In the summer of 1957, the Hamptons, a renowned retreat for artists and celebrities, welcomed the iconic newlyweds Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller.
This couple, joining the ranks of prominent figures like Edward Albee, Jackson Pollock, and Truman Capote, sought refuge in this tranquil setting, according to the Robb Report.
Their chosen abode was a modest cottage within the historic Stony Hill Farm in Amagansett, an area now partly owned by Alec and Hilaria Baldwin.
To escape the relentless attention of the paparazzi, Monroe and Miller often retreated to an alternative hideout on nearby Quail Hill.
This unique location, shielded from public view, featured an old windmill converted into a quaint residence.
Sadly, just five years later, Monroe passed away in her Brentwood home in Los Angeles.
Recently, The Windmill House, as it is affectionately known, entered the market for $12 million.
Nestled within an almost 5.5-acre woodland, the property promises seclusion, bordered by protected land from the Peconic Land Trust.
The windmill, erected in the mid-1800s, was initially a functional part of a farm.
In the 1950s, Samuel Rubin, founder of Fabergé Perfumes, transformed it into a rustic guest house.
Deborah Ann Light, an heiress to the Upjohn pharmaceutical fortune and a Wiccan priestess, acquired the property in 1967.
She generously donated 20 acres to the Peconic Land Trust, a land preservation organisation in Southampton, of which she was a founding member.
The Windmill House, encompassing about 120sq m, remains a modest retreat in one of America’s most elite resort areas.
It features a cozy sitting room, a small kitchen, a couple of bedrooms, and a bathroom. The third floor houses the original windmill mechanics.
Outside, the property includes a large brick patio, a two-car garage, and an additional building previously used as an art studio.
Over the years, The Windmill House has sheltered various decorators, designers, actor Terence Stamp, and novelist Kurt Vonnegut.
Bobby Rosenbaum of Douglas Elliman, the listing agent, has also enjoyed stays here.
Despite its historical and cultural significance, the Hamptons’ reputation as a luxurious summer destination suggests the property’s value might lie more in its potential for development.
Marketing materials hint at the possibility of erecting a residence up to 1858sq m with distant views of the Atlantic Ocean and Montauk/Napeague Bay.
