With The Great Gatsby out in theaters, it’s a throwback to an age of ritz, glamour, and gaudiness. But what became of those estates? Let’s find out.
You may have already seen The Great Gatsby. Baz Luhrmann may have already drawn you in with his over-the-top scenes of 1920s glitz, or with the drawn-out drama of the Gilded Age, or with Leo's chiseled, cherubic face. But I digress.
But if anything drew me to see The Great Gatsby, it was the depiction of the massive estates on Long Island in the Roaring Twenties. As an Upstate kid who grew up with the usual Tudor and Victorian suburban homes (four bed, three bath, no pool in the back) these hulking mansions were few and far between. So to see these pinnacles of architecture — even in picture — has always fascinated me. And now, I'm going to share these pictures with you.
For example, check out the Hempstead House above. This was the home of one Howard Gould back in the teens, when it was known as "Castlegould." (You may recognize the last name Gould: Howard was the son of railroad fat cat Jay Gould. Remember him from history class?)
Via: oldlongisland.com
There was good reason for Gould to call this place "Castlegould": It's literally a castle. Do you see that tower? That is a sexy tower. And that archway in the garage? Unf.
Above is a picture of Castlegould now. It was sold to industrialist Daniel Guggenheim in 1917, after Gould decided not to stay in it. Guggenheim then renamed the castle "Hempstead House." The property now belongs to and is maintained by Nassau County, and is often used as a tourist trap and for movie shoots.
Via: oldlongisland.com
Here's another estate that I love. Greentree in Manhasset was the estate of Payne Whitney, an English socialite and businessman, from around 1903 to 1927. The home was surrounded by trees (clearly), as well as other magnificent flora. (Allergies must have been commonplace around there.) At the time of Whitney's death in 1927, the estate was the most expensive ever recorded at the time: $180,000,000, in 1920s dollars! (I don't even want to adjust for inflation.)
Via: oldlongisland.com
