A Francis Burrall Hoffman Jr.-designed residence, dating back to 1916, is on the market in East Hampton. And, besides the touch of the legendary architect, it has a prominent pedigree: Lorenzo and Mary Woodhouse had the home built for their daughter, Marjorie Woodhouse, as her 16th birthday present. The family had strong ties to the town, making major financial contributions to the East Hampton Library, Clinton Academy, and establishing Guild Hall (the location of the 2024 Hamptons Innovation in Design Awards) and pioneering the arts.
The Huntting Lane address is ideally situated between town and the ocean, close to Main Street’s high-end shops, Maidstone Club, and Atlantic Beach. A historic landmark among locals, the property has not been on the market since 1958 when it was purchased by the Brockman family.
The exquisite three-acre grounds include a gunite swimming pool, mature landscaping, specimen trees, and a terrace. But what’s inside? The home was long known as “The Playhouse” because its 75-foot long Elizabethan-style salon once had a stage and often hosted performances. In fact, cultural workshops and performances was the property’s primary purpose until recently when it was renovated into a residence for the first time by the sellers, per 27East.
Vaulted ceilings reach 40-feet, allowing for plenty of natural light and providing a grand space. More recently, a copper-clad conservatory has been added to the footprint and the kitchen has been renovated. Plenty spacious for weekend hosting, the 6,000-square-foot abode totals five bedrooms and five full bathrooms.
So far, the Woodhouse and the Brockman families are the only people who have owned The Playhouse. For those interested in stewarding this sliver of East Hampton history next, Cindy Shea and Leslie Reingold of Sotheby’s International Realty hold the listing.
