East Hampton Mansion Burns, 57 West End Road totally destroyed by huge fire Once owned by Hard Rock Cafe Co-Founder Peter Morton

Vintage 1920s photo of Heather Dune at at 57 West End Road, East Hampton. Destroyed by fire on March 18,2015            Photo: Houses of the Hamptons 1880-1930 by Gary Lawrance & Anne Surchin

Yesterday afternoon one of the historic seaside mansions from the Hampton's Gilded Age was totally destroyed by a massive fire. The fire raged with gusting winds so badly that within a few hours, the once commanding oceanfront house was leveled. View video of the fire HERE.

The history of the once elegant mansion started in1926. The house was built for Ellery Sedgwick James by noted architect, Roger Bullard.  Roger Bullard was known for many of  his elegantly simple homes that appealed to a patrician clientele. One of his most famous nearby buildings is the venerable Maidstone Club, East Hampton's most exclusive golf and beach club. Ellery James was such a client, his mother Laura Brevoort was from one of the oldest New York families, with a lineage that goes back to the Puritans.  

The House when completed was named Heather Dune and was located at 57 West End Road at East Hampton, New York. A narrow strip of land that is surrounded by the ocean and Georgica Pond. The house took advantage of both views and this bit of windswept land with its wild grasses and heathers  inspired the name of the residence.

Vintage 1920s photo of Heather Dune at at 57 West End Road, East Hampton. Destroyed by fire on March 18,2015            Photo: Houses of the Hamptons 1880-1930 by Gary Lawrance & Anne Surchin

According to Authors Gary Lawrance & Anne Surchin in their bestselling book, Houses of the Hamptons 1880-1930, " Bullard presented a building conceived not as a hodgepodge from different era, but as " Pleasing, appropriate, in good taste and dignified-- rather than 'Georgian' or ' French or whatnot,' " reflecting his belief that the "best results in the design of  a country house are obtained when an effort is directed toward rationalizing style, or avoiding over stylized building." Elements associated with one style could be used with elements of another, so long as the variants didn't clash."
The floor plan of the house was an interesting layout with main rooms facing the two water-views and was planned for living and not formal display or impression. This can be seen in the plan presented here and interiors.

Vintage 1920s Floor Plan of Heather Dune at at 57 West End Road, East Hampton. Destroyed by fire on March 18,2015            Photo: Houses of the Hamptons 1880-1930 by Gary Lawrance & Anne Surchin

Vintage 1920s photo of Heather Dune at at 57 West End Road, East Hampton. Destroyed by fire on March 18,2015            Photo: Houses of the Hamptons 1880-1930 by Gary Lawrance & Anne Surchin

Vintage 1920s photo of Heather Dune at at 57 West End Road, East Hampton. Destroyed by fire on March 18,2015            Photo: Houses of the Hamptons 1880-1930 by Gary Lawrance & Anne Surchin

Mr. James unfortunately did not enjoy his new home for long. He died in 1932 at the young age of 37 after a long illness. Heather Dune stayed in the family for years, then was sold and occupied by various owners. The home at one time was owned by Peter Morton, co-founder of the "Hard Rock Cafe".

Heather Dune is now one the lost houses of the Hamptons Gilded Age, and one could only hope it will be rebuilt as it was, but most likely a new home will rise to take it's Landmark status.

Heather Dune is a featured chapter, with floor plans and vintage interiors in the book, "Houses of the Hamptons 1880-1930" by Gary Lawrance & Anne Surchin, Acanthus Press 2007. For those who wish to purchase the book, make sure to buy the 2007 edition. The 2007 is now very rare" Houses of the Hamptons 1880-1930" was revised for a third printing in 2013 and the James house was replaced by the infamous house, "Grey Gardens", located just up the road from Heather Dune. For a review of the book, Click HERE to read about it on David Patrick Columbia's, New York Social Diary.

If you like Gilded Age Mansions, please ask to join Gary Lawrance's Facebook group, Mansions of the Gilded Age, now with almost 15,000 members.

Houses of the Hamptons 1880-1930 by Gary Lawrance & Anne Surchin Now rare first editon.

Houses of the Hamptons 1880-1930 by Gary Lawrance & Anne Surchin, Revised editon 2013

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