Sunday, February 12, 2012

'Vergemere'

'Vergemere', the Albert C. and Marie Stokes Bostwick estate designed by Rogers & Zogbaum sometime between 1900-1911 in Mamaroneck, New York. Bostwick, who died in 1911, was a noted horse and yachtsman and son of Jabez Bostwick, founding partner of Standard Oil. His widow would go on to remarry the lawyer Fitch Gilbert, a descendant of the founder of Gilbertsville, New York. During her marriage to A.C. Bostwick the couple had five children; A.C. Bostwick Jr., Dunbar Bostwick, George (Pete) Bostwick and Lillian Stokes Bostwick Phipps (wife of Ogden Phipps), all of Old Westbury, NY and Dorothy Stokes Bostwick Smith Campbell (wife of Joseph Campbell). In 1926 the estate became the clubhouse to the Beach Point Club. Click HERE to see 'Vergemere' on google earth and HERE on bing.



Photos from Architecture, 1912.

7 comments:

Zach L. said...

Calling Kellsboro Jack...I've no doubt you can add some color to this one...

The Down East Dilettante said...

My, that certainly is a lot of house.

archibuff said...

Big house indeed but obviously not big enough for a clubhouse. Unfortunately the major facades from entrance to those facing the water have all been obliterated/encased by enormous boxy extensions, but it survives

The Down East Dilettante said...

Archi, the need, or desire to add big function rooms, and the many ways in which it is implemented, would fill several posts. There are almost always better ways, less intrusive to the integrity of the original design, that could have been explored, but rarely is that the road taken. And sometimes, even when the organization involved should really know better, there is still someone on the board who can rationalize and sway people into doing it---like the big function room at The Braes, where they really did know better.

archibuff said...

Yes, but their naval architects, not "architect" architects. They are concentrating on the beauty of ship hulls and keels. The Braes, in Glen Cove, NY is a favorite of mine BTW although it gets alot of grief for looking too "high school" like, it is a wonderful building, has great interior details and has a spectacular setting.

BTW.......You got at least an $84 offer yet? Sorry, I'm straying off-topic, another blog, another subject, but too funny to resist.

The Ancient said...

For NYT subscribers:

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9806E3D81331E033A2575BC1A96E9C94639ED7CF

(Recounting the life and death of Jabez Bostwick, who perished in a stable fire.)

Kellsboro Jack said...

Zach, a lovely estate although I honestly don't know much about it.

I'm not surprised that Rogers & Zogbaum were the architects when F. Ambrose Clark used the same for Broad Hollow and a few other projects.

The architecture is very grand which honestly which ironically unlike other families was rejected by the family with other homes. Instead a very understated architecture is the norm for Bostwick homes found in Gilbertsville, Aiken, Shelburne, Saratoga, Cooperstown, etc.

As much as most people link Pete with horses his brother Dunbar was impressive too as an owner. Not a flat track onwer but rather trotters. In the early 1950's he pulled off an impressive feat by training his 'Chris Spencer' in Lake Champlain (VT) waters then sent him via plane to California where the very fit - and unexpected entry - swooped in for victory. That was so far ahead of the times to do that. His obit:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/28/sports/othersports/28BOSTWICK.html

The Bostwick family still owns chunks of land in the very small yet engaging township of Gilbertsville NY in Southern Otsego Co.

My wife and I actually pondered last month this residence in the town - formerly Pete Bostwick's polo pad - sold to the current owner by Dolly von Stade Bostwick. A lot of house and history for the price.

http://www.prufoxproperties.com/PropResi.asp?propid=1284