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My
friend Colette Harron is the agent on the sale of the late
Katharine Hepburn’s fabulous house in the
Fenwick section of Old Saybrook, Connecticut.
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Katharine
Hepburn
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Miss Hepburn
who passed away at 97 earlier this year, was brought up in Hartford,
Connecticut, started going to Fenwick with her family when she
was a very little girl and never stopped.
The original Hepburn family house built on the same site was flattened
in the famous hurricane of 1938 which devastated the shorelines of
the Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Long Island.
In 1939, the Hepburns built another house – bigger (3 stories,
8000 square feet), stronger (white brick), on the same property,
which now consists of three acres and 600 feet of direct Long island
Sound waterfront. That means panoramic views, private beach, (as
well as a private pond). Next door are four acres of open space which
was devised by Miss Hepburn’s will for conservation.
Extending from the shore are
two long granite jetties for added protection for boats
and swimming. It was there that the star took her daily
swim even in wintertime. Colette set up the scene for
me: Hepburn would dive into the icy water, then run back
through the snow to the house for a hot shower before
joining her guests in the grand living room for cocktails
before the roaring fire. Can’t you just see it?
With Tracy or Cary Grant or Bogart waiting
by the fireplace, just like in a Hepburn picture. |
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Katharine
Hepburn’s fabulous house in the Fenwick section of Old
Saybrook, Connecticut
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Incidentally,
Colette said that Hepburn always placed a piece of moist driftwood
on the fire to make it crackle even more. The Hepburn crackle.
After dinner, the Hepburn guests would move to the gaming room
to play Parcheesi in front of yet another fire. Was George
Cukor directing?
It’s a big house, by my standards anyway – pine paneled,
9 bedrooms, 8 full baths. Fenwick, which is a borough of Old Saybrook,
has its own governing body which oversees the golf course and the
tennis courts.
When you think of it, if ever there were a property with
good luck vibes, this has got to be it. First of all the land has
remained in one family for more than a century. Stability. Secondly,
Hepburn lived there as much as she could for sixty-five years, entertained
the world there (the world she wished to entertain). Home, sweet
home with stars in your eyes. Thirdly, it was where she withdrew
to for contemplation in her long and hugely successful professional
career. Peace.
The property is listed with The Mitchel
Agency LLC of Essex, Connecticut, for $12 million, Colette
Harron, broker. 860-767-2621. |
This
is where Katharine Hepburn took her daily swim, even in wintertime
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Meanwhile,
with Thanksgiving upon us, and visions of good
times and a sumptuous dinner set before you, don’t
forget the some of us who have less fortunate times. Think
CITY HARVEST. They’ve got the perfect solution, and
this is it:
Visit the Union Square Greenmarket
on Saturday, November 22nd
to get all of your Thanksgiving fixings,
and buy a bag of fresh produce to donate
to City Harvest. We’ll be there
collecting the donations that will go
directly to the community food programs
we serve throughout the five boroughs,
so that countless hungry New Yorkers
can have nutritious fruits and vegetables
for the holidays. Look for our table,
we’ll be there all day! Buy
a bag for City Harvest. |
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