Double Your Design Pleasure: Two Historic Hamptons House Tours
May is traditionally the kick-off month for the Hamptons house tour and designer showhouse benefit season, and this year is no exception. The first two Saturdays of May promise back-to-back historic house tours that are must-sees for history buffs, design aficionados and anyone interested in an inside track to historic and rarely seen Hamptons homes.
On Saturday, May 5, from noon to 4 p.m., the Westhampton Beach Historical Society presents its First Historic House Tour showcasing six historically and architecturally significant homes in the Westhampton Beach area. Dan’s Papers is pleased to be a Media Sponsor of this inaugural event.
The following Saturday, May 12, from 1 to 4:30 p.m., the Southampton Historical Museum will hold its Third Annual Insider’s View of Southampton Homes featuring six outstanding and historic houses in Southampton and Water Mill.
The Westhampton Beach Historical Society tour is a lovely way to spend the first Saturday in May—rain or shine. Highlights include:
- The Howell Homestead, Westhampton Beach—a fully restored 1727 colonial home
- The Griffing House, Westhampton Beach—a circa 1803 former tavern and stage coach stop
- The Raynor Farm House, Remsenburg—built in the late 1700s/early1800s
- “Wits’ End”—a 1939 center hall colonial in Westhampton Beach
- The Smith Family House, “Kemah”—built in 1903 in Westhampton
- The E. O. Wilcox Home—a fully restored 1896 Victorian farmhouse
Tour tickets are $50 in advance and $60 on the day of the event. A benefit reception will take place from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Westhampton’s landmark Casa Basso restaurant, sponsored by Brown Harris Stevens. Other sponsors include: The Corcoran Group, Dan’s Papers, The Southampton Press and Lynn’s Cards and Gifts. Tickets to the reception must be purchased separately and are $35, which includes two drinks and hors d’oeuvres. For ticket information call the Society at 631-288-1139, or visit them on Facebook or www.whbhistorical.org
The May 12 Southampton Historical Museum tour is a perfect Mothers Day weekend outing. Tickets are $75 in advance and $90 on the day of the tour. The ticket price includes a post-tour champagne reception at the Rogers Mansion, sponsored by Sant Ambroeus restaurant, where guests will also enjoy a private preview of Chris Murray’s “Paintings of New York” exhibit. For more information and to order tickets call 631-283-2494 or go to www.southamptonhistoricalmuseum.org
Highlights of the Southampton tour include:
- Wayside Southampton—a circa 1840 Greek Revival gem built for E.T. Howell, whose forbears first settled Southampton
- The Miller’s House, Water Mill—a mid-17th century post-and-beam house on Mill Pond built for the manager of the water mill next door
- Shingle Style Cottage, Southampton—a 21st century take on the well-loved Shingle Style of McKim, Mead & White, designed by noted Hamptons architect Kitty McCoy
- Josiah Foster House, Southampton—Built in 1807 on Main Street and moved to First Neck Lane in 1916, it was once a stage coach stop, an inn and Foster’s Tavern.
- House of Color, Southampton—a home by renowned architect Jaquelin T. Robertson with an exterior of Russian Green and an interior from subtle shades to the boldest reds
- Classic Hamptons Beach House, Water Mill—a circa 1910 beauty featured in the films Something Borrowed, Something Blue and Something’s Gotta Give. Enough said!
Westhampton Beach Historical Society’s First Historic House Tour, Saturday, May 5, noon to 4 p.m. 631-288-1139.
The Southampton Historical Museum’s Third Annual Insider’s View of Southampton Homes, Saturday, May 12, 1 to 4:30 p.m. 631-283-2494.