We are sure you have driven around the Duck Pond in the Village of Roslyn and seen the lovely historic houses that give the area its character. For 40 years Roger Gary operated a Revolving Fund for Historic Preservation. Working with the Roslyn Landmarks Society, they created a Historic District with the Town of North Hempstead. Dr. Gary and his wife lived in the village and they worked together to create a body of friends who were interested in preservation.
On Friday nights the Garys held a cocktail party to which he invited the craftsmen who were involved in doing the restorations. He was a great admirer of their ability. He had the ability to talk to someone and find just the right job/niche for them to volunteer for the work. Today, Franklin Hill Perrell is the RLS executive director and keeps the members educated and informed on the value of landmarks and preservation.
At one time Oyster Bay, had a Preservation Group that gave out plaques to homeowners for their fine work in preserving and restoring their homes. In Oyster Bay it is most often the individual homeowner who loves their home and preserves and restores it.
Here in Oyster Bay with the historic 1840 Trousdell mansion
being one of the last houses remaining worthy of landmarking and preservation – this might be the time to revive the group, suggested John Collins, historical architect and a member of the original Oyster Bay Preservation Group. It was chaired by Stuart Chase, then Raynham Hall Museum’s director.
Oyster Bay Cove planning board member Richard Weir said when he heard about the Trousdell house from Mayor Rosemary Bourne, he wanted to write a letter to the editor adding his voice to the cause. He suggested the Trousdell house has great potential to be a Bed and Breakfast. He said the village of Oyster Bay Cove feels that same way. The house is on the way to Oyster Bay Cove and Sagamore Hill. He personalized it saying, “I think there are enough people who would come to the area and relax and be treated elegantly.”
He added, “Once the bulldozers go in and six houses suddenly go up, people will say what a shame.”
Another local resident suggested the Trousdell house as the proposed TR Visitors Center. The Roosevelt family cousins first came to Oyster Bay in the 1850s: the late 1850s or the early 1860s. They rented several houses in the area during the summers.
While a Preservation Group is needed, there is less and less to preserve. Only a handful of houses are that old and worth the effort to preserve, said the speaker.
He said the Trousdell house is one of the last great mansions here. It was rented by families who came from New York City to summer here in its Victorian heyday. It was a time of great growth for the hamlet and surrounding area.
There’s always hope and houses of that age should be preserved. They define the history of the area, and without it we cannot be what we perceive ourselves as being, he said.
Currently there are a few people who are interested in putting together a consortium of members who will each put up about $10,000 cash to preserve the house, put on preservation restrictions and put it back on the market. It might be a possible partial subdivision.
It’s too big a house for one family to own and maintain, suggested the speaker. A house on Sandy Hill Road was recently converted successfully into two duplexes.
Since everything is in the talking stages, if you call Phil Blocklyn, the Oyster Bay Historical Society executive director at 922-5032, he will hook you up with other interested parties.
The Trousdell house had already been modified from the original, by several owners, but that gives it charm, said the speaker.
It’s time to speak up.
It might even be time to begin a revolving preservation fund. It’s up to you.
– DFK
