Friday, December 16, 2016

Saved From Destruction


This is a photograph I did in 2004, of a mansion I have come to know as the Nathaniel Rogers House, in Bridgehampton, NY.  I have driven by this building all the years I have been on Long Island.  I had seen it slowly deteriorate over time.  If you look closely, you will see dark pieces of wood keeping the wooden columns on the sides from falling over.  I remember reading in an architectural book, that this building has the finest proportions of any Greek Revival building in New York State.  When I first saw this building 40 years ago, there was a small gas station standing on the dirt in the foreground of this photograph.  What a mess.  So since I retired, I had not driven by this building in a number of years.  Last year, on a trip to East Hampton, I came to drive by it again, and was thrilled to see that it was being restored!  I went to East Hampton a month ago, to go flying with my friend Russ.  On the way back, I stopped to photograph the restored building.  It is, as you can see, stunning!  What a joy to see that such a beautiful building escaped the wrecking ball!



4 comments:

ken schwarz said...

Stunning restoration. And I love the contrast of the dismal black and white before photo compared to the very appropriate color photo as the house looks now!

Ken Spencer said...

Primo! Thanks for the nice comments! Of course I will always choose ruins, rather than a more perfect building!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful! I am glad someone chose to restore this home.
Joan

Ken Spencer said...

It turns out that it was the Historical Society that finally managed to buy it and restore it, with funds from both donors and Suffolk County. A great "save."