The Hamptons

The East Hampton Historical Society is proud to announce the 38th annual House & Garden Tour, celebrating some of the finest examples of East End architecture. This year’s tour — consisting of five distinguished historic houses — is scheduled for Saturday, November 25, from 1 to 4:30 p.m.

The East Hampton Historical Society’s House Tour Committee has creatively selected houses that express the unique spirit of living on the East End. From East Hampton Village to the Devon Colony, the Historical Society’s annual House Tour offers a once in a lifetime glimpse inside some of our town’s most storied residences. Drenched in history, pedigree, and local lore, this year’s tour is sure to inspire, delight and invite appreciation for the stewardship of some of our most charming properties.

East Hampton is full of houses with stories, but none as storied as Grey Gardens, an unassuming 19th century shingle style house that sits a stone’s throw away from Georgica Beach. The subject of the 1975 documentary, a 2006 Broadway musical, and 2009 HBO television movie – the intrigue, legend and lore only grow. With name dropping, such as Beales (Big Edie & Little Edie), Jackie Kennedy, and Lee Radziwell, the story begs to be unraveled…including the years of dilapidation. Step in current owner, Liz Lange – designer, fashion star and entrepreneur – who has reimagined Grey Gardens with bold and glamourous interiors, exuberant gardens and outdoor rooms – all to be explored and experienced in person at the 2023 East Hampton House & Garden Tour!

Water, water, everywhere! A visual oasis for the eyes, heart, and soul. This Village residence faces the ocean and up 300 yards from a pond – water views from every vantage point – drink it in, along with the history and compelling backstory of the occupants. Completed in 1960, this long low modernist cottage was remodeled and redesigned in 2011. In many ways, this modernist cottage exhibits some of the period’s best loved features. Designed by New York City architect and sportsman Alexander “Sandy” McIlvaine, this house has massive decking, a dramatic swimming pool, and huge plane glass windows.

Wiborg Beach, which the house overlooks, was made famous by Sara Wiborg and Gerald Murphy (“The Fabulous Murphys” of international socialite fame in the 1920’s), who met there and fell in love. Another love story by the current owner, Ted Hartley – a former U.S. Navy fighter pilot, investment banker, actor, film producer, and East End artist, and his wife Dina Merrill (1923 – 2017), actress, heiress, socialite, businesswoman, and philanthropist – also enjoyed the same intoxicating crimson sunsets for which Long Island has become famous – all from their decking. Come see for yourself at the 2023 East Hampton House & Garden tour. Bring a date – romance is in the air!

This main street historic 3-story house was built in 1799 and was originally East Hampton’s Postmaster’s house where mail was distributed to residents. It was also the first shingle-style house in East Hampton Village and the second gambrel roof on a Long Island house. Over the centuries the house has been meticulously maintained, restored, and enhanced to bring it up to 21st Century standards.

Here’s an interesting historical chestnut: In the early 20th century, it was the home of May Groot Manson who was one of East Hampton’s leading suffragettes, and who also hosted the East Hampton Garden Club’s first plant sale on the grounds of this home in the 1910’s. Set up the croquet court, brew a pitcher of sun tea, and imagine a bygone era beautifully maintained in the heart of East Hampton Village.

The Devon Colony was formed at the turn of the 20th century by four wealthy businessmen from Cincinnati: Richmond Levering, William Cooper Procter (a grandson of a Procter & Gamble founder, William Procter), Joseph Rawson Jr. and William Stanhope Rowe.

Mr. Levering and Mr. Procter came up with the idea for a residential enclave while on a 1906 hunting trip in the area, known as the Amagansett Highlands because of its lofty location 90 feet above sea level, with Gardiners Bay to the north and the ocean to the south. They bought a huge tract, eventually building grand stucco houses and two smaller ones, founding the Devon Colony. Because their wealth came largely from Procter & Gamble, famous for Ivory soap, the Colony was irreverently nicknamed “Soap Hill.”

Two of the original Devon Colony homes are included in the 2023 East Hampton House & Garden Tour: Windy Dune and The Procter House. Windy Dune, built circa 1910 in Amagansett, is an original Devon Colony grand stucco house. Originally called Red Roof, the name of the house was changed to Windy Dune after the 1938 hurricane blew off its red roof tiles. Think of badminton on the great lawn, lemonade served by uniformed staff – these historic homes hark back to a time when the founders of Procter & Gamble made Devon Colony their summer enclave away from their home base in Cincinnati.

A kick-off Cocktail Party on the evening of Friday, November 24, will be held at the historic Maidstone Club, ringing in the East End holiday season in style! Explore five spectacular East Hampton properties, while supporting the Historical Society’s vital preservation and educational initiatives.

Tickets to the Maidstone Cocktail Party are $250 each, which includes entry to the House & Garden Tour the following day. Tickets to the self-guided 2023 East Hampton House & Garden Tour are $85 in advance and $100 on the day of the tour. Admission can be purchased online easthamptonhistory.org or please call 631-324-6850 for more information or visit the Clinton Academy, 151 Main Street, on Friday, November 24 (from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.), and Saturday, November 25, (from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.)

*Note: The Maidstone Club is open only to Cocktail Party ticket holders on the evening of Friday, November 24, 2023. The Cocktail Party and House & Garden Tour are fundraising events for the East Hampton Historical Society.

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