Brought to the attention of WMF by local preservationists and architectural historians, the house was listed on the 2002 Watch. A bulldozer and a permit to raze the house were on-site at the time of the Watch announcement.
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Brought to the attention of WMF by local preservationists and architectural historians, the house was listed on the 2002 Watch. A bulldozer and a permit to raze the house were on-site at the time of the Watch announcement.
The house was acquired through a partnership between the Barnett and Annalee Newman Foundation, World Monuments Fund, and the Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities (SPLIA) and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. All parties worked to have the house designated as a local landmark, and most urgently, to find a buyer and ensure long-term preservation of the structure.
WMF provided technical expertise and secured funding for the repairs, restoration, and development of a plan for the future stewardship of the house. These efforts raised significant local, national, and international attention to the threat of demolition to modern architecture. In the spring and summer following the 2002 Watch announcement, a new roof, new water lines, new electric power lines, and a new boiler were installed, the landscape was groomed, the interior was painted, the outdoor waterfall was repaired, and a conservation study on the original materials, finishes, and colors was conducted. Repairs in autumn 2002 included work on a new driveway, pool cleaning, interior wiring, and replacing damaged windows. Today, the house is privately owned and protected by a preservation easement.
