerald discover the lifestyle of the moneyed
aristocracy of Old Westport, Long Island, and their involvement in the movement
of eugenics as material for The Great Gatsby, Mary Harriman Rumsey
shaped the author's view of the very rich and won his applause for her work.
"Evidence supports the argument that
Fitzgerald's portrayal of 'the pretty woman in a brown riding habit' in a scene
in chapter 6 of The Great Gatsby is a lasting memorial to Mary Harriman
Rumsey."
The
current owners reportedly made some major changes.
Here's the amazing kitchen.
Harrison Design renovated the property.
Fitzgerald may have taken his depiction of a
"Gothic library, paneled with carved English oak" from rooms like
this one.
The Dining Room.
A Living Room.
The porch overlooks Long Island Sound.
Original architectural details have been restored.
There's a separate caretaker's cottage and
boathouse on the property, too.
(we know who would live there!)
A Six-Car Garage
(could there be a famously memorable yellow convertible inside?)
The Tennis Court
For $13.88 million, it could be yours!
