Inisfada

Inisfada
Former names	St. Ignatius Retreat House
General information
Type	Residence, religious institution
Architectural style	Tudor/Elizabeth revival
Location	North Hills, New York
Country	United States
Coordinates	40°47′07.0″N 73°39′59.2″W / 40.785278°N 73.666444°W / 40.785278; -73.666444
Completed	1920
Demolished	December 2013
Client	Nicholas & Genevieve Brady
Design and construction
Architect	John T. Windrim

Inisfada was the North Hills, Long Island, estate of Nicholas Frederic Brady and Genevieve Brady (née Garvan), a papal duke and duchess.^[1] Nicholas Brady was a convert from Episcopalianism to Catholicism and built this estate.^[2] As noted by the New York Times and Newsday, the mansion was used as a residence by visiting Catholic dignitaries including Popes, including Eugenio Pacelli (the future Pope Pius XII) as a Vatican diplomat in 1936.^[3]^[4]

The name Inisfada is Gaelic for "Long Island". The mansion was one the largest of the "Gold Coast" mansions on the North Shore of Long Island and was once the fourth largest mansion in the United States.^[5] The mansion was designed by noted Philadelphia architect John T. Windrim. After the death of the duchess (who had no children), it was willed in 1937 to the New York Province of the Catholic Society of Jesus or Jesuit order for their use; they ran a retreat house known as the St. Ignatius Retreat House there since 1963.^[6]^[7]^[8] Prior to 1963, the Jesuits used the property as a seminary.^[9]

The mansion was built from 1916-1920 and cost over $2 million.^[10] The mansion possessed 87 rooms and was built on an estate originally encompassing 300 acres.^[11]

On June 21, 2012, according to the National Catholic Reporter, the provincial of the Jesuits Fr. David Ciancimino announced bv letter that Inisfada and another local area Jesuit retreat house, the Mount Manresa Jesuit Retreat House in Staten Island would be closed in June 1, 2013.^[12] The letter noted "The model of maintaining retreat houses is no longer financially viable or consistent with this new vision", and advocated "that we become more flexible and agile in the ways we share the Exercises".^[13] The closing process was the result of 2 years of discernment and study by "directors and board members of retreat centers, province leaders and many others."^[14]

Efforts and sustained protests were made to preserve the mansion by preservation groups and activists,^[15]^[16]^[17] including an unsuccessful effort by local government leaders to get landmark status for the building.^[18] A Manhasset civic organization called the Council of Greater Manhasset Civic Associations attempted to mount a grassroots campaign to save the building,^[19] including attempting to find an alternative buyer for the building in the Community Wellness Clinics of America, a Queens based nonprofit health organization which claimed to be able to match other offers for the buliding.^[20]^[21] The Town of North Hempstead historian Howard Kroplick stated "It is a another sad day for preserving Long Island's history. It is a shame that Village of North Hills officials, in the name of "progress," made little attempt to save this historic and unique building."^[22]

The building and estate was sold in May 2013 for $36.5 million to the Manhasset Bay Group, a consortium of four Hong Kong-based development companies,.^[23] At the time of sale the estate was only 33 acres.^[24] The Jesuit retreat house closed in August.^[25] The last Mass was said at the retreat center on June 2, 2013.^[26] The Saint Genevieve chapel, one the main chapels from the retreat house, which contained intricate woodwork, was salvaged and is being stored under the care of Fordham University.^[27]

The property was valued at the time of sale at $44 million.^[28] Demolition of the mansion started on December 5, 2013.^[29] By December 6, 2013, Newsday reported that almost half of the mansion was demolished.^[30]

The Manhasset Bay Group plans to build a subdivision with 46 homes on lots ranging from half to one acres in area on the property;^[31] this subdivision underwent a hearing for environmental concerns in March 2016.^[32]

References

External links

Inisfada.org, site of an Inisfada preservation campaign

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