Village of Plandome Heights

Who could have guessed that a tobacco tycoon and Mark Twain would play a role in the story of Plandome Heights? Here we are, in the charming Village of Plandome Heights, a place with a history as rich as the families who once called it home. Plandome Heights, nestled on the North Shore of Long Island, officially became a village on June 11, 1929. But its story begins long before that, reaching back to the early 20th century. Benjamin N. Duke, of the Duke tobacco family, saw potential in these quiet hills. Through his Plandome Heights Company, he began developing the land, building elegant Spanish-style homes that still stand as a testament to his vision. Many of these original homes, known locally as the “tobacco houses,” are easily recognizable with their white stucco exteriors and red-tiled roofs. A stroll through the village will reveal these architectural gems, reminders of a bygone era. But before Duke, this land belonged to another noteworthy figure: Bloodgood Cutter, a farmer, landowner, and poet. He inherited the property, which had been in the Haviland family, and became quite the local character. Cutter’s claim to fame? He sailed to the Holy Land on the same ship as Mark Twain, becoming immortalized as the “Poet Lariat” in Twain’s “Innocents Abroad.” Plandome Heights is even mentioned in local histories, referencing Cutter’s old farmhouse on Manhasset Bay. It is said the house was filled with antique English furniture, a testament to Cutter’s unique personality. Incorporation for the Village of Plandome Heights was driven by residents’ desire for local control, particularly concerning zoning and the looming threat of a costly sewer system. They had successfully fought against garden apartments being built just north of Colonial Parkway and Webster Avenue. This victory fueled their determination to maintain the village’s character. The incorporation vote was a resounding success, and Plandome Heights charted its own course. Today, Plandome Heights is a blend of old and new. While the “tobacco houses” and the old barn-turned-residence on Shore Road stand as reminders of its past, newer homes have filled in the landscape. The population has grown and stabilized, creating a community that values both its history and its present. From tobacco tycoons to poets to determined residents, Plandome Heights has a story that’s worth discovering.