Inisfada

Last updated • 3 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

40°47′09″N73°39′58″W / 40.785913°N 73.665974°W / 40.785913; -73.665974

Contents

Inisfada
Inisfada Mansion.png
The mansion before its demolition in 2013
Inisfada
Alternative namesSt. Ignatius Retreat House
General information
StatusDemolished
Type Mansion
Architectural style Tudor Revival
Location North Hills, New York
CountryUnited States
Coordinates 40°47′07.0″N73°39′59.2″W / 40.785278°N 73.666444°W / 40.785278; -73.666444
Completed1920
DemolishedDecember 2013
ClientNicholas & Genevieve Brady
Design and construction
Architect(s) John T. Windrim

Inisfada was the North Hills, Long Island estate of Nicholas Frederic Brady and Genevieve Brady (née Garvan), an American papal duke and duchess. [1] Nicholas Brady was a convert from Episcopalianism to Catholicism and built the mansion as his family residence. [2] Completed in 1920, the home was later given to the Jesuits who used the building as a seminary and later as the St. Ignatius Retreat House. The property was sold in May 2013 to developers, and the house was demolished in December 2013.[ citation needed ]

History

The mansion was built from 1916 to 1920 and cost over $2 million. [2] It was designed by noted Philadelphia architect John T. Windrim. The mansion possessed 87 rooms and was built on an estate originally encompassing 300 acres. [2]

As noted by the New York Times and Newsday , the house was used as a residence by visiting Catholic dignitaries, including Eugenio Pacelli (the future Pope Pius XII) as a Vatican diplomat in 1936. [3] [4]

The name Inisfada is Irish for "Long Island". The house was one of the largest of the "Gold Coast" mansions on the North Shore of Long Island and was once the fourth-largest mansion in the United States. [5]

Jesuit use

After the death of the duchess (who had no children) in 1938, Inisfada was willed to the New York Province of the Catholic Society of Jesus (Jesuit) order for their use; they ran a retreat house (known as the St. Ignatius Retreat House) there starting in 1963. [5] [6] [2] Prior to 1963, the Jesuits used the property as a seminary. [7]

On June 21, 2012, according to the National Catholic Reporter , the provincial of the Jesuits (Fr. David Ciancimino) announced by letter that Inisfada and another local Jesuit retreat house, the Mount Manresa Jesuit Retreat House in Staten Island, would be closed on June 1, 2013. [8] The letter noted "The model of maintaining retreat houses is no longer financially viable or consistent with this new vision", and advocated "that we become more flexible and agile in the ways we share the Exercises". [8] The closing process was the result of two years of discernment and study by "directors and board members of retreat centers, province leaders and many others." [8]

Efforts and sustained protests were made to preserve the mansion by preservation groups and activists, [3] [7] [9] including an unsuccessful effort by local government leaders to get landmark status for the building. [10] A Manhasset civic organization called the Council of Greater Manhasset Civic Associations attempted to mount a grassroots campaign to save the building, [3] including attempting to find an alternative buyer for the building in the Community Wellness Clinics of America, a Queens-based nonprofit health organization which claimed to be able to match other offers for the building. [11] [12] The Town of North Hempstead historian Howard Kroplick stated "It is another sad day for preserving Long Island's history. It is a shame that Village of North Hills officials, in the name of 'progress', made little attempt to save this historic and unique building." [10]

Sale and demolition

The property was sold in May 2013 for $36.5 million to the Manhasset Bay Group, a consortium of four Hong Kong-based development companies. [9] At the time of sale, the estate was only 33 acres (13 ha). [7] The Jesuit retreat house closed in August. [13] The last Mass was said at the retreat center on June 2, 2013. [4] The Saint Genevieve chapel, one of the main chapels from the retreat house, which contained intricate woodwork, was salvaged and is being stored under the care of Fordham University. [14]

The property was valued at the time of sale at $44 million. [13] Demolition of the mansion started on December 5, 2013. [13] By December 6, 2013, Newsday reported that almost half of the mansion was demolished. [15] [16]

The Manhasset Bay Group plans to build a subdivision on the property, with 46 homes on lots ranging from a 0.5-acre (0.20 ha) to one acre in area. [9] This subdivision underwent a hearing for environmental concerns in March 2016. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flower Hill, New York</span> Village in New York, United States

