Monday’s post should be up by noon.
My goal is to publish new posts twice a week — Mondays and Thursdays. However, if you don’t see a new post on Thursday, it’s because I was too busy, so please look for a new one the following Monday.
This mansion sits right on the site of Laurelton Hall
I feel lucky to live only a few miles from Laurelton Hall, the home of Louis C. Tiffany. I wonder how many of the residents of the many mansions that now cover the 600 acres of the former grounds of Laurelton Hall know about its history. My gut feeling is that most of them don’t have a clue. The mansion above is one of a couple that sits right on the location of Laurelton Hall. In the backyard, one original wall remains. I’m curious if the owner is permitted to knock it down, or does it have historical status? What a joy it must be to live right on the same ground that Tiffany lived and breathed. It’s my opinion that if Laurelton Hall had never burned down, and were preserved, it would be one of the most visited sites in the entire USA. I dream about it.
Sagamore Hill
Did you know that Sagamore Hill, the summer residence of President Theodore Roosevelt, is just down the road? Tiffany and Roosevelt were neighbors. Sagamore Hill has been beautifully preserved and is a must-see if you come to Long Island. Here’s another hint. Teddy Roosevelt is buried just down the road and almost nobody goes. It’s right next to the Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary & Audubon Center, 134 Cove Road, Oyster Bay, NY. My guess is that most people who visit Sagamore Hill never visit his grave, simply because they don’t know it’s there.
Historical photo of the minaret at Laurelton Hall (courtesy of www.oldlongisland.com)
The snowy view today from the beach
You can see the blue glass at the top of the minaret
If you travel to the beach at Laurel Hollow, next to the parking lot of the Village Hall, you can see the Laurelton Hall minaret, originally the smokestack for the power house. At the top, you can see the original blue glass. It’s in the backyard of the mansion pictured above in the first photo. (BTW, thanks to Chris Delloiacono for showing it to me. I’ve lived in the area for 25 years and never knew it existed.)
The view of the Laurelton Hall caretaker’s house from Tiffany Road
Driving down Tiffany Road, you can see the caretaker’s house, near the original entrance to the estate. I might be spreading rumors here, but to the best of my knowledge, the house was occupied for many years by Bruce Randall. He was Mr. Universe in 1959 (way before Arnold Schwarzenegger). He’s the same Bruce Randall who not only wrote the forward to the famous book on Tiffany lamps,
The Lamps of Tiffany, by Egon Neustadt, but the entire book. Supposedly, Dr. Neustadt was just the collector who put together his famous collection, while Bruce did all the writing. In another aside, you can view the Neustadt collection of Tiffany lamps in two places, the New York Historical Society in NYC and the Queens Museum in Flushing Meadow Park (the site of the 1939 and 1964 World’s Fairs).
If you’re planning a trip to New York, consider adding a side trip to the Oyster Bay, Laurel Hollow, Cove Neck area of Long Island. You’ll be rewarded.
There won’t be a Thursday post this week, but tune in next Monday for What’s New at Chasen Antiques, part III, with an emphasis on French glass.
I’ll be spending the next couple of weeks looking for still more treasures to bring to Florida for our southern circuit. Wish me luck!
Click here to check my website for the latest items and to look around. I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. And remember to keep reading my blog.
Is the caretaker’s house still intact?
Does anyone live there? Do you know anything about it?
I believe the caretaker’s house is intact and people live there, but I have no idea.
Awesome!! I just love history any historical moments ESPECIALLY photos!! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks!
We are from Indiana with family in Winter Park, FL. Visited the Morse Museum–spectacular. So happy they were able to save so much but what a sad end to a national treasure!
I’ve always believed that if Laurelton Hall were still in existence as a museum, it would have more visitors than almost any other.
Hi, I started to research Bayside Homes owned by movie stars in the thirties and forties and somehow started to read about Tiffany and came across your blog. The All Saints Episcopal Church in Bayside, on 40th Ave where I live I just read contains his art. I have to go and investigate. I thought you may want to know. I am an artist and history buff too. I could not believe the connections to Tiffany and the many interests I have and have researched, but did not come across his name, although I have of course heard of the family. Thanks for the photos. I will take a drive to see and imagine.
All The Best,
Janette.
Louis Tiffany brought a kind of beauty to our world that’s never been seen before or after he and his company created it. He was a creative genius and we should all be thankful to him. His work was extremely prolific. Anyone who is able to should try to visit the Morse Museum in Florida. You will never forget your experience there. Please go and enjoy this wonderful place.
Yes, Bruce Randsll lived in what was formerly the museum on the Tiffany property, at what is now 1468 Ridge Road, Laurel Hollow. Because the property was so large, it crossed over into what are now several villages. The stables are at 39 Tiffany Rd in Oyster Bay Cove, and were remodeled into a house by an architect. The house was last sold in 2011, and here’s the link to the listing. https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/Oyster-Bay_NY_11771_M38873-18085
I was fortunate to live across the harbor from the Laurenton Hall property and have always been fascinated by Tiffany’s work. I finally visited the Miorse Museum in Nov, and the collection and it’s presentation are better than I ever imagined. The highlight for me was the chapel, with the 1,000 pound amazing green glass chandelier. There’s also a library area with books to view, and a large selection of digital pics.
