House Tour 2012

A month after being hit with Hurricane Sandy plus, a few days later, a Nor’easter, on December 2, 2012, our homeowners opened their doors for the Society’s 19th Holiday House Tour.

This year we showcased six beautiful homes in our hamlet and held our reception in St. Mark’s Episcopal Church’s Fenton Hall. The Marinozzi home was once the summer home to the Wagner Family, first Senator Robert Wagner and, later, Mayor Robert Wagner. The home now holds many heirlooms once owned by the owners’ grandparents.

The Dunton home was built in the 1930’s as an “overflow” guest house to accommodate guests who visited the Havemeyer estate. The home is now filled with many mementos from the owners’ family, long-time Islip residents.

The Reese home was built in the early 1920s based on plans purchased from the Standard Homes Company. The Craftsman-style inspired home still retains many original features, such as the rope pulley mechanism for the windows.

The Tredonne home was originally the carpentry barn to the Dick estate. Many additions have been made to the home over several years and owners. The cottage on the property, also showcased on the tour, was converted from a garage, to a guest house to a small home several years ago. The Daughters of Wisdom was formerly the summer residence of W. Kingsland Macy and his family. It has been the home of the Daughters of Wisdom since 1966. They are an international congregation of Catholic Sisters first established in France in 1703.

The Rinaudo home was built around 1900 and retains many original features. The added porch was featured in Good Housekeeping Magazine as an example of how to expand living space in a home. Many pieces throughout the house have been lovingly restored either by the homeowner or her mother.

Tour participants were able to warm up at the reception where hot chocolate, tea, coffee, as well as baked goods, were awaiting them as well as music from Maria Fairchild and George Cannova. The Chinese auction consisted of 85 gift certificates/baskets this year.

For the 15th year, we worked with the USMC to collect toys for their Toys for Tots program.

Putting the house tour together requires the help and dedication of many people: Roberta Drake (kitchen), Marie Hart (tour guides, society table), Jane Mizrach (costumes), Arlene Goldman (Chinese Auction, 50/50 raffle), Stephen Kreutzer (entertainment, reception location), Christina Vanasco (decorations, house hunting), Karen Silverthorn (tickets), Lori Zegel/Nook & Cranny Gift Boutique (ticket sales) and Karen Schill (house sketches), all the volunteers who help us by dressing up or helping at the reception, the homeowners who willingly opened their doors to 385 people this year, and the ticket holders who help support the Society.

On behalf of the Society, I’d like to extend an especially grateful “Thank You” to Marjorie Moore Dunton, whose home was flooded by the hurricane but still managed to be able to open her doors in time for the tour.

The Historical Society of Islip Hamlet House Tour – what a wonderful way to start the Holidays!