Arthur V. Davis Residence (Mill Neck, New York)

 residence, LIGC - Long Island Gold Coast, Italianate style (architecture)

Residence designed by Guy Lowell c. 1922 in the Italian Renaissance style with lanscaping by Ellen Biddle Shipman and interior design by Wm. H. Baumgarten & Co. for Arthur Vining Davis {financier, industrialist, capitalist}. Davis served as director of Mellon National Bank & Trust Co., Union Trust Co., Logan Trust Co., Canada Life Assurance Co., American Brake Shoe Co., Pennsylvania Water & Power Co., and Canadian Life Assurance Co. He also served as chairman of Aluminum Company of America. Davis was once listed as the 3rd richest man in the US.

Situated on almost 12 acres, the nearly 10,000 square feet home contains a two level basement with a large mahogany bar and a row of mirrors; the center mirror leads to a secret room that contains a small casino. Davis also commissioned landscaping by Ferruccio Vitale in 1922. During WWII, his yacht "Elda" was recomissioned as a United States Navy patrol boat. After Davis passed away in 1962, he left his $400M in estate monies to charity to be used for education, science, and religious work.

The estate has been renamed "La Reserve" by subsequent owners which included Louis Joseph Nicastro. Its casino outbuilding and farm group are now separate residences.

www.oldlongisland.com/search?q=arthur+vining+davis
archive.org/details/countrylife54gard/page/n283/mode/1u...
archive.org/details/artsdecoration2728newy/page/n276/mo...
Pictures - tinyurl.com/2eu2d5s
www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2018751215/