30th Hunting Day, East Hampton, 11937
Exclusive to Saunders: $7,250,000
Show entry
At the curve of Huntting Lane in East Hampton Village, a remarkably restored Queen Anne Victorian – now offered for sale – is as impressive as it is unlikely.
Built in 1896 by James Edward Huntting and owned by his family for over a century, the estate is a masterpiece of American craftsmanship – built to last and beautifully restored. Graceful gables, revived millwork and preserved character features combine Gilded Age ambition with Hamptons high society, highlighting the enduring strength of community in the village.
Here, history feels alive – not in wear and tear, but in the lack of it, a testament to the care that brought the house back to its original glory. Every detail has been considered, presenting a rare historical gem ready for its next chapter.
THE HUNTING LEGACY
Every Hamptons historian knows the name Huntting. Its history in East Hampton dates back to 1696, when Nathaniel Huntting became the second pastor of the First Presbyterian Church and built a stately saltbox house, which was converted into the Huntting Inn.
Generations later, the family's influence shifted from the pulpit to the construction industry. As president of the East Hampton Lumber & Coal Company – once located where Riverhead Building Supply now stands – James Edward Huntting left an indelible mark on the village's streetscape. The company provided the materials that shaped East Hampton's development into a desirable summer enclave, building not only homes but also a distinctive architectural character that still defines Huntting Lane today.
If the old Lumber & Coal Company still existed, Huntting Lane would be its best flagship.
A stubborn authenticity
The house at 30 Huntting Lane holds over a century of stories – its heritage is deeply woven into the fabric of East Hampton – and Ed has preserved it in his own way. The property has remained untouched by modern trends, a kind of time capsule, stubborn in its authenticity.
In the late 1990s, the once stately property became quiet. Edward Tyler Huntting Jr. – the last member of the Huntting family to live in the house built by his grandfather – lived a life of seclusion behind the prominent gables. A former tennis player at Maidstone Club and an experienced salesman who had traveled up and down the country, Ed had returned to his childhood home and remained largely invisible as the rhythm of village life continued around him.
NEW ADMINISTRATION
The story of how 30 Huntting Lane passed to Tom Strong, a Hamptons native whose family goes back several generations, sometime landscaper and member of the East Hampton Police Department, is as beautiful and rare as the now-restored house itself.
A chance meeting between Tom Strong and Ed Huntting marked the beginning of a friendship that would last for years.
In the early 2000s, when Strong was running a small landscaping business, he passed the weathered Queen Anne on Huntting Lane and saw an older man struggling to cut knee-high grass with a reel mower. He slowed, ready to offer help, but the man waved him away in frustration. Strong rode on and the memory of this brief encounter soon faded.
More than a decade later, in 2017, Strong was working full-time with the East Hampton Town Police Department and still mowing some lawns on the side. An inquiry came from a man called Ed Huntting of 30 Huntting Lane. He asked for a price for cutting the lawn and explained that he chose Strong because he knew the local surname. When Strong arrived, he immediately realized that this was the same gentleman from years ago, now in his eighties, living alone in the once stately home that was falling into disrepair.
The meeting marked the beginning of an unusual friendship. Strong offered to maintain the lawn for a modest fee — more as a neighborly gesture than a business deal — and soon noticed that Huntting stayed outside to chat every time he stopped by. These brief conversations, which initially delayed Strong's schedule, became a regular ritual: stories about Huntting's army years, his time on Lombard Street in San Francisco, his memories of the village's past.
As the seasons progressed, Strong's role quietly changed from landscaper to caretaker. He stocked the refrigerator, carried out bags of old newspapers, made repairs, bought clothes and vitamins – small acts of kindness that increased as Huntting's health deteriorated. Their connection deepened with each assignment and each story they shared on the porch or while mowing the lawn.
As Huntting's health deteriorated in 2023, Strong visited him daily with newspapers and conversation. During one of their last conversations, Huntting took his hand and whispered, “I'm very lucky to have had the opportunity to meet you, Tom.“He died in 2024 at the age of 89, leaving the house – and his inheritance – to the man who had once been a passerby on a mower, sealing a bond that preserved not just a home but a chapter of East Hampton history.
What started as lawn care evolved into neighborly friendliness and eventually led to friendships and connections that long eluded the late Ed Huntting. Strong's indelible impact on the property comes full circle as the home has been restored and is ready to write its next chapter.
