A BREATH OF THE RIVIERA
The Estate of Walter P. Chrysler, Esq., at Great Neck, brings a Touch of the Enchanting Mediterranean to Long Island.
CHARLES WELLFORD LEAVITT & SON, Landscape Engineers
LONG ISLAND, within easy motoring distance of the great metropolis, affords many beautiful natural settings for residences. There are only a few places upon which Nature has bestowed her charms more lavishly than upon this island. Estate owners, with a longing for the invigorating salty tang of sea breezes, have built their homes close to the island’s many bays and inlets. Both shores of Long Island are dotted with beautiful estates, but the north shore, on the sound, is particularly desirable for the location of estates.
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| The reception court, with house and mall. The rhododendrons around the court have a rich background of large trees, stately, maple and oak. |
We motor east along the north shore of the island and arrive at Great Neck, situated on the sound. Here we see several estates that appear very inviting, but we continue along Steamboat road. On the left, we notice an estate that is heavily wooded, giving an impression of austerity. The entrance is very imposing, being constructed of white marble and having a very distinctive setting with a thickly wooded area as a background. As we proceed along the entrance road we pass through a woodland, where rhododendrons, laurel, leucothoe, and other broad-leaf evergreens on both sides are planted so thickly that a hedge-like appearance is the result. When the rhododendrons are in blossom the entrance drive is so magnificent that mere words cannot do justice to the inspiring sight.
This is our introduction to the estate of Mr. Walter P. Chrysler.
The entrance road winds through the woods and we arrive at the reception court. Here we gain our first glimpse of the house which is of the early Italian Renaissance style. As we approach the house we notice that on all sides of the court the planting is similar to that which lines the entrance drive. The reception court, east of the house, includes a mall. When approaching the house, we are impressed by its architecture, which is adorned by a carefully worked our planting scheme composed of rhododendrons and native trees. The planting not only eases the building, but establishes a pleasing union between the house and the native woods—of oaks, tulips, maples, and ash—on the sides of the reception court. From the porte-cochere we obtain a vista across the mall.
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From the terrace there is a splendid view of broad lawn, sloping gently to the sea wall and the waters that reach to Connecticut's shores in the distance.
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The house overlooks the lawn which slopes down to the water-front. Directly west of the house there are two terraces, the upper one of which is paved. The balustrade around the terrace is banked with large hydrangeas (Hydrangea arborescens sterilis and Hydrangea paniculata grandiflora). At the south end there are steps leading to the flower garden which is on an axis from the sun room. At the north end, around the side of the residence, there are steps which descend into a ramble among flowers and shrubs, such as chrysanthemums, phlox, peonies, iris, delphiniums in varieties, laurels, rhododendrons and yews. An axis was drawn from the center of the house to the water’s edge. On this axis were built steps leading from the upper terrace to the lower, and from the lower to the lawn, hour hundred feet from the house, at the water’s edge, on this axis were built a terrace and steps leading from the lawn to the beach.
 | | Another view of the lawn toward the sea. The border and group plantings are unusually profuse - rhododendron, dogwood, spruce and spirea. |
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Glorious hydrangeas bank the upper house terrace, with its broad rectangular panels dominating the pavement design.
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The lower terrace, showing the balustrade around the upper terrace. The grass panel has a bird-bath in its center; the steps beyond lead down to the tennis court.
