Gold Coast Architecture: Woolworth Estate I have photographed this estate many times over the past 30 years. I was in the house as visiting nurse to see Mrs. Martin Carey. The house...

ronichas Loc: Long Island

Woolworth Estate

I have photographed this estate many times over the past 30 years. I was in the house as visiting nurse to see Mrs. Martin Carey. The house was in very bad condition at that time. It is amazing to see what this new owner has done to this property. At one time it was so overgrown.
I remember seeing Martin Carey riding on his mowing lawn mower. Even in his early 90's, he was still taking care of the property leading up to the house.

**A more than 16-acre New York estate that once belonged to F.W. Woolworth of the famed five-and-dime store chain has sold for $8.25 million—more than 50% less than its original asking price.
Built in 1915, the ornate, 30,000-square-foot mansion in the Long Island city of Glen Cove sold on Wednesday, according to the Multiple Listing Service.
The buyer was a Long Island resident who made an all-cash offer, according to listing agent Margaret Trautmann of Compass. She said he has experience renovating large properties in the area and intends to live in the mansion after its makeover, but declined to further identify him. Records of the sale are not yet available, so Mansion Global could not independently identify the buyer.
It was most recently owned by Martin Carey, the late entrepreneur and preservationist who was a younger brother of Hugh Carey, who was New York governor from 1972-82, according to records with PropertyShark. Carey owned the home since the ’70s, and was dedicated to preserving Gilded Age mansions on Long Island and in Newport, Rhode Island. He died in 2020 at the age of 98.
Still known as the Woolworth Estate or Winfield Hall, the home was built by Woolworth—whose initials stood for Frank Winfield—after a shingled home on the site burned down.
“In 1913, he decided to build a house to protect his three girls and his wife,” Ms. Trautmann said. “That’s why he built a marble house—so that it wouldn’t burn to the ground…it took between 1913 and 1915 to build this house…[and] he apparently spent $10 million building it and $2 million on the marble staircase.”
It also boasts a foyer with 33-foot ceilings and gold leaf ceilings, plus 2-inch thick butterfly marble that seems to have the insects embedded in the pink-and-beige stone, the agent added. There’s also bespoke millwork and chandeliers throughout, plus a music nook with space for a grand piano and numerous other period details.
Woolworth died after living in the home for just a few years, and a nephew of R.J. Reynolds, who owned the eponymous tobacco company, purchased the home. The 17,000-square-foot carriage house was converted into a workshop, and Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil was developed for food purposes there, Ms. Trautmann explained. ****

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Beautiful photography and interesting narrative, Roni! Any plans for it now?

ronichas Loc: Long Island

UTMike wrote:

Beautiful photography and interesting narrative, Roni! Any plans for it now?

Thank you. It is all in the narrative. :)

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

ronichas wrote:

Thank you. It is all in the narrative. :)

So, no more reveals since then on the owner and his/her plans. It appears that a major remodel is in progress.

ronichas Loc: Long Island

Yes it is a major remodel. The new owner wants to remain silent. It did say he plans to live there.

Here is a bit more info into the estate.

https://www.housebeautiful.com/design-inspiration/a36863768/long-island-mansion-taylor-swift-blank-space-music-video-auction-woolworth-winfield-hall/?fbclid=IwAR1T56Gt4M6knF-lsyzXu8pMYsj4RF1q-1Eqr9SLfTixGIEPBNdsFQ0a3K4

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

ronichas wrote:

Woolworth Estate

I have photographed this estate many times over the past 30 years. I was in the house as visiting nurse to see Mrs. Martin Carey. The house was in very bad condition at that time. It is amazing to see what this new owner has done to this property. At one time it was so overgrown.
I remember seeing Martin Carey riding on his mowing lawn mower. Even in his early 90's, he was still taking care of the property leading up to the house.

**A more than 16-acre New York estate that once belonged to F.W. Woolworth of the famed five-and-dime store chain has sold for $8.25 million—more than 50% less than its original asking price.
Built in 1915, the ornate, 30,000-square-foot mansion in the Long Island city of Glen Cove sold on Wednesday, according to the Multiple Listing Service.
The buyer was a Long Island resident who made an all-cash offer, according to listing agent Margaret Trautmann of Compass. She said he has experience renovating large properties in the area and intends to live in the mansion after its makeover, but declined to further identify him. Records of the sale are not yet available, so Mansion Global could not independently identify the buyer.
It was most recently owned by Martin Carey, the late entrepreneur and preservationist who was a younger brother of Hugh Carey, who was New York governor from 1972-82, according to records with PropertyShark. Carey owned the home since the ’70s, and was dedicated to preserving Gilded Age mansions on Long Island and in Newport, Rhode Island. He died in 2020 at the age of 98.
Still known as the Woolworth Estate or Winfield Hall, the home was built by Woolworth—whose initials stood for Frank Winfield—after a shingled home on the site burned down.
“In 1913, he decided to build a house to protect his three girls and his wife,” Ms. Trautmann said. “That’s why he built a marble house—so that it wouldn’t burn to the ground…it took between 1913 and 1915 to build this house…[and] he apparently spent $10 million building it and $2 million on the marble staircase.”
It also boasts a foyer with 33-foot ceilings and gold leaf ceilings, plus 2-inch thick butterfly marble that seems to have the insects embedded in the pink-and-beige stone, the agent added. There’s also bespoke millwork and chandeliers throughout, plus a music nook with space for a grand piano and numerous other period details.
Woolworth died after living in the home for just a few years, and a nephew of R.J. Reynolds, who owned the eponymous tobacco company, purchased the home. The 17,000-square-foot carriage house was converted into a workshop, and Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil was developed for food purposes there, Ms. Trautmann explained. ****

Woolworth Estate br br I have photographed this e... (show quote)

Great set of images
It's going to be interesting to see what the new owner/s do with it.

ronichas Loc: Long Island

Manglesphoto wrote:

Great set of images
It's going to be interesting to see what the new owner/s do with it.

Thanks, I will go back every few weeks to see the progress.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Wow--interesting!

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

Very nice Roni and a wonderful narrative as well!

ronichas Loc: Long Island

yssirk123 wrote:

Very nice Roni and a wonderful narrative as well!

Thanks so much for your kind words.

jaymatt, thanks for your comment.

Hereford Loc: Palm Coast, FL

Very impressive photos and history lesson.

Hereford Loc: Palm Coast, FL

Very impressive photos and history lesson.

Tdearing Loc: Rockport, TX

Terrific work, thanks for sharing them.

ronichas Loc: Long Island

Thanks so much for the kind comments.

ronichas Loc: Long Island

Thanks so much for all the kind comments.