Class Rook g^^^^V^ GoipghtN"^ COPYRIGHT DEPOSrr. m 1 r , ' 4 1 . 1 •'if ■;-M^ >,; ."."V. <;, LODGE AND ENTRANCE TO BELLE TERRE BELLE TERRE LONG ISLAND Its Whereabouts — Its Purpose Its Plans and Its Attractions Described with Pictures DEAN ALVORD COMPANY I MANAGERS 111 BROADWAY NEW YORK CITY CC1.A2.'539G4 COPYRIGHT I9IO BY DEAN ALVORD COMPANY f| HERE are fewer subjects of greater interest and less if intelligently written about than the evolution of the American home. In design, construction, and above all in environment, it has in some prosperous centers more than kept pace with man in his general development. Improvement in culture in America is undeniable, but it is most marked where Americans have sought spots of natural beauty to erect their own dearest shrines, the American home, as did the Greeks their temples. And those homes faster than the race itself are approaching the ideal. The builders of them in their increasing numbers indicate the growth of refinement which is by no means dependent upon wealth, but may find expression in innate, cultivated good taste. It is a far cry from the solitary log cabin of the fathers to the ordinary suburban community of to-day. From this to Belle Terre is quite as long a step in advancement. There is nothing quite like Belle Terre in the world; its inception, plan and execution present to the student of social science the achievement of the ideal, a perfect home amid perfect surroundings. The full measure of its worth can be known only to those who actually enjoy this dual perfection. "To live like a lord," the dream of many who have tried it, is there realized by those who wish it in its best sense. Belle Terre is a con- federation of private estates within a great one, where every landholder is a king with all the rights, privileges and enjoyments of the whole without any of its care or responsibilities save that of helping by vote to preserve a desirable membership. This is a natural outgrowth of what has gone before in the evolution of the country summer home. The colony idea is not new, but a colony on its own estate, a club colony, administered in conjunction with its club house for congenial society, the benefit of its residents and members, that all may enjoy ideal life at the seaside on the high plane of Belle Terre, is new and makes for evolution, culture and delightful social intercourse of congenial people. Its success was illumined by the brilliancy of the season just closed which was greater than previous seasons with promise of still more delightful summers to come. This result was almost instant proof that Belle Terre is a development along right lines, and the unapproachable beauty of the site called forth an immediate response by a large number of most refined people desirous of a country home with social advantages unobtainable elsewhere or in any other manner. Here are scores of people ot moderate means whose recognized social prominence is due to their refinement and lovable personality. The development of the Belle Terre idea appeals strongly to such people, and their exclusive community is drawing to them the best of all cities who desire a seaside home under such exceptional conditions. Every applicant must be eligible to club membership, but a desirable neighbor is heartily welcomed to the most delightful summer colony 'in America. This development from the ordinary suburban resort to the exclusive perfect summer colony owes much of its success to the rare beauty of the site chosen for the experiment and its nearness to New York. It is only eighty minutes away, easily reached by yacht, train or motor car. The bold, rugged character of the Belle Terre peninsular, jutting out from the north shore of Long Island, wood capped in all its primeval glory, seemed made by nature for the plan. Its thirteen hundred acres of diversified land needed but a touch of artistic landscaping here and there to enhance its appealing charms. Superb marine views meet the eye from every point. Winding roads, wide stretching lawns, the forest marshaled in effective lines soon transformed a wilderness into a great domain of park and woodland, where each building site is left with a most effective setting. The superb peninsula was cut off the main land by a wall cleft only by a stone lodge, which with its red roof, classic lines and