Tag Archives: Southampton College

Southampton Windmill, Southampton NY

Ok, so it is not an historic house, per se, but it is said that this windmill hosted Tennessee Williams at one point, and he wrote one of this plays there.  Located near the Clafin Estate / Tucker Mill Inn is the historic Southampton Windmill.

Southampton Windmill 3

Southampton Windmill 3

“The windmill, which originally sat on what is now Hill Street in Southampton Village, was moved to its current location in 1890 to become part of what was then known as the Claflin estate. During that time, it served as a playhouse for the Claflins’ daughter Beatrice, according to “The College Windmill: An Affectionate History,” a booklet authored by Edward Glanz, the founding provost of Southampton College.

The property remained in the Claflin family until it was sold following World War II and was then run as the Tucker Mill Inn, catering primarily to summer visitors. Tennessee Williams rented the windmill one summer in the 1950s and, according to rumor, wrote several of his famous plays while staying there.

Long Island University purchased the property in 1963 and opened it as Southampton College. During the college’s early years, the windmill served as a meeting place for students and its top floor offered overnight accommodations to the school’s more prominent guests. The 82-acre campus was acquired by Stony Brook University and reopened as Stony Brook Southampton in fall 2007.”

  • See: Chinese, Vera. “Southampton News – Stony Brook Southampton Windmill Receives $250,000 Facelift – 27east.” 27east.com: The Hamptons On-line Guide to News, Sports, Real Estate, Classifieds, Travel, Restaurants Events and Obituaries in Southampton New York and East Hampton New York. – Your Online Connection to the East End. 18 June 2009. Web. 14 June 2010. <http://www.27east.com/story_detail.cfm?id=216553&town=Southampton&gt;.
Southampton Windmill 10

Southampton Windmill 10

Click here for more photos of the Southampton Windmill.

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Filed under Long Island Historic Institution

Clafin Estate / Tucker Mill Inn / Southampton College, Southampton NY

This beautiful house was built in 1896 by the noted architect, Grosvenor Atterbury for Arthur B. Clafin.  The house also was known as the Tucker Mill Inn.

Tucker Mill Inn

For years it has served as the administration building for Southampton College, now SUNY Stony Brook at Southampton.  The large antenna in the background is for a radio station.

Tucker Mill Inn from the Side

This view of the chimney and windows shows some signature details that Grosvenor Atterbury was known for.

Detail Chimney

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Filed under Long Island Historic Homes