SALT MEADOW- Sands Point, New York

          A SHORT HISTORY OF SALT MEADOW
SALT MEADOW is one of the very few remaining homes from the Quaker farming era in Sands Point. It has been completely renovated with emphasis on retaining the historic ambiance of the structure. The estate has been returned to its farming roots with the establishment of a productive Concord vineyard.
In 1846, Edward W Mott, a 21 year old Quaker farmer married his 18 year old bride, Deborah Burtis. Edward’s father, Leonard Mott built them a home on a low hill near his own farmhouse. Both homes were on the edge of a “salt meadow”, a free flowing tidal estuary and close to a sandy beach on Long Island Sound.
It was built by Quaker craftsmen using an archaic “scribe method” to mark their hand cut pegged joints. The farmhouse copied the popular Greek Revival Style. It had no lighting or electricity but boasted a large cooking hearth in the kitchen. It was valued at 9000 USD, a fair sum in 1846.
In the 1850 national census, Edward and Deborah are recorded as living in the home with an infant daughter, Elizabeth and 4 workers, 2 of whom are noted as black. One of these black workers, 12 year old Jacob Eto, will later become a sergeant in the Union Army during the civil war. This is not surprising as the Quakers were very involved in the Underground Railroad. He probably saw escaped southern slaves being hidden on the farms and later smuggled out by boat. In fact, Salt Meadow has a hidden stone cellar.( It has not yet been found by the current owners). Jacob Eto is buried in a military cemetery in Brooklyn.
Elizabeth Mott never married and sold the farm in 1900. It was one of many small parcels of land being bought up to make a large country estate for William Guggenheim. He was the first of the Guggenheim sons to buy land in Sands Point. Salt Meadow was already 60 years old so he built himself an Italian style mansion in 1910. His brothers would later buy larger estates in the area and build palatial homes. In the First World War, William donated all the Black Walnut trees on his 155 acre estate for military aircraft propellers.
In 1929, his widow Aimee Guggenheim sold Salt Meadow to William Averill Harriman, a statesman who would negotiate American war aid personally with Stalin in the 2nd World War. He would also later serve as New York governor.
He immediately began a large renovation which incorporated the original structure into a larger Colonial Style dwelling. It was used for guests and became the residence of his (second) Mother in Law. She entertained many of the personalities and artists of the day in her bedroom as she was in poor health. Two of the reputed guests are ERTE and Al Capone who spent the night.
Averill Harriman sold off small pieces of his 155 acre estate to friends. Salt Meadow was sold off in the 1940’s with 3 acres of ground. It passed through many private hands and eventually became neglected. The origins of the home were long forgotten.
In 2004, it was bought in derelict condition by Robert Schapiro, an airline pilot and his wife Arlene Getz, a journalist. They moved in with 1 toilet and 1 cold water tap operating. They restored the home and grounds for 5 years, taking care to preserve any items of historical interest. The home now operates like any modern structure but is dotted with reminders of its rich past.
The original post and beam structure has been exposed in places to reveal the 1846 builders markings and joints. The Dining room has exposed wooden beams and a unique art neauveau fireplace from 1930 made of nickel. It was reputedly designed by ERTE.
The original cooking hearth in the kitchen was excavated from behind a wall and is again being used for heating. The formal lounge has the original exquisite 1840 era marble fireplace surround.
Rob Schapiro also did extensive research to try uncover the full history of Salt Meadow. Historic documents are on display in the entry hall. Also on display are artifacts from the various periods. Most were recovered from a huge glacial erratic rock close to the home. The rock was deposited by the receding glaciers of the last ice age. The 1850 Quaker farmers used a crevice in the rock as a dump for unwanted items such as old oil lamps, bottles, cutlery, canning jars and flatware. The crevice silted up in time and the rock became covered with heavy vegetation. The items were discovered and recovered in 2005 and a selection is also on display in the entry hall. They provide a time capsule to daily life on a pre civil war  farm. The rock continues to spit out small items such as a belt buckle and blue glass beads in 2010.
A  vineyard was planted in 2005 in an old horse paddock. It has 170  Concord vines in 13 rows and a drip irrigation system. It is now producing a huge quantity of very tasty fruit, most of which is pressed by foot into juice and wine by enthusiastic helpers. It’s hard to believe Manhattan is just 30 minutes away.