There are few homes so steeped in history that they rise to the level of iconic. Halseycot and its “twin sister,” the renowned Topping House, rise to that level as the last standing properties exemplifying Southampton’s transformation from potato fields and farms to one of America’s most expensive zip codes. The family at the center of that transformation is the Halseys and Halseycot, one of the original Sagaponack properties, is now on the market for $7.95 million.Southampton is the first English town in the State of New York and Sagaponack is its crown jewel. Known to the in-crowd as Sagg, its name means “place where the large ground-nuts grow.” Thomas Halsey, the patriarch of the family, has Southampton residency dating back to the 1600’s. Fast forward to 1894 when Stephen Bolles Halsey and his wife, Adelia VanWyck Vandervoort, decided to build Halseycot as a summer residence in Sagg. Talk about credentials. As their names indicate, this couple represented the Who’s Who of NY society.Halseycot truly comes from sturdy Pilgrim stock, having survived the great Hurricane of 1938. The 2,346-foot classic shingle-style home is only a half-mile to the famed Gibson’s Beach and while on just 1.4 acres, it is adjacent to an amazing 16-acre reserve. The charming home features a wrap-around porch, six bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, an original fireplace, is a urrounded by beautiful mature trees, and has an antique 1900 barn and two outbuildings. This is a rare opportunity to own a piece of history while enjoying premier real estate. Paul Brennan and Martha Gundersen of Douglas Elliman have the special listing.
