This home has heritage, history and horse stables, all converted into a modern residence.
The nuts and bolts
6 bedrooms
5.5 bathrooms
6,250 square feet
1.08 acres
House proud
This unusual renovation in 1983 combined two separate cottages, the carriage house and horse stables of the former Cosden estate, once a grand waterfront Georgian mansion, into a single-family home. It has been updated in the past two years with a new kitchen and bathrooms, as well as other maintenance as needed.
“The two houses were identical in architecture and size and the proportions were the same, so it was a natural thing to connect them and make an amazing courtyard,” says listing agent Bridget Elkin, of the Elkin Team at Compass.
On a corner lot with private gates, she says, “this is a home that is a dream to represent.”
What’s the plan?
Composed of three wings, the home is entered through a grand foyer with a herringbone-patterned wood floor. To the immediate right is the middle wing, running north to south, which contains the 375-square-foot primary bedroom suite, a playroom, full bath and the eat-in kitchen. Beyond is the two-story south wing, which includes two bedrooms connected by a Jack and Jill bathroom, the intact stables—now used as an art studio and gym, a home office and other living space—and on the second level, a guest room with dedicated ensuite bath and two bedrooms sharing a bathroom. The third wing includes the 728-square-foot great room, parlor, sunroom, a half bath and a mudroom that leads to the attached three-car garage.
What’s cooking?
The recently renovated 440-square-foot kitchen has been outfitted with custom cabinetry, soapstone counters and a 20 x 10 custom-built kitchen island. Elkin says an “old school” copper-lined skylight floods the room with natural light.” The appliances include a Wolf stove and Sub-Zero refrigerator.
What else?
The great room features a wood-burning fireplace with its original ornamental wood mantle. The reconstruction retained most of the historical architectural structural elements, including the copper roof flashing and gutters. “There are no other materials except brick, copper and ornamental stone,” Elkin says. The original herringbone wood floor repeats throughout the house.
Amenities and more
- Custom-built, climate-controlled wine cellar
- 18 x 4 gunite pool with a spa
- Outdoor shower
- Slate patio with custom firepit area
One cool thing (or two)
The home was built in 1915 by Alfred H. Cosden, a self-made millionaire, and subject of a book by Geoffrey Fleming, former director of the Southold Historical Society, who also curated an associated exhibition in 2010. Cosden retired at age 42 and built the mansion to accommodate his love of horses—his thoroughbred won the Belmont Stakes in 1928. In addition to his mansion, the grounds included a nine-hole golf course (now owned and protected by Peconic Land Trust), a house for his brother, another for other employees, the stables and other outbuildings, some of which now comprise the remaining estate. When faced with a tax increase from the town in 1940, Cosden, believing he had already paid enough in taxes, demolished the house out of spite, rather than pay, according to Fleming’s account.
Agent’s callout
Located across the street from the former golf course that has been overgrown in a “Grey Gardens kind of way,” Elkin says, “this property is unusual for the North Fork—you don’t have a lot of these estates here. It’s a unique opportunity with a true touch of magic.”
Location, location, location
Mount Beulah Avenue ends at Soundview Avenue, the road running alongside Long Island Sound. It is 1.7 miles from the town of Southold. Local sites of interest include the Horton Point Lighthouse Nautical Museum, built in 1857 and one of eight historic lighthouses in Southold; the Arshamomaque Pond Preserve, offering hiking trails; and 3.2 miles away, Inlet Pond County Park in Greenport, which also offers hiking.
Details
The home at 1750 Mt Beulah Avenue lists for $3,395,000 and the details can be seen here.
