Villa Maria (Long Island) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Villa Maria
Villa Maria from the southwest
Former names	Red Gables, Green Gables
General information
Type	Private Residence
Architectural style	Eclectic
Location	Water Mill, New York
Address	615 Montauk Highway
Coordinates	40°54′32″N 72°21′16″W / 40.908984°N 72.354444°W / 40.908984; -72.354444
Construction started	1887
Completed	1887?
Renovated	1919
Owner	Pedro Abdalla
Design and construction
Architect	George Skidmore
Renovating team
Architect	Frank Freeman
Other designers	Andre Tchelistcheff Architects (2009 Restoration)

Villa Maria is a large and beautiful estate located in Water Mill, New York. It was first built in 1887 as a private home. Later, in 1919, a famous architect named Frank Freeman made many changes to it. For a long time, it was used as a convent (a home for religious sisters) and a place for spiritual learning. Recently, it became a private home again. This amazing building is considered an important Long Island landmark.

History of Villa Maria Estate

The historic Corwith Windmill at Water Mill

Villa Maria was first built in 1887. It was a "Queen Anne-style" summer house. This style is known for its unique shapes and details. The first owners were Josiah Lombard and Marshall Ayres, Jr.. They were cousins and worked together in finance.

In 1888, they bought the Corwith Windmill. They paid $900 for it. They wanted it as a decoration for their front lawn. The windmill still stands there today.

Early Owners and "Red Gables"

In the late 1890s, Dr. Edward L. Keyes bought the building. He was a well-known doctor who specialized in urology. At this time, the house was very tall and fancy. It had towers, balconies, and covered porches. It also had a red shingle roof. Because of this roof, people called the house "Red Gables."

In 1909, Dr. Keyes sold the estate to Edward P. Morse. Mr. Morse owned a big ship repair company in Brooklyn. His company made a lot of money during World War I.

Major Remodel by Frank Freeman

After the war, in 1919, Mr. Morse decided to rebuild the property. He hired Frank Freeman, a skilled architect from Brooklyn. Freeman made the house much bigger. He added a large living area and a grand staircase. He also added a big porch with tall columns. The outside walls were changed to look like Indiana limestone.

From Private Home to Convent

On August 17, 1929, the estate was sold at an auction. It went to Courtland Palmer for $100,000. Later, an actress named Ann Murdagh owned it. In 1931, she sold it to the Sisters of the Order of St. Dominic. They are a Roman Catholic religious group. They paid $250,000 for the property.

The sisters first wanted to open a high school for girls. But this plan did not work out. So, they decided to use the building for young women joining their order. They renamed it Villa Maria High School. In 1953, it became a retirement home for older sisters. It stayed this way until 1985.

In 1992, the Sisters added a new building. It was called the Siena Spirituality Center. This center offered classes on spirituality and healthy living.

While the sisters owned the property, they sold a small piece of land to the town of Water Mill for just $1. This land was where the windmill stood. The town wanted to use it as a village green. The sisters made a deal that they could buy the land back for $1 if it was ever used in a bad way. The current owners still have this right.

President Roosevelt's Horse

Here's an interesting fact about the property: President Theodore Roosevelt's favorite horse, "General Ruxton," is buried on the grounds. This is the same horse you might see in a bronze statue of him outside the Museum of Natural History in New York City.

Recent Changes and Restoration

In 2001 and 2002, Villa Maria hosted events to raise money for repairs. But these events did not raise enough money. So, Villa Maria was put up for sale in 2005. It was bought by Vincent Camuto and his wife Louise for $35 million. Vincent Camuto was the founder of the shoe company Nine West.

The Camutos started a big restoration project in 2007. They worked with Andre Tchelistcheff Architects. They added a covered walkway to a carriage house. They also added a pool, a pool house, and a walled garden with a fountain. The gate house was also updated. The entire grounds were also improved. They added a rose garden, a new dock, and many new trees and hedges.

Villa Maria's Design and Features

Villa Maria is built in an eclectic style. This means it combines different architectural styles. You can see parts of Beaux-Arts, Neoclassical, and Colonial Revival designs. The building sits on almost 15 acres of land.

Exterior Design Elements

The outside of the building is very striking. It has an interesting, uneven front and a complex roof. Many windows and small roof windows (called dormers) are part of its design. The main entrance has a grand Colonial-style porch. This porch is supported by four tall columns. These columns reach up to the second floor. The walls are covered in a material that looks like Indiana limestone.

Inside Villa Maria

Inside, there is a very large round room called a rotunda. It rises up to a dome-shaped ceiling. The building is about 27,000 square feet. It has 9 bedrooms and 13 bathrooms. It also has a ballroom, which is now a grand living room. The original teak wood floor from 1905 is still in the living room. This floor is special because its wide beams are connected without any nails.

Besides the main building, the estate also has three smaller cottages. The property is located between Mill Creek and Mecox Bay. It has about 1,100 feet (340 m) of waterfront. Many people say Villa Maria is a "stunning sight." It is perhaps the most famous landmark in Water Mill.

• Baker, Anthony; MacKay, Robert B.; Traynor, Carol A.; Gill, Brendan: (1997): Long Island Country Houses and Their Architects, 1860-1940, W. W. Norton & Co., ISBN: 978-0-393-03856-9.