Book cover for Oheka Castle by Joan Cergol and Ellen Schaffer
2012 Released
130 Pages
2-3 Hours
Ebook Unavailable
Audiobook Unavailable
Paperback Unavailable
Arcadia Publishing Library EditionsISBN 9781531662448

Enrico Caruso sang in its grand ballroom, and Arturo Toscanini lifted his baton to its soaring ceiling. Constructed in 1919, OHEKA Castle, Long Island's largest Gold Coast mansion, was once described by the New York Times as the "finest country house in America." Appearing as the mysterious mountaintop castle in the opening scenes of the film classic Citizen Kane, its majestic edifice and meticulous grounds continue to dazzle the screens of major Hollywood movies and television shows. It was a playground for the rich and famous of the Gilded Era, when heads of state, royalty, stage and screen stars, great comedians, and bohemians alike cavorted about its great halls. In subsequent years, it became home to an eclectic array of occupants, including New York City sanitation workers, World War II radio trainees, military school cadets, and eventually vandals and squatters. After its abandonment and descent into unrecognizable ruin, a Long
Island developer with an appreciation for history reversed the adverse effects of time and neglect, transforming OHEKA into the largest restored home in America.

Joan Cergol

Ellen Schaffer and Joan Cergol are founding members of Friends of OHEKA, an organization created to raise awareness about the castle's rich history. Photographs were provided by OHEKA CASTLE, private individuals (including Kahn family members), historical societies and other historic research institutions, and professional photographers.

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