Sea Cliff home built by Adeline Huntington lists for nearly $2 million
This 1920s Sea Cliff home and adjacent cottage is on the market for nearly $2 million. Credit: Chris Mills
Amid pale gray shingles, a sunny yellow door offers entrance to a center-hall Colonial on Littleworth Lane. Dubbed "Sweet Adeline" by its current owners, the 1920s Sea Cliff home once belonged to Adeline Maidment Huntington — a former editor of the local newspaper — and her husband, Philip Huntington.
The four-bed, 3½ -bath main house and adjacent one-bedroom cottage are on the market for $1.995 million. Annual taxes on the property, which measures just under an acre and falls within North Shore School District, total $41,689.
"When she built this home, she really thoughtfully built it with her personal needs in mind," listing agent Raquel Knoell said of Adeline. "In a lot of older homes, you'll find really small closets, and the bedrooms won't be as large, and, in this home it's quite the opposite."
The home has changed hands just once since its construction, according to Knoell, who has co-listed the property with her husband, Thomas Knoell, and son Kyle Knoell for Douglas Elliman.
The main house sports 3½ bathrooms, while the adjacent cottage has one. Credit: Chris Mills
Upon purchasing the home from the Huntington estate, the current owners, Karen and Nicholas Montagnese, lifted the slate surrounding the home and had the grade leveled to direct the flow of water away from the house, Knoell said.
The "beauty and romance of an older home" with a Juliet balcony off the primary suite is accompanied by modern amenities, she added. Over the years, the owners renovated the house, adding new electrical and plumbing systems, new gas lines, Sonos speakers and a finished basement.
The property is just shy of an acre. Credit: Chris Mills
The Montagneses acquired some of Adeline's plans for the house — a welcome addition to the information the couple already had.
"We have the bills for the slate for the roof, we have the bills for the shingles," said Karen, a former editor of the Sea Cliff Village Bulletin. "She kept a pretty elaborate diary."
Outside, there are a two-car garage for the main house and one-car garage for the cottage. A fountain adds whimsy, as does an area of ground covered in moss instead of grass.
"It's secluded, it's quiet, there's a lot of nature," she said. "It's an old house, but it has a lot of light, and a lot of charm, and a lot of access to the outdoors."
Knoell said texts found at the Sea Cliff Museum and local library included articles about Adeline Huntington's family.
"Her family was a pretty prominent family in Sea Cliff at the time," she said. "Her father was formerly the president of Sea Cliff, and he also started one of the local newspapers here."
Adeline herself would go on to edit The Sea Cliff News and to help found Glen Cove Hospital, according to Knoell.
See more inside Sea Cliff's 'Sweet Adeline' home
"It's secluded, it's quiet, there's a lot of nature," the current owner said. Credit: Chris Mills
The current owners restored the home's original features while updating others. Credit: Chris Mills
The kitchen. Credit: Chris Mills
Arielle Dollinger joined Newsday as a staff reporter in 2022. Previously, she covered local and national news as a freelancer for The New York Times, Newsday and other outlets.
