Walter Uhl

Last updated
Walter G. Uhl
BornCa. 1903
DiedDecember 7, 1984 (aged 81)
St. Luke's Hospital, Manhattan
Burial place Nassau Knolls Cemetery, Port Washington, New York
Occupation(s)Builder; developer
Years active1930s – 1984
Known forFlower Hill Building Corporation; Flower Hill Estates subdivision of Flower Hill, New York
TitleHead, Flower Hill Building Corporation
SuccessorThomas Uhl
Spouses
Frances
​
(died 1957)​
  • Louise
Children2

Walter Uhl was a major 20th Century builder on Long Island, in New York, and was the founder of the Flower Hill Building Corporation. He is especially well known for his work in Flower Hill, New York.

Contents

Early life

Walter Uhl was born ca. 1903. [1] [2]

Career

Uhl started his building career in the 1930s. One of his earliest projects was the purchase of 27 lots in Manhasset Bay Estates in Port Washington, New York, which he would build homes upon. [3]

Around 1939, Uhl founded the Flower Hill Building Corporation, and he soon began one of his earliest and most prominent projects: the Flower Hill Estates subdivision of Flower Hill, New York. [1] [4] [5] [6]

Uhl started building the Flower Hill Estates subdivision around 1939, over the former estate of Samuel L. Hewlett. [4] [6] [7] [8] [9] He planned to build roughly 150 small estate-style homes. He started building along Country Club Drive, adjacent to the North Hempstead Country Club, and built his homes in the colonial style to reflect Flower Hill's historic character and traditions. [6] [7] [8]

By World War II, Uhl had constructed roughly 45 homes in Flower Hill Estates, when construction was temporarily halted due to the wartime efforts. [10] Uhl predicted that the war restrictions, which influenced investors to purchase land to build homes when the war ended, would lead to a major suburban building boom come the end of World War II. [10] Uhl resumed construction following the war. [11]

Uhl famously repurposed old wood from local farmhouses by incorporating them into the interior designs of his homes in Flower Hill Estates, and blended the homes in with the natural surroundings. [12]

In 1950, Uhl built the 50-acre (20 ha) Plandome Mills development over the former Leeds estate, where approximately 80 homes were constructed. [13] [14]

In 1962, Uhl would help sponsor the development of Orient-by-the-sea near Orient Point, New York. [15] [16] [17] This development would include homes, a large marina on Gardiner's Bay, a dining room and a cafeteria, a swimming pool, a motel, and facilities for seaplanes. Furthermore, the development would feature 400 feet (120 m) of property along Gardiner's Bay. [15] [16] [17]

In 1969, Uhl was responsible for restoring the historic Milleridge Inn in Jericho, New York. [16]

Death

Uhl passed away at St. Luke's Hospital in Manhattan on December 7, 1984, when he suffered from complications after having surgery; he was 81 at the time of his death. [1] [2]

His visitation took place at the DeFriest Funeral Home in Southold, New York that Monday, and was subsequently buried at the Nassau Knolls Cemetery in Port Washington. [1] [2]

Uhl's son, Thomas, took over for him as the head of the Flower Hill Building Corporation. [1]

Personal life

Uhl's first marriage was to Frances Uhl. [18] Frances would commit suicide in New York Hospital's psychiatric division on September 23, 1957; she suffered from episodes of depression and was admitted to the hospital that past August. [18]

Following her death, Uhl married again, this time to Louise Uhl. [1] [2]

Uhl had two children, William and Thomas, as well as four grandchildren; he had both of his children with Frances. [1] [2] [18]

At the time of his death, Uhl lived in Cutchogue, New York. [1]

Notable works

Uhl also built and restored several other developments and individual homes across Long Island, such as in Manhasset, Roslyn, Roslyn Estates, and Great Neck, Syosset, Muttontown, and in numerous other locations across Long Island. [1] [13] [18] [20] [21]

Additionally, many of his homes were built as reproductions of other, historic homes. [1] [13] [18] [20] [21]

Related Research Articles

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

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "WALTER UHL (Published 1984)". The New York Times. 1984-12-12. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Walter G. Uhl, Builder". Newsday . December 8, 1984 – via ProQuest.
  3. 1 2 "Will Build in Nassau County". The New York Times . May 18, 1935 – via ProQuest.
  4. 1 2 "Village of Flower Hill » Village History". villageflowerhill.org. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  5. ↑ "DIGS UP 1793 'PIECE OF 8'; Worker on Flower Hill Development Unearths Spanish Coin (Published 1939)". The New York Times. 1939-11-05. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  6. 1 2 3 "Buying in Flower Hill". Newsday. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  7. 1 2 "HOUSES DESIGNED TO FIT THE SITE; 10-Room Home 90 Feet Wide Under Construction at Flower Hill Estates IN THE COLONIAL STYLE Three Log-Burning Fireplaces Are Being Provided in Lansdell Residence (Published 1939)". The New York Times. 1939-05-14. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  8. 1 2 Brennan, Eileen (December 13, 1986). "Heritage Carefully Cultivated". Newsday – via ProQuest.
  9. 1 2 "42 Homes Built at Flower Hill (Published 1941)". The New York Times. 1941-08-31. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  10. 1 2 "NORTH SHORE LAND SOLD: New Trend in Buying Is Noted By Walter Uhl". The New York Times . January 25, 1942 – via ProQuest.
  11. ↑ "New Houses Under Construction and Others Sold to New York Families". The New York Times . July 6, 1947 – via ProQuest.
  12. ↑ "Ideas for Home Planning and Building Equipment: LIVING ROOM OCCUPIES SEPARATE WING IN THIS HOME". The New York Times . September 22, 1940 – via ProQuest.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "N.J. Company Completes First Units Of Prefabricated Homes in New York Area: Homes Figuring in Early Fall Realty Activity in New York Area". The New York Times . September 1, 1946 – via ProQuest.
  14. 1 2 "PLAN HOTPOINT HOME AT PLANDOME MILLS (Published 1950)". The New York Times. 1950-01-29. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  15. 1 2 "MARINA IS PLANNED; Facility and Motel to Rise at Orient Point, L.I. (Published 1962)". The New York Times. 1962-02-25. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  16. 1 2 3 4 "OBTSPOA - Builder". sites.google.com. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  17. 1 2 3 "Model Overlooking L.I. Sound Has a Sun Porch (Published 1962)". The New York Times. 1962-10-14. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Top LI Builder's Wife a Suicide". Newsday . September 24, 1957 – via ProQuest.
  19. ↑ "120 LOTS BOUGHT AT LAKE SUCCESS FOR NEW HOUSING: 40 Homes in Medium Price Range to Rise on Tract Near Deepdale Country Club EAST HILLS ESTATE SOLD 4Z Acres Formerly in Auchincloss Family in Deal--Sokolovs Start Merrick Project". The New York Times . July 24, 1949 – via ProQuest.
  20. 1 2 "12 The Glenada". Projects. Roslyn Landmark Society. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  21. 1 2 "DEVELOPERS BUY IN LATTINGTOWN: Land in Secluded Village on Long Island's North Shore Taken for Homes DEVELOPERS BUY IN LATTINGTOWN". The New York Times . October 24, 1954 – via ProQuest.
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