Sands-Willets Homestead Explained

Sands-Willets Homestead
Location:336 Port Washington Boulevard, Port Washington, NY 11050
Coordinates:40.8156°N -73.6808°W
Built:Ca. 1735
Architect:Sands, John, II; Sands, John, III
Architecture:Greek Revival
Added:September 19, 1985
Area:Less than one acre
Refnum:85002425
Designated Other1:Yes
Designated Other1 Name:Village of Flower Hill Landmark
Designated Other1 Color:Gold
Designated Other1 Date:November 4, 1996
Designated Other1 Abbr:VFHL

The Sands-Willets Homestead is a historic house and museum located within the Incorporated Village of Flower Hill in Nassau County, on Long Island, in New York, United States.

It is operated as a historic house museum by the Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society, is designated as a Village of Flower Hill Landmark and a New York State Landmark, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[1] [2]

Description

Main House

The Sands-Willets Homestead is a 20-room, shingled 2-story building with an enlarged porch and porte cochere. The west wing dates to about 1735. It was originally a four-bay, -story house with end chimneys over a full-sized basement. The main portion of the house is a Greek Revival–style dwelling built during the first half of the 19th century.[3]

When he home was built, it was the centerpiece of a 240-acre (97 ha) farm. At the time, the property stretched from Manhasset Bay at its western edge to Hempstead Harbor at its eastern edge, which was convenient for shipping produce to New York City and points beyond. Over time, sections of the farm would be sold to developers and often turned into suburban housing developments, ultimately leading to the property nowadays having an area of less than 1acres.

The Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society purchased the home from Eliza Willets in 1976, for the purpose of preserving and restoring it, and turning it into a museum, research, and educational center.

Barn and garden

A contributing barn and a garden are also located on the property. The barn, which dates to the late 17th Century, was moved to the property in 1978.[4]

2020s renovations and accessibility upgrades

The Historical Society received a grant for capital improvements, in December 2020.[5] A $125,525 grant from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation enabled the Society to renovate building's porch, and make other improvements, which enabled individuals in wheelchairs, or pushing baby stollers, to share in tours.[6] [7] The renovations were made in ways that preserve the original heritage value of the house.[8]

In popular culture

Scenes for the HBO series Boardwalk Empire were filmed in the Sands-Willets House.[9]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sands-Willets House. 2020-10-20. Cnphs. en. 2020-12-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20201221030323/https://www.cowneck.org/sands-willets-house. live.
  2. Web site: Village of Flower Hill » Village History. 2020-10-20. villageflowerhill.org. 2020-10-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20201020054207/https://villageflowerhill.org/village-history/. live.
  3. News: McMorrow. Fred. 1989-12-24. ABOUT LONG ISLAND; Saving the Sands-Willets House, a Mansion with a Prodigious Past (Published 1989). en-US. The New York Times. 2020-10-20. 0362-4331. LI12. 2020-10-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20201021021205/https://www.nytimes.com/1989/12/24/nyregion/about-long-island-saving-sands-willets-house-mansion-with-prodigious-past.html. live.
  4. Web site: National Register of Historic Places Registration: Sands-Willets Homestead. n.d.. 2010-10-30. Austin O'Brien. New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. 2012-10-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20121017022727/http://www.oprhp.state.ny.us/hpimaging/hp_view.asp?GroupView=4568. live. See also: Web site: Accompanying seven photos. 2010-11-02. 2012-10-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20121017022743/http://www.oprhp.state.ny.us/hpimaging/hp_view.asp?GroupView=4570. live.
  5. Web site: Sands-Willets House: Porch Access & Stabilization Project: 2021 . 2023-01-16 . Cnphs . en.
  6. Web site: Weldon . Rose . 2020-12-20 . Cow Neck Historical Society receives grant toward Sands-Willets House - Port Washington Times . 2023-01-16 . The Island Now . en-US.
  7. Web site: Cow Neck Historical Society Receives Gardiner Grant . 2023-01-16 . PRUnderground . en-US.
  8. Web site: Ryan . Caroline . 2021-01-07 . Cow Neck Historical Society Receives Gardiner Grant . 2023-01-16 . Port Washington News . en-US . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20230116213959/https://portwashington-news.com/cow-neck-historical-society-receives-gardiner-grant/ . 2023-01-16.
  9. News: Dooley. Emily C.. July 5, 2011. Village Increasingly a Backdrop for Film, TV. Newsday. ProQuest.