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We walk from the upper terrace to the lower which also has a balustrade. At the north end, on the axis of the terrace, are steps which give upon the tennis court. The steps and walk connecting the terraces and the lawn are paved. There are two panels on this terrace, with a border planting of hydrangeas similar to that on the upper terrace. It is not so closely planted, however, thus giving glimpses of the balustrade. We reach the lawn. On both sides of the lawn there are border plantings of dogwood, benzoin, service-berry, shadbush and spiraeas. A path winds from the house along the border of the lawn down to the sea wall which has been built along the shore across the entire property. At each end of the wall there is a pergola.  |
| Shore view of the Chrysler estate, showing the paved terrace at the sea and the steps leading down to the beach. |
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| Along the sea wall. Here is the rocky beach, the steps, and the pier jetting out into the water that present a picture so representative of the Mediterranean playgrounds. |
Let us walk down across the lawn in order that we may see this extraordinary feature. From the house we saw the pergolas, the paved terrace and steps leading down to the beach. The beauty of the shore line treatment becomes more apparent as we approach it. Looking from the paved terrace over the steps out across the water, we see in the distance the shore line of Connecticut, but the view is one that suggests a scene in southern Europe. From the bath house the pier jets out into the placid water. Walking up a series of ramps to the pergola on the north, which is built on the roof of the bath house, we have an ideal vantage point where we can enjoy the salt breezes and from which we watch the passing ships, both sail and steam propelled. From the pergola, there are steps descending to the pier. We walk out to the end of the pier and look back to the shore. That feeling we had of being on the sunny shores of the Mediterranean is accentuated by this view. Here we see the sea wall which is an unusual feature. It has been carefully studied and planned, and is an integral part of the design. Nowhere on Long Island has the treatment of the beach been accomplished in such an interesting manner. As we retrace our steps and walk south along the sea wall we approach the pergola on the south end. From here a path winds along the edge of the woods back to the house.
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| Another view of the sea wall. Note the bathhouse pergola on its roof; also broad steps leading down from the lawn to the beach. |
Approaching the house, the path forks and leads us into the south garden. A pool of water marks its center, and panels of flowers around the side are a riot of colors. We notice a few of the more common flowers which are larkspur, foxglove, phlox, canterbury bells, salvia, and many of the other flowers which are associated with old fashioned gardens. From the garden the path proceeds up a ramp and joins the grass walk. At this junction we can either return to the house or walk about some of the service features. Passing through a pleached alley we reach the greenhouses. In front of the greenhouse there are cut flower beds; beyond these beds is the vegetable garden. The two gardens are separated by a path which leads to the superintendent's cottage. From the cottage the macadam road winds through the orchard to the forecourt. On the right we have a glimpse of the grape arbor, but our view is terminated by a heavily planted screen. At the forecourt a road winds to the garage which is accessible to the entrance road, being served by a road about a hundred feet from the entrance gates.
From the entrance drive, there is a walk through the woods which is composed wholly of native trees - oaks, tulips, maples, and gums. Passing through this sylvan glade, we cross the service road which leads to the house. In the center of the service court there is the laundry yard which is enclosed by a vine covered trellis. The service road is lined on both sides by tall screen planting of honeysuckle, dogwood, witch-hazel, spirea and viburnum.
We walk across the service road to the tennis court which is in back of the screen planting. A path around the south end of the court leads to the summer house, which is on the west side of the court. On the north end of the court there is a path through the woods. We pass through the summer house into the maze of hardy perennials and annuals. After winding in and out we finally arrive at the north walk. Here again we may choose our path, one to the beach or one to the house.
As we have seen the beach, we return to the house; walking up the steps and terrace we arrive at the place from where we started. We pause and look over the lawn. From here we notice that a number of vistas have been made through the border planting, and we catch glimpses of the sparkling water of the sound.
Although the estate is heavily wooded and there is a dense wooded screen surrounding it, we have no feeling of being caged in. Instead, there is an atmosphere of freedom that only the combination of the sea and woods can impart. The design has been carefully worked out, much thought has been given to every detail, and the result is a uniform scheme which gives a very satisfactory result.
Forker House, Chrysler Estate, Wiley Hall - The estate originally belonged to Henri Willis Bendel, founder of what became a chain of upscale women’s clothing stores that still bear his name. The estate was later purchased by the founder of the Chrysler Corporation, industrialist Walter P. Chrysler, in 1923, two years before beginning his own auto company. In December of 1941, the U.S. War Shipping Administration purchased the estate for $100,000 with the intention of erecting a new institution for the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. The Kings Point U.S. Merchant Marine Academy officially opened in January of 1942, and today the main house of the estate, commonly referred to as Wiley Hall, is still standing and serves as the Academy’s main administrative building.
