Cedarshore

by Webb N. Morrison

Alderman George A. Morrison of Brooklyn, a builder and also a long-time summer visitor to Sayville, bought the Leander Powell Estate (called 'Cedarshore') in February 1913, reportedly for about $35,000.  The Estate, 4.3 acres on the east side of Handsome Avenue with a footage of 664.5 feet, stretched from Elm Street to the Bay; in depth, it went halfway (301.5 feet) along Elm Street to Greene Avenue.  The other half of the "block", fronting on Elm Street and west side of Greene Avenue, was then owned by the Hayward family.  In 1920, the Haywards sold it to developer Emil Kupfer who built cottages and a community garage on the property.  The dividing line between the two parcels ran in a straight line from Elm Street to the Bay.

Upon purchase, the large Powell barn was moved to the shorefront and remodeled as a bathing pavilion and construction of summer "cottages" began almost immediately.  Over the next several years, at least nine cottages were constructed.  Seven still remain today (259, 277-279, 299, and 311 Handsome Avenue: 12, 16, 20 Elm Street).  Among them, the present 12 and 20 Elm Street, were originally built on the shore west of the Casino building and later--probably around 1916--moved to the northern end of the property where they stand now.  (16 Elm Street, of similar design to its two neighbors, was built on its present site.)  The "Musician's Cottage" and the "Caretaker's Cottage", directly north of the Hotel close to the east property line, have been demolished; the "Musician's Cottage" was connected to the underground garage (see below) by a tunnel from its hasement.  The "Caretaker's Cottage" was inhabited for many years by L. A. C. and Eloise Gray, Maitre d' and Chief Housekeeper at the Cedarshore Hotel.

The Cedarshore Casino and Beach Club was established and the pavilion expanded in 1914; it had about 100 large bathouses on the ground floor and dining room, ball room, and card room above.  This building was further enlarged in 1929 and, after Prohibition, the Ship's Bar and Marine Grill were installed downstairs in 1934; it was expanded again in 1937.  An adjacent soda fountain served patrons at the beach.

The original Powell House (which burned) was initially occupied by George A. Morrison and his family but they moved to one of the "cottages", 311 Handsome Avenue, in 1916.  At that time, he began construction of the first Cedarshore Hotel; however, the Hotel was destroyed by fire in June 1917, before opening for business.

Delayed by the War and other exigencies, a new four-story hotel was built in the spring of 1924 adjacent to and connected with the Casino by an enclosed bridge; a fifth floor was added in 1925 to encompass, overall, about 160 rooms and 125 baths.  Additionally, after Prohibition, the Candid Camera Bar was opened on the first floor and, in 1938, a large fireplace was built in the Main Lounge with the aim of keeping part of the Hotel open year round.

Bulkheaded piers extended into the Bay at each end of the Beach, protecting the swimming area; the pier on the east was for swimmers and boaters, the one on the west provided a boat slip.  The parking lot (referred to as the Concourse) was behind the 300 foot beach, about where Cele Court is today; it stretched from a small gatehouse at the foot of Handsome Avenue to the Casino.  The home at 12 Cele Court now occupies the original Casino/Marine Grill site.  An underground garage with spaces for 35 cars served both the Hotel and the cottages.  It was located on the present site of 9 Eric Court; entrance was by a driveway on the south side of 277-279 Handsome Avenue.

Cedarshore was operated by G. Elliott Morrison (son of George A., father of Webb N.) until his death in 1938.  In the late 1920s and through the 1930s, it was a center of area social life.  Guests even arrived by seaplane.

During World War II, Cedarshore was used by the New York Herald Tribune Fresh Air Fund.  Latterly, the building reopened as the Bayview Plaza Hotel.  Although it had always been fully sprinklered, it burned to the ground (following a Fire Chiefs' dinner) on September 28th, 1959.  Reportedly, the sprinkler system was "down for maintenance".

This information was written in November 1998 and revised December 2004.