RESTORATION
What Mr. Strong has achieved at 30 Huntting Lane is an iconic expression of the home's original architectural quality – an emulation of the vision first set out by James Edward Huntting in 1896, and today elevated to luxury living. The work began not only with craftsmanship, but also with deep respect for the historical character of the house.
Inside, the high ceilings and radiant natural light now play with the new Douglas fir floors, original paneling and finely refinished woodwork to restore warmth and depth to each room. All 48 antique windows have been carefully restored – re-tweeted, fitted with custom hand-blown glass panels and balanced with renewed sash weights and ropes – so that the original rhythm of light and air functions as intended.
Other historic details have been retained while modern comforts have been seamlessly introduced. The kitchen fireplace was rebuilt brick by brick and now houses a 36-inch six-burner Viking gas range. The third floor – once a neglected attic – has been completely renovated and the bathrooms have been redesigned with marble floors and fixtures that honor the home's historic proportions while adding modern sophistication.
The exterior has been equally cared for. The formerly enclosed porch was remodeled from custom mahogany to match its 1896 design, while a matching rear porch with recessed lighting is now open to the garden. The home is clad in fresh cedar shingles, the tower roof has been re-roofed with CCA-treated shingles and is topped with a custom copper finish. The entire facade was sanded, repainted and restored to its stately appearance.
Every improvement – from the authentic millwork to the discreet new systems – has been selected to ensure that 30 Huntting Lane lives comfortably in the present without sacrificing any of its 19th century grace. Even if you are not an avid lover of the Victorian Queen Anne style, the house retains all the features of pre-war architecture in keeping with the contemporary luxury lifestyle.
The effort, attention and intention is visible in every inch of the home. His passion is unmistakable, deeply woven into the soul of the house and revealed in every carefully restored detail. Like James Edward Huntting, who built the original home for his family, Tom Strong's restoration was deeply personal – a duty of care that honored not only the man he befriended and his home, but also the architectural heritage and character of East Hampton Village.
Beyond the property, Huntting Lane remains one of, if not the most, architecturally harmonious streets in East Hampton Village. The influence of the Huntting family remains – some of the neighboring houses were also built by them and still stand today.
HAMPTON'S SOCIETY
The origins of Hamptons society are deeply rooted in this house. During the restoration, Mr. Strong discovered a wealth of historical photographs on the now-renovated third floor – most notably a picture of Hilda Huntting sitting next to Little Edie Beale Gray gardens Fame. The photo as highlighted in The East Hampton Staris a rare glimpse into a gilded social circle that once defined the East End.
In the photo, Hilda Huntting sits poised and elegant, her wide-brimmed hat casting a graceful shadow over her face, while next to her, the unmistakable little Edie Beale exudes the eccentric charm that would later become a legend. Both women are dressed for a summer dinner in East Hampton—capturing a moment of old-world glamor that reflects the Huntting family's place among the Bouviers, Beales and other names synonymous with East Hampton's storied social scene.
Much like the Bouviers' iconic Georgica Estate, 30 Huntting Lane has been revived and revitalized to once again house the next chapter in village life. The discovery of these photographs underscores the house's unique role not only as an architectural gem but also as a living witness to the distinguished gatherings and intertwined histories of America's prominent families.
Walking down Huntting Lane today, it's easy to recall that bygone era – distinguished families in wide-brimmed hats making their way to the beach or returning from lunch on Main Street, while the lane itself still echoes with the charm of East Hampton's most elegant summers.
EXTERNAL POTENTIAL
The rear grounds add another layer of possibility that includes space for a pool and a rare pre-existing non-conforming structure. For buyers seeking a balance between architectural heritage and modern outdoor living, 30 Huntting Lane remains both a remarkable restoration and a canvas for future vision.
Where history once paused, history now moves forward – gracefully revived, thoughtfully reimagined and ready to inspire generations to come. Despite Ed's reluctance to engage with the community, the beautifully restored house speaks on its behalf. Standing proud and unscathed, ready to finally open its doors again.
For more information about 30 Huntting Lane in East Hampton Village, please contact Romaine Gordon.
ROMAINE GORDON
Licensed real estate salesperson as Romaine Michele Gordon
[email protected]
Cell: (516) 317-1593
For more information click here.