The historic 1840 mansion belonging to Dr. Trousdell is up for sale. It was originally known as Hillside when Frances Irvin’s grandfather Richard, used it as a summer house. If sold, the chances of it being demolished in a second is very possible, said reliable sources.
The house is located at 198 East Main Street at the corner of Sandy Hill Road and is being advertised as “Rare Opportunity For Possible Sub-Division.” It is a large center hall Colonial situated on approximately 2-acres in historic Oyster Bay, bordering Oyster Bay Cove with a winter waterview. It is close to town, schools, and Oyster Bay Harbor. It is being sold “as is.”
The fear is that the house might be considered a teardown.
Seen in photos on the Internet, it is a beautiful house with a wonderful staircase, six bedrooms, the Master Bedroom has a porch, 4 and a half bathrooms, fireplaces, a pool table and a large linen closet!
It could be an historic inn.
It is possible that there is a cottage from the 1700s on the property. This house was where Frances Irvin, who wrote about the history of Oyster Bay and whose family sketchbook from 1858 was featured in the December exhibit on Boat Life on the Sound at the Oyster Bay Historical Society. It was her grandfather’s house.
The house is definitely important to the area. It is being talked about as a possible bed & breakfast. Nothing is set but the possibilities are there. The house has 17 rooms and four bathrooms. The area is quiet and close to Sagamore Hill and a walk to town. The taxes are $23,817. The house is for sale for $895,000. It is the gateway to the town from the east. The first house in the hamlet. The house would be a beautiful resource for conferences in town.
If you want to know more about the property, and its historic importance to the hamlet, you can call the Oyster Bay Historical Society at 922-5032 to explain the value of the site historically. The house has a history and the property itself has a long history to preserve. You can also write to the town in support of preserving this property. There is no real path to follow. Each preservation case is a story unto itself.
Public opinion is what can carry an issue such as this. The public can have input into the situation to try and save the house. A sympathetic buyer might even be found. It does happen.
This newspaper welcomes letters to the editor; and emails are great. Let’s see what we can do to move mountains and save this one remaining mansion in Oyster Bay.
