This original Southampton summer colony house was built in 1899 for Alonzo Castle Monson (1822-1902) and named “Mon Repos,” “my place of rest” in French. After his death (he had no children), it was purchased by Virginia Beggs Carnegie (1878-1952), who was married to Andrew Carnegie’s nephew. She and her husband re-named the house “Clyden,” after the Clyde river in Scotland near the Carnegies’ birthplace.
In 1922, the house was burglarized. The New York Times reported, “Mr. and Mrs. T. Morrison Carnegie were the victims of the second robbery. It is believed that a thief entered the house through a window on Monday night while the family were at dinner. Mrs. C. C. Beggs, mother of Mrs. Carnegie, discovered the robbery. She went to her room and found a handkerchief on the floor that had been in a drawer. It was then found that jewelry estimated at about $4,000 was missing. Mr. and Mrs. Carnegie lost, among other articles, a diamond wrist watch, a gold ring set with a large diamond, a gold bar pin, a gold mesh bag and a number of smaller pins. Mrs. Beggs’s loss included a gold watch, set with diamonds, valued at $1,000; two rings set with diamonds and rubles and a gold mesh bag.” (A watch worth $1000 in 1922 would be worth about $15,000 today.)
Anyway, the house is still a lovely Shingle Style mansion with a gambrel roof. We love the way the old Shingle Style houses had grand, elegant entrances that still seemed cozy and intimate. We wish today’s architects would replicate these designs.
There are 11 bedrooms and 14.5 bathrooms in 12,000 square feet. Particularly nice is the porch with a fireplace, and what looks like a huge open space for parties (presumably the converted stables). Outside, there’s a generous 4.6 acres of land including a lovely pool and a tennis court.
The interiors seem a bit tired and Mario Buatta-ish to us, which might be holding the property, repped by Tim Davis at Corcoran, back a bit. The asking price two years ago was $37.5 million; now the ask is a much more reasonable $29.5 million. What do you think will be the sweet spot?
For more, click here. 92 Coopers Neck Lane, Southampton
