 |
| Grover Cleveland Loening |
 |
| 1947 aerial showing "Margrove: in the center. To the left was "Buckmeadow". The three properties to right were "Munadin Farm", "The Chimneys"and "Seven Gables". |
 |
| The former "Margrove", transformed into "Villa Martina" |
 |
| "Margrove", the residence at Mill Neck, L. I., of the famous airplane designer, Grover Loening |
It is built of red brick unrelieved by window sills, lintels, etc • the flat roof, which serves as a terrace, is ventilated by an open design in the surrounding wall suggesting the wings of a bird. This motif and the distinct blue of the awnings are the relieving notes in the brick exterior.
 |
| "Villa Martina" Mill Neck, New York |
 |
| "Margrove", the residence at Mill Neck, L. I., of the famous airplane designer, Grover Loening |
The entrance door bears clusters of chromium stars as hinges, and the moon in first quarter adorns its brow. The size and placing of the windows were planned in relation to the rooms, regardless of symmetry. Mr. Loening was his own architect.
 |
| "Villa Martina" Mill Neck, New York |
 |
| "Margrove", the residence at Mill Neck, L. I., of the famous airplane designer, Grover Loening |
All the principal rooms of "Margrove" open onto porches and terraces; one can step from hall, living room, and dining room to this main terrace. An outside staircase from the
second floor leads to the roof garden; it is of California redwood in its natural finish, its color blending pleasantly with that of the brick wall.
 |
| "Villa Martina" Mill Neck, New York |
 |
| "Margrove", the residence at Mill Neck, L. I., of the famous airplane designer, Grover Loening |
From the entrance hall, the most original and important feature of the house, two wings lead off, that to the right containing dining room, kitchen, and service quarters on the first floor, with guest rooms and nursery above; the other having library and living room on the first floor, with master’s rooms above.
 |
| "Villa Martina" Mill Neck, New York |
 |
| "Margrove", the residence at Mill Neck, L. I., of the famous airplane designer, Grover Loening |
In the hall, the gray terrazzo marble floor and darker toned carpet are a fitting background for the seagull stair railing of steel that was designed by Mr. Loening. The photographic murals on the gray walls show Loening airplanes in flight.
 |
| "Villa Martina" Mill Neck, New York |
 |
| "Margrove", the residence at Mill Neck, L. I., of the famous airplane designer, Grover Loening |
The spacious living room at "Margrove", which forms the first floor in the left-hand wing, is delightfully hospitable. Soft light green walls and a dark brown rug throw into strong relief the dark burnt-orange upholstery on the comfortable furniture. What is apparently a table in the farthest corner of the room hides the entrance to a tiny secret staircase leading down to a large and comfortable playroom.
 |
| "Villa Martina" Mill Neck, New York |
 |
| "Margrove", the residence at Mill Neck, L. I., of the famous airplane designer, Grover Loening |
The dining room, across the entrance hall from the living room, is restrained and beautiful. Antique Duncan Phyfe furniture blends happily with a modern setting of deep blue walls, having a molding and chair rail of aluminum. The introduction of Adam swags on the indirect lighting fixtures and on the mirror valances over the silver draperies serves to combine past and present modes of decoration.
 |
| "Villa Martina" Mill Neck, New York |
 |
| "Margrove", the residence at Mill Neck, L. I., of the famous airplane designer, Grover Loening |
An inviting room is Mr. Loening’s dressing room, its walls white with black trim, its draperies and upholstery of striking black and white material. A panel of maps, giving the airplane routes of the entire country, encircle the room. The large casement windows are a feature of "Margrove".
Mrs. Loening’s boudoir-bath is a modernistic conception in black and silver. An interesting innovation is that one can lie on the tub as well as in it; the cushioned top, covered with waterproof material on the reverse side, is simply turned back against the wall when the bath is to be used. Robert Snediger did the striking silver decorations upon the black glass walls.
Above is a guest bedroom, delightfully modernistic in its blending of silver and light green, with accents of black and orange. The wallpaper is a plaid design of silver on a gray background. Mrs. Loening was her own decorator.
![]()
"Margrove" location at wikimapia.
