It needs a bit of TLC, but if you feel you have the skills to bring the Gilded Age burnish back to a manse by noted American architect Stanford White, here’s your chance.

The grand house at 20 Harbor Road in St. James is on the market and, while it has an impressive amount of historic detail intact, it will definitely be a bit of a project for the next owner.

stanford white house

Completed in 1895, the house was designed as the country home of Stanford White’s widowed sister-in-law, Kate A. Smith Wetherill. Kate and her sister Bessie White were part of the locally prominent Smith family, founders of Smithtown. In the late 19th century, family members embarked on the construction or remodeling of a number of residences in the area. Several were constructed around Stony Brook Harbor, including Box Hill, the summer home of Stanford and Bessie White, completed in 1885.

White was quite busy at the time as a partner in the noted firm of McKim, Mead and White which was responsible for some of the most iconic buildings in New York, including the original Penn Station. In addition to imposing public buildings and impressive homes White designed the grand statement pieces of the Washington Square Arch and Grand Army Plaza. Already famous and flamboyant in his lifetime, White would become even more notorious after his 1906 murder at the hands of Harry Thaw.

During his lifetime, White had a particular skill for creating statement-making country homes, designing houses for the cream of society in their haunts of Newport, Manhattan and Long Island.

early 20th century map of St James NY
The adjoining estates of Mrs. Stanford White and Kate Wetherill circa 1902-1909. Map by E. Belcher Hyde via New York Public Library

For his sister-in-law Kate A. Smith Wetherill, White designed a house that took the language of the Shingle style — shingles, gables, porches — but rendered them in a more unusual octagon shape. There are Colonial Revival touches scattered across the octagon, including Palladian windows and a pedimented entry with graceful Ionic columns. Sited at a prominent spot overlooking Stony Brook Harbor, the house commands an enviable view.

When her house was completed, Wetherill had been a widow for about 10 years. She married Rev. Joseph Bloomfield Wetherill in 1879 and they had three children before his death in 1886. With a primary residence in Manhattan, this “cottage” was designed as a summer home and one clearly with entertaining in mind. Wetherill had less than 15 years in the house, dying in 1908. It stayed in the family, becoming the home of daughter Isabella Lefferts and husband Barent Lefferts, himself part of a family with extensive roots in Long Island.

There are some society page mentions of parties during the Leffert’s time in the house and when looking at listing images it is easy to imagine the spaces once-again lushly furnished with dapperly dressed guests sipping elegant cocktails while gazing at the view.

stanford white house

It will take a bit of work to bring back the heyday of the house, but there are more than enough rooms to satisfy an old house lover who really wants a project to tackle.

stanford white house

The first floor is designed for entertaining, with rooms flowing around the octagon and french doors providing access to the outdoors.

stanford white house

What is presumably the original dining room has a beamed ceiling, dentil cornice and an impressive fireplace that’s a nod to a traditional jambless fireplace, complete with a decorative curtain and Dutch tiles. It’s one of seven fireplaces in the house, but the listing does not indicate if any are in working condition. There’s also a rather nice scenic wallpaper, one of many wallpapers adorning the interior.

stanford white house

stanford white house

The kitchen is a pretty impressive time capsule of food prep technology, with an original stove, built-in dish cupboards and a shelf-lined pantry. The amazing array of wallpaper continues here with what looks like the “Arbutus” pattern from Morris & Co. The paper, designed by Kathleen Kersey, debuted in 1913.

stanford white house

Upstairs are the bedrooms, some of them apparently radiating off the center of the octagon and others in the rectangular wing. The neglect of the years is evident, with peeling paint, torn wallpaper and missing plaster. While it might make the perfect setting for a glamorous ruin-themed photoshoot in its present state, a new owner is going to want to check for water issues.

stanford white house

There are a total of 16 bedrooms, surely room for all of your guests. There are more mantels to be found, many with delicate Colonial Revival ornament.

stanford white house

Only one of the 6.5 baths is pictured, so their working state isn’t clear, but there are some vintage fixtures. This one also has another Morris & Co. paper. It looks like “Daisy,” a paper first introduced in 1864 and still available.

stanford white house

The house sits on just under four acres, a bit smaller than the original acreage but still enough to give a bit of a buffer from neighbors. Should you choose to invite weekend guests, the St. James LIRR station is conveniently just about a mile away.

The house is listed for $1.395 million by Nicole Petersen of Icon Properties.

stanford white house

stanford white house

stanford white house

stanford white house

stanford white house

stanford white house

stanford white house

stanford white house

Related Stories

Email tips@brownstoner.com with further comments, questions or tips. Follow Brownstoner on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.

Brooklyn in Your Inbox

* indicates required
 
Subscribe

What's Your Take? Leave a Comment