BEHIND THE PRIVET-LINDEN ESTATE, OX PASTURE LANE

There is a wealth of stately homes on the Eastern End of Long Island, beautiful, gracious mansions that evoke the majesty of a past era when oil barons and leaders of finance moved their families to the Hamptons to spent the summer season entertaining and relaxing at their summer resort homes. The Linden estate, located on nine pristine acres on Ox Pasture Lane in Southampton, tops my list of favorite homes from this era. Built in 1915 for Texas oil tycoon Lloyd H. Smith by Grosvenor Atterbury, famous for his design of the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the estate was built as a summer colony residence for the Smith family. The large rambling, Shingle style mansion features broad red gambrel roof with rows of leaded glass windows and wraparound porches attired in hunter green awnings. After a recent three year restoration, the three story home is back to its past grandeur and back on the market (Corcoran), poised for the next bull market!

  

The estate, originally named Lenoir for Smith's wife, was renamed Linden for the beautiful specimen Linden trees that line the property.  I've visited the gardens, which were originally designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, landscape architect of New York City's Central Park. As you might expect, the rose and cutting gardens were gorgeous, set amongst specimen trees and topiaries.

 

The home's gracious floor plan is over 18,000 square feet.

  

Double sweeping staircases lead to the second and third floors.

  

The living room features leaded french glass doors and beautiful coffered ceilings.

  

  

  

  

I love the intricate woodwork in the library-the ceiling is magnificent!

  

  

Grass court-Wimbledon ready!

 

  

  

The indoor pool-what can I say? What do you think?

photos Corcoran real estate