The New York herald., 1921-12-17
VANDERB|LT'S idle
HOUR ESTATE SOLD
Syndicate of Prominent Men
Get Show Place OH
Long Island.
TO BE USED FOR A CLUB
Country House, Which Cost
S2,OO0,OOO, Is Surrounded
by 800 Acres.
IN FINE WOODED REGION
Price Is Not Revealed, but 1t
Is Said to Have Been of
Fair Proportions.
IN FINE WOODED REGION

idle Hour" the extensive country
estate Of the late William K Wander
hilt, for many years one Of the show
places on the south shore of Long
Island. has been sold to a syndicate
OF prominent New York men, it be-
came known yesterday. The property
which is in Oakdale, Suffolk county,
will be converted into an elaborate
country club, fully equipped for year
round sports. Prominent among the
is Harold S. Vanderbilt, who inherited
the estate by the terms of the elder
w. K. Vanderbilt's will.
Col. Frank Elbridge Webb, who ne
gotiated the purchase and heads the
syndicate, confirmed the deal snd said
the club would be the finest and most
exclusive in the United States. The
syndicate will take possession jan
uary 1, and will open the club in the
spring, Col. Webb said. He declined
to give the names Of his associates,
but said they were wealthy young
men. He pointed out that the country
house, which has forty masters bed
rooms. could not be duplicated to-day
for $5,O0o,O 900.
Covers Over 800 Acres.
The Vanderbilt estate comprises about
500 acres, large part of which Is
heavily wooded. The country house
erected by Mr.. Vanderbilt about twenty
years ago is said to have cost approx.
mately $2.000,000. The mansion. visible
from the Merrick Highway, which runs
past the estate. Is located on bluff at
the edge of Great River. fronting Great
South Bay. The main building is of two
stories, constructed of brick and lime
stone. In the south wing, a three story
structure. Is an elaborately equipped
glass enclosed indoor tennis court. 4
dozen miles of roads and woodland
trails wind throughout the acres of the
estate. There also are ceveral miles OF
artificial canals.
Except for brief periods in the autumn
the country house has not been occu-
pied by members of the family for sew
cral years. Mr.. and Mrs. Wand, rbilt
offered the use OF the estate to the Red
Cross in 1918 FOR war purposes. The
offer was not accepted.
Col. Webb said that the property was
id@al for the development proposed.
having all facilities for yachting, hunt
ing. fishing, golf and winter sports. A
yacht can enter Great South Bay and
by running up the river anchor in front
oJ the clubhouse, he pointed out
Price HUNS in Millions.
Col Webb declined to permit any esti-
mate of the amount of money involved In
the sale. but in spite of it's years of
oisuse the estate is considered to be
worth more than $4,000 900. and vigor-
Gus deuials were made that the sale had
been made at sacrifice.
iiumors of a pending sale have per-
sisted within tho last two weeks. At
one time Il was reported that the
Roman Catholic diocese of Brooklyn
and Long Island was about to purcha Sc
the property fer use as seminary.
More recently II has been reported i'm
Sayville and Oukdale, that members OF
the Southside Sportsmens Club. which
adjoins the estate, were negotiating for
It's purchase.
Intensive cultivation OF the flower
beds on the estate. and the visit of re-
puted Government agents, had given
rise to reports among Long Island folk
that the buildings of the estate might
be utilized as hospital for GONZALES
cent ex-service men.