Mr. and Mrs. Grover C. Loening of Mill Neck, L. I., have built a beautiful new Winter home at Manana Estates, adjoining that of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Potter Breese of Southampton, L. I. Their trips all are made by air and Mr. Loening has a private dock for his great amphibian. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle 18 Nov 1934
"Manana Point" was remodeled by Marion Sims Wyeth in a Moorish-Spanish style. The house still stands.
Loening Amphibian employed the first practical retractable undercarriage and was widely used by the military, airlines and private owners all over the world.
![]()
ARTHUR BRIGHAM CLAFLIN (1858 - 1939), wholesale dry goods merchant. Claflin was a partner in the firm founded by his father, Horace B. Claflin. His brother, John, was a JIC member. Claflin’s estate on Long Island is now the campus of Southampton College; another of his estates is now Lakewood Country Club in New Jersey, whose first president was JIC member George Gould. Claflin's daughter, Beatrice, first married Robert P. Breese, son of James L. Breese, amateur photographer and close friend of architect Stanford White. In 1928 Beatrice Claflin Breese married the 5th Earl of Gosford.
Those who sat for him included Jawaharlal Nehru, Bernard Baruch, William S. Paley, the Duchess of Windsor, Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon, Richard Rodgers, Helen Hayes and the King of Nepal.
His murals adorned the main lounge and ballroom of the ocean liner America, once the largest of liners; he also created murals for the Wall Street Club, for the conference room of the Joint Committee on Military Affairs of the Senate and House and for Mrs. Charles Shipman Payson and Mrs. Mellon Bruce.
I didn't find anything on the Artist Robert Snediger who did the work in Mrs. Loening's bathroom.
From the Nassau County property records - "Modernistic house poorly designed & splashed up cheap construction."
Above color photos of "Villa Martina" from a 2014 listing.
 |
| "Villa Martina" Mill Neck, New York |
 |
| "Margrove", the residence at Mill Neck, L. I., of the famous airplane designer, Grover Loening |
Mrs. Loening’s boudoir-bath is a modernistic conception in black and silver. An interesting innovation is that one can lie on the tub as well as in it; the cushioned top, covered with waterproof material on the reverse side, is simply turned back against the wall when the bath is to be used. Robert Snediger did the striking silver decorations upon the black glass walls.
 |
| Marka Loening, Mrs. Grover Loening by Charles Baskerville |
 |
| "Margrove", the residence at Mill Neck, L. I., of the famous airplane designer, Grover Loening |
Above is a guest bedroom, delightfully modernistic in its blending of silver and light green, with accents of black and orange. The wallpaper is a plaid design of silver on a gray background. Mrs. Loening was her own decorator.
"Margrove" location at wikimapia.
 |
| "Manana Point", Palm Beach, Florida Architect Maurice Fatio |
Mr. and Mrs. Grover C. Loening of Mill Neck, L. I., have built a beautiful new Winter home at Manana Estates, adjoining that of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Potter Breese of Southampton, L. I. Their trips all are made by air and Mr. Loening has a private dock for his great amphibian. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle 18 Nov 1934
"Manana Point" was remodeled by Marion Sims Wyeth in a Moorish-Spanish style. The house still stands.
 |
| Loening Amphibian |
Loening Amphibian employed the first practical retractable undercarriage and was widely used by the military, airlines and private owners all over the world.
 |
| Their Gilded Cage: The Jekyll Island Club Members |
 |
| "Pine Terrace" |
 |
| Charles Baskerville |
Those who sat for him included Jawaharlal Nehru, Bernard Baruch, William S. Paley, the Duchess of Windsor, Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon, Richard Rodgers, Helen Hayes and the King of Nepal.
His murals adorned the main lounge and ballroom of the ocean liner America, once the largest of liners; he also created murals for the Wall Street Club, for the conference room of the Joint Committee on Military Affairs of the Senate and House and for Mrs. Charles Shipman Payson and Mrs. Mellon Bruce.
I didn't find anything on the Artist Robert Snediger who did the work in Mrs. Loening's bathroom.
From the Nassau County property records - "Modernistic house poorly designed & splashed up cheap construction."
Above color photos of "Villa Martina" from a 2014 listing.
 |
| The Claflin Southampton estate at oldlongisland.com |
 |
| https://historichouses.wordpress.com/tag/southampton-college/ |
 |
| The Claflin estate in New Jersey |