Before Big Screen TVs

Continuing from my last post, the two Jay estates, the one in Katonah and the other in Rye are both beautiful locations. Go visit either of them and you will experience this.

The Rye residence you enter from Boston Post Road, driving past the house with its neo-classical design, with these amazing pillars, and then down into a back parking lot. We parked and walked back up to the front of the house and then up the steps to the front porch or portico. Colonnade is perhaps too much.

It was a warm sunny summer day when we checked out the Rye house and the large front door was open. The rear door at the back of the house was open. We came up the steps onto the portico, entering into the house. From the front door you could see out of the rear door down the rolling hill, down to the Sound, across the Long Island Sound proper, and even Long Island across the way.

That view was framed by the interior of the house. And I did not realize the hill we were on and the view we had until we stepped onto that porch and walked through that front door-only to see the view out the back door.

Now in Katonah you have a similar experience. You drive up this long straight driveway, parking next to the herb garden. The garden distracts, but you are again walking up the hill to the house.

The house in Katonah is a large colonial era farmhouse. It is much simpler, but still with a lovely porch the length of the house. And this porch once again offers a beautiful view. Once again it is not realized until you turn around and take in the fields and hills from which you came. Once again you have climbed up to this beautiful perch, this porch with a several chairs for you to relax in, and just take in this view of the land and hills surrounding the place.

Again, to be continued. . .

And do check out the John Jay Homestead in Katonah NY, and the Jay Estate in Rye NY.