Carrington House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Carrington House
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | Lewis Walk, Cherry Grove, New York |
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| Built | c. 1912 |
| Architectural style | Bungalow |
| NRHP reference No. | 13001057 |
| Added to NRHP | January 8, 2014 |
The Carrington House is a cozy bungalow home. It is located in a small community called Cherry Grove, New York. This house was built around 1912. It was one of the very first buildings in Cherry Grove. Frederick Marquet had it built. The house looks like many other early homes on Fire Island. In 1927, a theater director named Frank Carrington bought the house. He made it bigger. Under his care, the house became a popular spot. It was a welcoming place for many artists and creative people. Famous writer Truman Capote stayed there. He even wrote parts of his book Breakfast at Tiffany's at the Carrington House.
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History of Fire Island and Cherry Grove
Fire Island is a long, thin island. It sits off the southern coast of Long Island in New York. In 1869, the Long Island Rail Road train line grew. It reached Patchogue, New York, which is across the bay from Fire Island. The first town on Fire Island was Cherry Grove, New York. Boats called ferries were built to take visitors to the island. By the early 1900s, Fire Island had many vacation spots. Families built small cottages there, like the Carrington House. In the 1920s, Fire Island became a popular getaway. Many people from New York City came to visit. The island felt far away from the busy city. This made it a perfect place to relax and escape.
Frank Carrington and His Home
Frank Carrington was born in 1894. He loved theater from a young age. He grew up to become a theater director. He helped start the Cherry Lane Theatre in New York City. Later, in 1934, he began his biggest project. This was the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn. In 1927, Frank Carrington bought the cottage on Fire Island. He bought it from Frederick Marquet. At that time, the house was a simple, rectangular bungalow. Around 1940, Carrington added two wooden sections to the house. It is said that in the 1940s, he bought two small buildings. These came from a nearby Lifesaving Station. He then added them to his property.
A Home for Artists and Friends
Frank Carrington was very active in Cherry Grove's growing arts community. He often let his friends stay at his house. Many of these friends were famous artists. One well-known guest was Truman Capote. In 1957, Capote worked on a story there. This story later became his famous book, Breakfast at Tiffany's. Other famous guests included Lincoln Kerstein. He helped start the New York City Ballet. Fashion designer Bill Blass also visited. Actors like Henry Fonda, Gertrude Lawrence, and Katharine Hepburn stayed there too. The Carrington House was a place where creative people could gather. They found a welcoming and inspiring space.
Recognizing the Carrington House
Frank Carrington owned the house for almost 50 years. He then sold it to the U.S. government. It became part of the Fire Island National Seashore. He made a special agreement. He could live in the house for the rest of his life. Frank Carrington passed away on July 3, 1975. After him, a park ranger named Bob Freda lived there. He stayed for the next 20 years. The Carrington House is likely the oldest building still standing in Cherry Grove. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 8, 2014. This means it is an important historical site. It is one of only a few places recognized for its role in welcoming diverse communities.
