Hidden History: 155 Duck Pond Lane, Southampton
155 Duck Pond Lane provides a rare bridge into Southampton's past while offering modern features.
From the moment you turn off Old Town Road and drive to the home at 155 Duck Pond Lane, you are instantly at ease. That tranquil feeling extends from every corner of this six-bedroom home right into the backyard, where you can stand on the blue stone patio and take in the beauty of Wickapogue Pond, the sound of nearby ocean waves, and the smell of saltwater, all of which prove a constant, soothing reminder that this oasis sits in one of the most desired pockets of Southampton.
Today, buyers flock to this area, where homes with such square footage, privacy, and proximity to the village are in increasingly short supply. And in a twist befitting an area so rich in history, such was also the case more than three and a half centuries ago. “The reason [Old Town Road] has that name is that this was the original area of settlement for the village in 1640,” explains Southampton Town Historian Zach Studenroth.
The colony would eventually moved west at the end of the 17th century, to where it had more room to grow, setting the state for this area to come a peaceful refuge away from the (relative) hustle and bustle of the village proper. Indeed, by the time the railroad ushered in the Hamptons’ resort era, this land was among the most desirable on the East End. “As early as the 1870s, those were very natural places to lay out quite large residential lots,” says Studenroth. “Homes fronting a pond were most desirable for summer people. The provided the most recreation and had easy access down to the beach.”
But in the Hamptons, the more things change, the more they stay the same. The very qualities that have drawn residents to the East End for centuries continue to resonate in homes like 155 Duck Pond Lane, which appeals to buyers who want to write the next chapter of Hamptons history in a home that features every 21st-century convenience. "We want our homes to be not only near the beach but to be private, country like and quiet," says The Corcoran Group's Michael Schultz, who has the $10.95 million listing. "Here, there's no road noise, there's no busy street, and you get to hear the ocean. What better sound is there than that?"
The l.8-acre property only adds to the privacy, as the 208 feet of direct waterfront on Wickapogue Pond act as a buffer between the home and surrounding properties. "Your closest neighbors in the back are on the other side of the pond," explains Schultz.
Built circa 1980 and given a gut renovation and addition (including three bedrooms, a covered porch and a detached garage) by the current owners, the 6,500-square-foot home offers a true Hamptons feel. That includes a ground-floor master bedroom with water views that open to the blue stone patio (bordering the heated gunite pool) and the five guest bedrooms, two of which have their own fireplaces.
From the chef’s eat-in kitchen and stunning great room to the library and cozy den, every aspect of 155 Duck Pond Lane has been designed for ease of use and with an appropriateness of scale-something that can be hard to find on the East End.
"Sometimes I see a house where the dining room looks like they're going to have the heads of state visit," laughs Schultz. "This one is more for small dinner parties or a family eating around a table. The whole home is like that: It's uncomplicated and easy to live in."
The same can be said for the home's prime location. Slightly to the west of the other parts of the estate area, the home is an easy bike ride from the village or walk to the ocean-something the original settlers would have appreciated so many centuries ago. As for that history, evidence of it remains for those who choose to see it. Just around the corner from 155 Duck Pond Lane on Wickapogue Road sits the Downs Farmstead, one of the few surviving First Period homes (along with Halsey House on South Main Street) that still dot Southampton. The cornerstone of the Wickapogue Road Historic District, it is a time capsule straight from the 1680s, a reminder to all who pass just how far this part of the Hamptons has come-and just how little has changed. Michael Schultz, 57 Main St., East Hampton, 899-0254; corcoran.com