massive old English gate of iron seems a part of the landscape of some ancient baronial estate. Within lies the private estate of every land owner of Belle Terre. Through the gate over wide, smooth roads he speeds to his home, be it palatial or modest, for both besprinkle hill and woodland with equal right to be called beautiful. The inexpensive and popular bungalow adds its touch of pictur- esqueness to the spots best fitted to give from their spacious porches the wonderful views of sea and rolling land enjoyed by their more pretentious neighbors. All blend in a vista of natural loveliness brought to perfection by the highest artistic treatment possible. Much is done for the community at large. Besides the many miles of riding and driving paths through the forest, made safe for women and children by reason of the wall and forest keepers, there is bathing from a private and well kept beach, golf to be played on a nine-hole, 3200-yard course under the supervision of a competent keeper, the enjoyment of tennis on perfect courts, and facilities for all sorts ot social intercourse at the club house. This is the most popular community feature of Belle Terre. The club house is one of the most complete in every respect in the world ; its appointments perfect. Many cottagers dine here, thereby greatly reducing the cares of housekeeping. Port Jefferson harbor, usually alive with yachts, lies in front of its commanding porches. Yachtsmen find it easy to come and go in their yachts. New England people come by daily steamer from Bridgeport. The Queensboro Bridge and fine roads make a quick, comfortable way to reach Belle Terre from New York by motor, and the Long Island Railroad, now a part of the Pennsylvania system, gives good service directly from its new station in the heart of New York. The pictures following give an idea only ot the scenic and physical attractiveness of the spot chosen for a community of perfect American country homes. That the time was ripe for such a radical departure from the ordinary suburban summer community has been amply proven by the number of socially prominent families from New York who have been joined by congenial residents of other places in carrying out the inception of the most exclusive and beautiful country home community it is possible to conceive of. A visit to the colony, which can be arranged through the management, is a delightful experience. THE TENNIS C O LI R T S AND The Club House, situated in the heart ot Belle Terre on a two hundred foot bluff", overlooks Port Jefferson Harbor and commands a panorama of the entire harbor and town, as well as of many miles down the north shore of the island. Guests ot the Club are at all times secure from the intrusion of the excursion and transient elements, as visitors are not permitted to enter the grounds of Belle Terre without invitation cards. The membership includes many very well-known men in tinancial, professional and commercial circles in New York and other large cities, and only those of good social standing are eligible. THE BELLE T E R R E CLUB MILES OF PICTURESgUE BRIDLE PATHS REPRESENTATIVE \' I L L A w PANORAMIC VIEW ELLE TERRt CLUB FACING HARBOR VIEW FROM CLUB VERANDA AN I) OF THE BEACH ». VILLAGE or PORT JEFFERSON THE LODGE AND ENTRANCE WATER Tower old homestead nature's garden ELLE TERRE CLUB GOLF COURSE w O F T E R R E P E H G O L A ! BREAKWATER ON ENTERING BELLE TERRE *:^:v. ^^' 'h- - :^ v.- ■ "j^^^^K^—^ ■ . •^#^- ;^^,,. '^^^^^^^y; ^/^ '^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^K 1 - ^ . _^,; ■ fe ^^^BHJ^^^^^^^^^^t '"^^te -— ^A^^^^^^^E *""""" ■ A' ^i^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^k EAUTIFUL WOODLAND DRIVES Wft: mem THE CLIFF DRIVE IN FOREST SHADE ■ «■ >* ROAD TO BATHING BEACH AND PIER THE BATHING BEACH AND THE PIER UNGALOWS V":^ *.' ^Ife. '.■ r ■»'--v^^^^" •> 1^ • ■• ■~v -f- •1 ,.^. ^>/-^»^^- . .. ..^.i%i^ Rl;&^-^:]3i^^^^^^^^H I^^^l '^ ,v" .*■(. ',^'* - ^'' >^R i«.- ^V :dAA>M^^< ■■•^^^ ^ ^Bi^ ^^^^^^^ • ■■■*•'-, A^ \ A PATH THROUGH BELLE TERRE S MOUNTAIN LAUREL Two voices are there ; one is of the One of the mountains j each a mighty voice. WORDSWORTH MN 14 mn ri .'1 3S ''V .-* ' ''■'■■ ■■>V.r- ;':Tv*v mm '■'(•■if^ ■■■■/■ - ' :■-.■' nfi, f_^ ■. M^ i LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 014 222 121 4 V, 'f-^. T^J^m%, \;r t« ir^ i %^