Glitter That Was Once Gold

About the Book

This book is for the curious, that want to read about a Long Island lifestyle that no longer exists. This book will answer questions like...

• What Long Island mansion is the second largest home built in America?
• Which Long Island millionaire was sued by merchants to pay for his wife's shopping bills?
• Where Hecksher Park got it's name?
• Why there are two lines of pine trees down the median of the Southern State Parkway near Belmont State Park?
• Why is there a two-mile bend in the Northern State Parkway?
• What estate hosted performances by Tyrone Powers, John Phillips Sousa as well as Ethel Barrymore at it's outdoor amphitheater?
• Which estate was the setting for the highly publicized custody battle of Gloria Vanderbit?
• Which mansion was used for the head in the bed scene from ''The Godfather'' movie?
• Which estate has the oldest wrought iron entrance gates in America?
• Which mansion was the inspiration for the book ''Great Gatsby''?
• Which estate has the original eagles from the first Grand Central Station in Manhattan?
• Which mansion took two demolition companies to knock down?
• Which Long Island resident coerced her seventeen-year old daughter to marry royalty?
• Which estate did Robert Moses acquire for a parkway extension and bridge to Connecticut?
• Which two estates occupied the town of Lattingtown?

About the Author

Kevin Durst is a long time Gold Coast buff and a Long Island resident for fourteen years. This is his first book.