This architectural blueprint created by John Custis Lawrence (1867-1944) shows the interior first floor of the East Hampton bungalow owned by Lorenzo Easton Woodhouse (1861-1935). The house was probably built in 1910 by George Eldredge at 93 Egypt Lane, although newspaper coverage likely confused this project with a different project at Louse Point, also commissioned by the Woodhouse family. This set of five blueprints includes the plans for the foundation, first and second floor, and the elevation for the front, side, and rear of the house.
Lorenzo E. Woodhouse was born in Vermont on May 20, 1861, to Charles Williamson Woodhouse (1835-1914) and the former Emma Easton Day (1831-1924). Both father and son were bankers. In Burlington, Vt., Lorenzo was president of Merchants National Bank. He married Mary Louise Leland Kennedy (1862-1961) on June 9, 1886. Together they raised two children: Charles Douglas Woodhouse (1888-1975) and Marjorie Easton Woodhouse (1902-1933).
Lorenzo was exposed to East Hampton through his uncle, Lorenzo G. Woodhouse (1839-1903). Lorenzo E. and Mary moved to East Hampton sometime before 1907, hiring another architect, J. Greenleaf Thorp, to design their better-known residence on Huntting Lane.
It has been suggested that the bungalow was built for the Woodhouse family’s chauffeur. Mr. Lawrence designed a traditional bungalow, small and low to the ground, with porch space but few second-story rooms. The style became popular in this country between 1900 and 1918, first as vacation houses. Mr. Lawrence’s plans indicate a Shingle Style house with an eyebrow window, in keeping with architectural trends of the time.
In retirement, Lorenzo Woodhouse and his wife moved to Palm Beach, Fla. He died there on Jan. 24, 1935, at the age of 73. Lorenzo and Mary were buried in East Hampton’s Cedar Lawn Cemetery. The couple were well known for their contributions and lasting mark on the Town of East Hampton.
Mayra Scanlon is a librarian and archivist with the East Hampton Library’s Long Island Collection, the staff members of which are working remotely but are available to answer inquiries via email. Questions or suggestions for future “Item of the Week” topics can be sent to [email protected]. At easthamptonlibrary.org, the Long Island History tab can be clicked to explore Digital Long Island, the library’s searchable database that is part of the New York Heritage Digital Collections.