Flower Hill is a village in Nassau County, on the North Shore of Long Island, in New York, United States. The eastern half is considered part of the Greater Roslyn area, which is anchored by the Incorporated Village of Roslyn. Western and northern parts are more closely associated with Manhasset and Port Washington. The population was 4,794 at the time of the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manhasset, New York</span> Hamlet and census-designated place in US

Manhasset is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in Nassau County, on the North Shore of Long Island, in New York, United States. It is considered the anchor community of the Greater Manhasset area. The population was 8,176 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manhasset Hills, New York</span> Hamlet and census-designated place in New York, United States

Manhasset Hills is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in the Town of North Hempstead in Nassau County, on Long Island, in New York, United States. The population was 3,649 at the time of the 2020 census. Neighboring communities include Herricks, North Hills, North New Hyde Park, and Lake Success.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Munsey Park, New York</span> Village in New York, United States

Munsey Park is a village in Nassau County, on the North Shore of Long Island, in New York, United States. It is considered part of the Greater Manhasset area, which is anchored by Manhasset. The population was 2,809 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Hills, New York</span> Village in New York, United States

North Hills is a village in the Town of North Hempstead in Nassau County, on the North Shore of Long Island, in New York, United States. The population was 5,464 at the time of the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sands Point, New York</span> Village in New York, United States

Sands Point is a village located at the tip of the Cow Neck Peninsula in the Town of North Hempstead, in Nassau County, on the North Shore of Long Island, in New York, United States. It is considered part of the Greater Port Washington area, which is anchored by Port Washington. The population was 2,712 at the time of the 2020 census.

An estate is a large parcel of land under single ownership, which generates income for its owner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Aloysius' College (Sydney)</span> School in Australia

St Aloysius' College is an independent Catholic primary and secondary day school for boys, located in Kirribilli, a suburb on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Americana Manhasset</span> Shopping mall in Manhasset, New York, United States

Americana Manhasset is an upscale, open-air shopping mall located in the Strathmore area of Manhasset, in Nassau County, on Long Island, in New York, United States. At roughly 220,000 square feet (20,000 m2) in area and approximately 1,500 feet (460 m) in length, it is located along – and anchors – a stretch of Northern Boulevard commonly referred to as the "Miracle Mile" of Manhasset.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windlestone Hall</span> Building in England, UK

Windlestone Hall is a mid-16th century Elizabethan country house, heavily rebuilt in 1821 to form a Greek revival stately home, situated near Rushyford, County Durham, England. The Hall sits within 400 acres of designed parkland. It is a Grade II* Listed building. As of 2022 it is back in private family ownership, with the surrounding estate maintained and conserved by a dedicated heritage charitable trust.

Nicholas Frederic Brady, Duke of the Holy Roman Church was a New York City businessman and philanthropist who was the first American to receive the Catholic honor, the Supreme Order of Christ. He was the holder of several papal honors, including being a papal duke ad personam (non-hereditary).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rainhill Hall</span> Building in Merseyside, United Kingdom

Rainhill Hall or Loyola Hall is a Grade II listed country house built in the 19th century in Rainhill, Merseyside, England, by Bartholomew Bretherton. It is situated on the Warrington Road, next to St Bartholomew's Church. From 1923 to 2014, it was a retreat house run by the Society of Jesus. From 2017, it has been a hotel and wedding venue owned by Signature Living.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manresa Jesuit Spiritual Renewal Centre</span> Church in Ontario, Canada

Manresa Jesuit Spiritual Renewal Centre is a centre for Ignatian spirituality run by the Society of Jesus in Pickering, Ontario. It was founded in 1924 and was built in 1945. It is situated next to Pine Ridge Secondary School just off Finch Avenue in north Pickering.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parkstead House</span>

Parkstead House, formerly known as Manresa House and Bessborough House, is a neo-classical Palladian villa in Roehampton, London, built in the 1760s. The house and remaining grounds are now Whitelands College, part of the University of Roehampton. It is situated on Holybourne Avenue, off Roehampton Lane, next to the Richmond Park Golf Course in the London Borough of Wandsworth. In 1955 it was designated Grade I on the National Heritage List for England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ignatius Jesuit Centre</span>