It’s me again! I just found this great timeline of Tiffany’s life and business.
Happy New Year!
http://spinzialongislandestates.com/TIFFANY%20in%20OYSTER%20BAY.pdf
The property on which Laurelton once was located was originally bought in the late 50’s by Ralph and Vera Romaine who built a medium-sized modern home on it for themselves and their two boys. Mr Romaine was an executive at Edo Corp. I married the oldest son and we used to climb around the smokestack tower and explore the servants building. Back then there were still the remains of an aviary. On the other side of the Romaine’s house was a lovely wooded area which they said Mr Tiffany had designed to resemble “a New England woods.” There was a flock of wild turkey occupying that land. At the time the Tiffany name was well known but not at all the celebrated American icon he is today. Back then they probably had paid the average going rate for waterfront undeveloped land. Their house was later replaced by the current mini-mansion there now.
The minaret is not in the backyard of the house you show. It’s a completely different, neighboring house.
Also, many of the residents DO know the history here. 🙂
There are other visible structures remaining.
Hi, My Aunt was Edith Brown and she married Thomas Hilton and they lived at Laurelton Hall in the 40’s. I am 75 yrs. old and when I was about 3 yrs. old my grandmother Molly Brown and & took the train and went to visit my Aunt. She was the eldest of 8 children. Tom’s mother’s name was Nan Hilton. I have vague memories of the house and the terrace. I live in Norfolk, VA and the Chrysler Hall has one of the stained glass windows & a lot of Tiffany glass. My did some repair work on one window when he lived there and there was an article in a NY paper with a photo of him that we had. Uncle Tom took pictures of Edie and her sister Zula Brown. Paris Hilton had a line of shoes. One pair was named Edie in Red and another was Zula in Brown. I have a photo of Edie dressed in her riding habit. She was beautiful. I was supposed to have all the photos Tom had taken of the mansion; but my aunt Zula was in a nursing home and I wanted her to keep them with her. I believe one of my cousins has them. My Aunt and Uncle Tom moved to CA. She was a caterer. He designed planes and was a ghost writer.
I meant the Chrysler Museum has the stained glass window. Sorry. I realized the mistake (or two) after sending you the message.
Loved this information. I also live and breathe the beauty of Tiffany ❤️
The beach in laurel hallow is not a public beach, you have to live in the town to visit, it’s not for tourists visiting the island. People should be encouraged to view the tour from boat..there’s a lot of famous homes near by you can see from the water nearby
Linda Johnson Ahlgrim,
I’m the son of Thomas and Edith Hilton!
Contact me?
Thomas H. Hilton III
I remember you, my father Larry Shaw was working with your father on some things way back when. How can I get in touch with you?
I went to the Morse museum 4 years ago and it was a treat. The chapel and the daffodil terrace were amazing. I went back a 2nd time to look thru the great pictures in their archives. The timeline of the Tiffany family is very long, but it’s interesting.
https://morsemuseum.org/chronology
The deForest family, who were friends with the Tiffany’s ended up being related by marriage and lived across the harbor from Laurelton Hall at the Wawapek estate, on what is now called Shore Rd. Although the new owners illegally cleared the land for a better view, they’re doing a beautiful job with the restoration.
During the aftermath of hurricane Sandy, I was the crew leader from South Carolina that was tasked with restoring power to this area of Oyster Bay. The local utility had us sleeping in tractor trailers with 32 bunks in each trailer. Sleep was impossible. When the residents of this area found out about our accommodations, they had a community meeting and decided to open thier homes to us to allow us to use spare bedrooms and in-law suites and basements to sleep. I slept in the brick homes basement the first night overlooking the beach, and for the following week, in the apartment above the garage of Sagamore Hill. Beautiful homes and wonderful people. In respect to the owners, I refuse to give information about thier careers or who they were, but would like to give them my most heartfelt thanks. They invited a bunch of rough-neck linemen from South Carolina into thier mansions and treated us with so much respect. In all the community housed about thirty of us for the last week of the restoration. Wonderful people, thank you!
Hi, l loved seeing your photos and research. I have a family story that one of my Mother’s Aunts was a housekeeper for the Mr Tiffany who owned the Tiffany company. She looked after “the house by either the sea or a large river or estuary” was what we were told. The family were Irish. My grandfather settled in Glasgow, Scotland and I am writing from England.
We don’t know much about her and we know only a little about her. She was described as tall and elegant and a very capable person. I was hoping to check out this story and wondered if you knew of anywhere we might find helpful information?
Thomas H. Hilton lll, my name is Nina Eckhoff and my family was friends with the Lavernes, who owned the property prior to your parents purchasing it. I am in the process of trying to find out who may have bought the place from your family and who owned it between 1968 and 1970. I am on Facebook: Nina Buckler Eckhoff.
Thank you!
Thomas H. Hilton III. If you are the adopted son of Edie & Tom Hilton you might remember I called you when her sister Zula was alive & you never heard of me nor seemed to want to talk to me. Your first wife was Linda. You came to Chattanooga with your Mom when you were an infant. I understand you have twins. Edith was always very good to me & so was Tom.
Nina Eckhoff, I am sure Thomas H. Hilton III was an infant when his family no longer had anything to do with Laurelton Hall. You can get the history of properties nowadays from the county they are in. I am one of Edith’s niece’s.