Nassau Plandome Manor (Formerly the Seat of the Matthias Nicoll Plantation)

Plandome Manor, the main house. PHOTO FROM GEORGE WILLIAMS

In the January–February 1999 issue of Preservation, the magazine of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, there was a sad note under Transitions. —”Lost: 17-c Plandome Manor House, Long Island,N.Y.: once center of 1200-acre plantation, torn down by owner without permit.” This demolition caused widespread anguish and, as was frequently mentioned, could have been avoided if the incorporated Village of Plandome Manor had a landmark preservation ordinance or if the former owner had sold with a restrictive covenant. (see photo below) There are a number of other structures in this Village of Plandome Manor that are worthy of protection, among them the Whitney boathouse, the Plandome Mill, and the 1710 house that was moved there from Massachusetts. It is hoped the village will soon adopt such an ordinance.

Jericho

S.S. Underhill House, Jericho, in 1990. JOSEPH ADAMS, PHOTOGRAPHER

The S.S. Underhill House on the south side of Jericho Turnpike (Route 25) in Jericho has long been one of Long Island’s treasures. In 1969 the house was included in a publication Long Island Landmarks prepared by the New York State Office of Planning Coordination to identify areas and structures in Nassau and Suffolk Counties which merited special consideration in planning “because of their history, quality, or uniqueness.” For many years the house, its barns and a small farm pond have been preserved, a visual amenity which is a noncontiguous part of the Jericho Historic Preserve listed in the Muttontown Inventory of Historic Resources as Mu 48. Now, this rural oasis on busy Jericho Turnpike which has been owned by the Underhill family for almost 130 years is under contract to be sold to a Manhattan developer, Forest City Daly Housing. The contract requires that the house be preserved which is very good news indeed. Todd Fabricant, President of the East Birchwood Civic Association, is quoted as saying, “Saving and refurbishing the homestead is very admirable. Leaving some remembrance of this family for future generations is very important.”