American Graffiti in Plainview
One beautiful Saturday we made our way to the Shattuck
Estate, an abandoned mansion in Plainview, New York. Being very easy to find and not a struggle to get to, it was
a no-brainer to visit. Not much is
known about the construction of this home. Somewhere in the early 1900’s successful New York City
attorney, Edwin Paul Shattuck, bought the estate. Shattuck lived in the home until his death in 1964. The
homes golden age was from the 1920’s – 1940’s.
 |
| Edwin Paul Shattuck |
Mr. Shattuck was the personal attorney for 31st President,
Herbert Hoover. The two were best friends and died within three days of each
other. I can assume that Hoover
must have visited this grand estate at one time or another.
Edwin was a member of the Shattuck family; known for
founding the Frank G. Shattuck Company, which operated many things including
the well-known food chain of the time, Schrafft Foods.
 |
| This reminds me of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air |
Nassau County purchased the property back in the early
1970’s, and wanted to develop the land for residential and commercial
purposes. In 1972, Carl Ross, a
resident of Plainview, fought to turn the Shattuck Estate and it is 138-acre
parcel into a preserve – it was a success!
The mansion has mostly been forgotten about and left to
nature. As we can see from the photos, local teenagers have found the spot and
frequent it as a hang out to drink beer and spray graffiti.
There are two types of abandoned properties one can explore.
Ones that are easily accessible, like this one, and ones that are a struggle to
get to (Hart Island). These easy
ones get trashed with litter and spray paint, which, in my opinion, takes away
from the experience. I prefer the locations that lurk in the shadows – that’s
where true adventure is found.
Nonetheless, we had a fun time checking this place out. Until next
adventure, I bid you adieu.
Do you know if it has since been torn down?
ReplyDeleteIt has not been turn down.
DeleteI lived in this house back in the 60's
DeleteJohn, pictures are horrific, I have good memories of our time there. Debi
DeleteThis is to JOHN VALENTI: since you say you "lived in this house back in the 60's", I am not sure if you remember two brunettes and one blonde haired girl you invited inside your home? We were all very young in the 60's. I was born in 1958.
DeleteWhere is/was this place? I lived in Plainview for 25 years and never heard of it
ReplyDeleteTorn down. https://www.google.com/maps/@40.8001281,-73.4496638,106m/data=!3m1!1e3
ReplyDeleteThis is to JOHN VALENTI: since you say you "lived in this house back in the 60's", I am not sure if you remember two brunettes and one blonde haired girl you invited inside your home? We were all young in the 60's -- 1968 I turned 10.
ReplyDeletein reply to martin rosenstock... you can find the location across from the college streets.. theres a no trespassing sign on a flimsy chain linked barrier .. proceed at your own risk... the grounds and interior are deteriorating.. bats in the basement think of it as " the house on haunted hill"
ReplyDeleteThe Property was known as Pirate Hill. Rumors were that Pirates landed in Cold Spring Harbor and came inland about 8 miles to bury their treasure somewhere on the property. Wine was made from grapes grown on the property and its label said Pirate Hill. I lived in that house in the mid 60`s.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI have a prayer bench that was once in this mansion. Does anyone have any information on it?
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately this spot is now just a clearing with a fire hydrant and an old electric hookup being the only things betraying the nature of the place. Not sure when it was knocked down.
ReplyDeleteThis was my great great uncles house, Edwin Paul Shattuck. He died in 1964. I'm not sure how someone could have been living there in the 1960s unless they were living there without permission or were part of the staff.
ReplyDeleteI was there once in 1964 when I was 8. This house was never sold, it became a part of the city and became a nature preserve. When I look at these pictures it makes me very sad.
To the person with a prayer stand from that house... All I can tell you is that it was one of his possessions. I too have many things that came from that house.
I can also tell you that he was NOT connected to the Shattucks with the Schraftts Market. He came from Oregon and that was the connection between he and Herbert Hoover. They both grew up in the Portland area. (Gresham and Newberg) They did not know each other during that time. They did become good friends.
If the house has been knocked down it is probably for the better. I will always remember it as the majestic house from the 60s that I had the privilege of staying in.
I'm related to Edmond Shattuck. My Grandmother was a Shattuck. He was born in Oregon as I was also.
DeleteThe has been knocked down several years back. I was lucky enough to be the last person inside of this amazing place. I walked every single room from the top to the very bottom. I captured over 100 pictures. The following weekend heavy equipment was on site ready to demo the property. I was there June 30, 2012.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in the neighborhood across the street on one of the college streets. My father was friends with the caretaker hired by Nassau County at that time, this would have been the early 80's. They lived in what would have been the "servants" quarters of the home and the rest of the home was closed off from where they lived. They had a horse and I would go there and pet the horse. The caretaker was married and had 4 children. I would play with the younger children on the grounds of this mansion. At that time it was already very overgrown, the old pool had been filled in with dirt. There was so much beauty to explore. At some point the caretaker and his family left the property and moved upstate. After that, I presume, the property was repeatedly vandalized, which makes me so sad. I wish someone had pictures of it before it was vandalized. So sad to know that the County had to knock it down, but I am sure it was for safety reasons. Too bad they could not have restored it and turned it into a preserve and nature center where children could have gone for school trips (like Old Bethpage Restoration). That would have been awesome.
ReplyDeleteI was there back in 1980 when it was a rehab and that's why you see basketball hoops around the place cause it was not the original owner playing basketball I assure you, the rehab was called topic house and was closed in 1982, very large and beautiful place, we had a living room there with about ten couches
ReplyDelete