Program

NYS Historic

Subject

Arts & Culture

Location

777 Montauk Hwy, Center Moriches, NY 11934, USA

Lat/Long

40.802905, -72.808321

Grant Recipient

Masury Estate Ballroom / Holiday Beach Property Owners Association

During the Second Industrial Revolution New York City grew and prospered, along with communities on Long Island. Rail lines, trolleys and roadways made it easy for city dwellers to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and to enjoy a brief respite on Long Island. Not surprisingly, Long Island became popular among the wealthy upper class and soon large family estates were built there.

The estate of one such family, John W. Masury, was located in the hamlet of Center Moriches, about 1.4 miles south on Old Neck Road.  Masury made his fortune in the manufacturing of paint and erected a sumptuous residence known as the “Beaurivage” nearby, around 1898. This stately home was featured in the 1899-1900 edition of Architects and Builders Magazine where it was described in great detail. The Masury Estate was no ordinary home. It was designed to serve as a place of leisure and entertainment. The magazine describes one of the buildings adjacent to the main house:

The low picturesque building toward the east is devoted entirely to pleasure and amusements, and contains the grand ball room, bowling alleys, billiard and pool rooms, smoking room, sun parlor, toilets, and other rooms.

The Masury Ballroom was a well-known feature of the home, which was enjoyed many. This residence remained in the Masury family for a short period of time, followed by a number of different owners and many modifications. The property was eventually acquired in 1957 by the Holiday Beach Property Owners Association.  As of today, all that remains of John W. Masury’s sprawling estate and main house is the Masury Ballroom, which bears his name.

Links

• Holiday Beach Property Owners Association