Greatfields: A Quiet Legacy in the Heart of Shelter Island

Featured in the Wall Street Journal, history and coffee table books, and built in 1778 by Samuel Havens on a tract of land that once stretched from Fresh Pond to this quiet corner near Wades Beach, “Greatfields” stands as one of Shelter Island’s enduring architectural treasures. Time has passed through its rooms gently. Originally described by its former owner, an architectural historian and preservationist, as a rare example of “essential folk wren vernacular architecture,” the home remains remarkably faithful to its origins while quietly accommodating the needs of modern life. A simple center hall greets visitors, with wide plank floors underfoot, with high ceilings, rarely seen in homes of its age, and exposed beams that have witnessed more than two centuries of changing seasons. To the right of the entry, the front parlor centers on a raised fireplace. On the left of the entry, a library and dining area opens to a small study, each space connected in a way that feels both deliberate and unforced. The rear of the house is its most open and social space – a second dining and sitting area, generous kitchen and preparation space fitted with high-end appliances and custom cabinets, framed by windows that welcome the morning light. A sitting room with half bath completes the first floor. Upstairs, the en-suite primary bedroom includes a bath with a ball-and-claw tub and quiet views of the surrounding property. Two additional guest bedrooms, a full bath, and a separate laundry room complete the second level. Outside, perennial shrubs mark the path to a patio just beyond the kitchen – a fine place for entertaining or relaxing. Beyond it, a 16′ x 40′ in-ground Gunite pool is paired with a spa-like outdoor shower and a meditation area tucked among mature plantings. A midden discovered during renovation work speaks to the land’s layered past. This home has been shaped not just by design, but by care – including the stewardships of an archaeologist, designer and a preservationist who honored its history while making room for today. Located on a quiet corner near town, the beach, and Fresh Pond, Greatfields is not simply a house with a story. It is, quietly and steadfastly, still writing one.

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