Cedarmere-Clayton Estates
Clayton-Cedarmere Estates | ||
MPS Historic and Architectural Resources of Roslyn Harbor | | |
NRHP reference No. | 86002634 | |
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Added to NRHP | 1986 |
The Clayton-Cedarmere Estates are located in
Bryant originally owned almost the entire property. Fifteen years after Bryant's death, in 1893,
Estates
All of Cedarmere and most of Clayton were part of Bryant's original purchase. After his descendants sold all but the area around Cedarmere to the Bryces, they and the Fricks made some other additions as well.[1]
Cedarmere
Cedarmere is located behind a high stone wall on a 7-acre (2.8 ha) parcel along
A single-bay entrance
At the other edge of the main house's pond is a small
Other outbuildings include a small
Clayton
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/15/Nassau_County_Museum_of_Art_2017.jpg/220px-Nassau_County_Museum_of_Art_2017.jpg)
Clayton's property begins across Bryant from Cedarmere, but its main entrance is located on Northern Blvd. (
The main block is two and a half stories high and nine bays wide. On both end there are symmetrical, two-bay pavilions outlined in
Near the main house is a garden designed by Marian Coffin, with symmetrical plantings surrounding a central fountain. The remnants of a private zoo, primarily an old animal enclosure and tower. A narrow road leads to the Jerusha Dewey Cottage, originally built by Bryant for a friend of his and later used as a guest house, after extensive renovation by the Fricks. It is therefore a mixture of brick foundation, board-and-batten siding, slate roof and a mix of fenestration styles.[1]
As at Cedarmere, two more modern buildings have been erected to support the property's current use as an art museum and sculpture garden. They are the only ones of the 11 buildings and structures at Clayton not considered contributing.[1]
History
The property that became Cedarmere had been in use since the early days of local settlement in the 17th century. The earliest known house on it was built in 1787 by Richard Kirk, a
He sold it to his daughter Julia in 1875, as long as he was allowed to live the remainder of his life there; and he did, dying three years later. She in turn sold it to her nephew, Harold Godwin, in 1891. Eight years later, he sold the undeveloped property that became Clayton to Lloyd Bryce, a former congressman and heir to industrial fortunes.[1]
The upper stories of Cedarmere were damaged considerably by a 1903 fire. On the other property, Bryce hired Codman, a young architect responsible for many seaside homes in the Northeast, to design the main house, and began creating gardens in the property's northwest corner. The Fricks hired Charles Allom to modify the house for their use when they moved in 1919, renaming it Clayton, but Codman's design remains largely unchanged. Allom's main changes were the replacement of the original entrance loggia with the porch and, inside, creating a large entrance hall in keeping with the Fricks' intention to emulate an English country house, a popular aspiration of wealthy Americans during the 1920s. To that end, Guy Lowell designed the gatehouse, and Marian Cruger Coffin designed the main garden a decade later.[1]
Four years after Frick's death, in 1969, the family sold the estate to Nassau County for use as an art museum. In 1989 the county transferred control to a private foundation.[4] The Godwin family continued living in Cedarmere until they, too, donated it to the county for use as a museum in 1975.[1]
Cedarmere and Clayton today
Both estates are open to the public.
The grounds at Cedarmere are free and open year-round. The house is currently closed for interior restoration.[5]
The Mill underwent major restoration in 2013, under the supervision of the Roslyn Landmark Society, with funding from the Gerry Charitable Trust.[6]
A grant from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund was used by Nassau County for major renovations and painting of the exterior of the House in Fall, 2013. The Friends and the Roslyn Landmark Society have contributed funds for additional interior and exterior renovations.[6]
Visitors to Clayton must pay an entrance fee as well as parking; the museum is open every day except Mondays and holidays year-round.[7]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o O'Brien, Austin (July 1986). "National Register of Historic Places nomination, Clayton-Cedarmere Estates". New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Archived from the original on March 4, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2008.
- ^ This figure is from the NRHP nom (see p. 2). The museum's website claims only 145 acres (58 ha)[1].
- ^ a b "Cedarmere". Nassau County. Archived from the original on May 16, 2008. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
- ^ "History of NCMA". Nassau County Museum of Art. Archived from the original on July 6, 2008. Retrieved July 6, 2008.
- ^ "Cedarmere Museum". Friends of Cedarmere, Inc. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
- ^ a b "Cedarmere Museum". Friends of Cedarmere, Inc. Archived from the original on March 8, 2014. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
- ^ "Visitor Information". Nassau County Museum of Art. Archived from the original on July 6, 2008. Retrieved July 6, 2008.
External links
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