Ignatius Jesuit Centre is a set of buildings in Guelph, Ontario. It features the Orchard Park Office Centre and the Loyola House Jesuit Retreat and Training Centre. It was founded in 1913 and the current buildings date from 1934. In 1918, St. Stanislaus Novitiate was attended by the son of the Justice Minister of Canada, Charles Doherty, so when Canadian military officers surrounded it attempting to enforce the Military Service Act, the premises became the centre of a political scandal that became known as the Guelph Raid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harley Clarke Mansion</span> Historic building in Illinois

The Harley Clarke Mansion consists of a French Eclectic-style house and coach house located at 2603 Sheridan Road in Evanston, Illinois, adjacent to the historic Grosse Pointe Light and Lighthouse Beach on Lake Michigan. Cited as a contributing structure for the Northeast Evanston Historic District that Evanston established with the National Park Service in 1999, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genevieve Garvan Brady</span> Papal duchess

Genevieve Brady, Duchess of the Holy Roman Church was an American philanthropist and patron of Catholic charities. She served as the Vice President of the Welfare Council of New York, as Vice Chair of the National Women's Committee on Welfare and Relief Mobilization, and as Board Chair of the Girl Scouts of the USA. In 1926 she was ennobled by Pope Pius XI, becoming a papal duchess in her own right. In 1934 she became the first woman to receive an honorary degree from Georgetown University.

Manresa Island is a former island located in Norwalk, Connecticut, at the mouth of Norwalk Harbor in the Long Island Sound. The earliest name for the landform was Boutons Island, which dates to 1664. By the 19th century, the island had been purchased by John H. Keyser, who lived there and cultivated rare vegetation. He built a causeway in 1860, connecting the island to the mainland of South Norwalk. This gave rise to the name Keyser Island, which was sold to the Jesuits toward the end of the century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strathmore, New York</span> Hamlet in New York, United States

Strathmore is an unincorporated, Levitt & Sons-developed hamlet in the Town of North Hempstead in Nassau County, on the North Shore of Long Island, in New York, United States, within the census-designated place (CDP) of Manhasset.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queen of Peace Cemetery</span> Cemetery in Old Westbury, New York

Queen of Peace Cemetery is a cemetery of the Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre in Old Westbury, New York. The land was previously a farm that had been owned for two centuries by the Titus family, and then by the Hitchcock polo family. The land was purchased by the diocese in 1995 at auction from the federal government following seizure from a former owner; however, the Village of Old Westbury delayed construction for over two decades by litigation, which was settled in 2016. The cemetery was opened in 2020, earlier than expected and before the completion of construction, because the COVID-19 pandemic had caused nearby Cemetery of the Holy Rood to run out of space.

References

  1. ↑ "Religion: Inisfada & Mrs. Brady". Time. 8 March 1937 – via content.time.com.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Inisfada - The Brady Mansion". www.goldcoastmansions.com.
  3. 1 2 3 Kilgannon, Corey (30 July 2013). "Preservationists Try to Bar Demolition of 87-Room Mansion on Long Island". The New York Times.
  4. 1 2 "Final Mass held before St. Ignatius sale".
  5. 1 2 "Gold Coast Goodbye". narrative.ly. August 2013.
  6. ↑ San Antonio, Bill (June 19, 2014). "Inisfada's past detailed in lecture".
  7. 1 2 3 "$49M Long Island mansion may face wrecking ball: civic groups". 31 July 2013.
  8. 1 2 3 "Paradise lost: Jesuits sell oldest retreat house, pristine forest to developers". 23 October 2013.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Manskar, Noah (March 17, 2016). "Inisfada developers hear more concerns in North Hills".
  10. 1 2 Johnson, Elizabeth (5 December 2013). "Inisfada Demolition Underway".
  11. ↑ San Antonio, Bill (July 11, 2013). "Civics to apply for Inisfada's landmarking".
  12. ↑ San Antonio, Bill (June 13, 2013). "Queens group works to keep Inisfada standing".
  13. 1 2 3 Johnson, Elizabeth (5 December 2013). "Inisfada Demolition Underway".
  14. ↑ "Lack of Funding Blocks New Chapel's Opening". The Fordham Ram. 2021-02-05. Retrieved 2021-09-18.
  15. ↑ "Almost half of 'Gatsby'-era mansion razed".
  16. ↑ Sell Your House On Long Island Fast
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.