In the 1920’s, the roaring twenties on Long Island, New York there were a number of large mansions owned by the well-to-do. It was the prohibition years. Drinking, sex and dancing were prime pastimes. One particular mansion was the most sought after party place to get an invitation to and many attended without actual invitations. Winston Churchill and Groucho Marx were known to have frequented the parties. This mansion was the setting that inspired one of the greatest American novelists, F. Scott Fitzgerald, to write The Great Gatsby. It is the story of Gatsby, his heyday and his demise. Every time I read that novel I am struck by not only the story but the method with which it is written. The economy of words is remarkable, and not one word could be left out. Each word is essential to the story.
Now, the mind-boggling is happening. The current owner of that formerly beautiful mansion is tearing it down. He states he can’t afford the $4000/month upkeep. If you see recent pictures of it, it’s obvious that not much upkeep has been done in a number of years. It is a true landmark of an American classic, a great writer and of a historical time for the area. More mind-boggling is that it will be replaced by 4 or 5 large homes on a couple of acres that have no historical meaning. More of what we think of as progress. Couldn’t it have been spared? Too late, it’s a goner.
Stan the Man
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