00:00Brian Sansevero is an American photographer known for shooting abandoned houses in an elegant and
00:06evocative style. As soon as he stumbled upon the Marion Carl Farm in Long Island, New York,
00:11he felt the need to explore and capture the beauty of this historic Victorian house.
00:16Little did he know that walking into the farmstead was going to be like a front row seat to the
00:2218th
00:22and 19th century. And while Sansevero was able to document and capture what this house was like in
00:28the past, it's up to locals and the community school district to determine its future. But before
00:34we start, smash the like button and make sure to subscribe if you haven't and hit that notification
00:39bell so that you won't miss any new stories. Brian Sansevero, also known as St. Severus on Instagram,
00:46is a renowned American photographer and filmmaker who specializes in photographing abandoned houses
00:52and buildings. So if there's anybody that knows not to judge a book by its cover, it's Sansevero.
00:57Once the Suffolk, New York school district granted him permission to photograph the inside of the
01:02Marion Carl Farm, his anticipation and excitement ran wild. It wasn't until he actually stepped inside
01:08to explore the mansion that he discovered and realized just how full of history and antique
01:14treasures this forgotten farmhouse truly is. Before we even get started, we're sure you have some
01:19questions. Why was the mansion abandoned in the first place? Why is a school district in charge of a
01:25mansion? Where did the mansion's name, Marion Carl Farm, come from? Although filled with secret
01:30treasures from the past, the mansion was previously owned by a celebrated local school teacher from
01:36the 19th century, Marion Carl. Born in 1885, she passed away 83 years later and donated her house to
01:43the Comac school board and district to be used for history and education. The beautiful farmstead was
01:49actually built in 1701 while the farmhouse was added and built the same evening the Civil War started back in
01:561860. That right there alone is incredible historical value, but that's just the beginning. Marion Carl was
02:02clearly a devoted educator and when she donated her home to the local school district when she passed in 1968,
02:09they did their best to adhere to her will's wishes. For over two decades, the boards of cooperative educational
02:16services offered several classes at the mansion, but due to their financial status and funding issues,
02:22the school district had to cease classes there. The mansion was eventually abandoned in the 90 seconds
02:27until 2012. What got the media's attention about the Marion Carl mansion in 2012 was an uprising legal
02:35battle between the Carl's descendants and the school district. The district and board weren't keeping
02:40to Carl's will's specific instructions of using the mansion as a historical museum as well as for
02:46classes. And while there's still debates going on about what will happen to the property, photographer
02:51Brian Sansevero was able to document and capture the forgotten farmhouse before any new changes and
02:57updates were made. The nine-acre property contains a garage, carriage house, smokehouse for meat and fish,
03:04milk house, multiple animal barns, and an outhouse. Over the years, especially with the lack of upkeep,
03:10the estate started to decay and deteriorate. One would think that there wouldn't even be much left around the
03:15house, if so. But on Brian Sansevero artistic excavation, he was able to find, capture, and document unique
03:23pieces of Long Island history. From antique furniture to vintage decorations, nobody would have expected how
03:29much rich history was hidden within these nine acres. The treasures and trinkets found in the house aren't the
03:35only part about it that make it so fantastic. While Miss Carl's family had lived in the house since 1860,
03:42she never did much to modernize or update the decor or layout of the house during her lifetime.
03:47So despite the fact that she had been living in that house almost an entire century after it was built,
03:52she kept it all looking like it did in the 18th and 19th century. Nowadays, most of our family photos
03:59and
03:59albums are all digitized, since digital photography and apps have taken over the realm of pictures. And along with
04:06those apps are usually a couple of different old-timey filters that add extra scratches and tint to either
04:12black and white or sepia tone. But for those of you who have a real old-timey photograph of your
04:18great
04:18grandparents and elder ancestors, you know exactly how much value it holds. And as ironic as it might seem to
04:25take a picture of a picture, when Brian Sansevero found a whole bunch of photographs of the Carl family
04:31scattered on a table, he had to capture it. With New York's harsh winters and humid summers, it's no wonder
04:37this
04:38house was in a decaying state. Though it resembles a before image on a home renovation show, the intricate details
04:44in
04:44the entry hall are remarkable. But this was only the beginning of what the photographer was about to discover. In
04:50one room
04:51stood a beautifully carved piano. Despite the dust and debris surrounding it, the craftsmanship and presence
04:57of the instrument were undeniable. Sansevero's framing focused attention on its elegance, making it the
05:03centerpiece of a forgotten parlor. It's unclear when it was made, but handcrafted pianos can last decades,
05:09perhaps this one still plays. From the outside, the house looked abandoned, but stepping inside revealed a
05:16treasure trove of the past. Many items were left untouched, like a table with bottles resembling 19th
05:22century medicinal remedies and olive oil. It was as if someone had walked away and never returned.
05:27Sansevero is known for highlighting the contrast between valued possessions and deteriorating spaces,
05:34creating emotionally evocative scenes. In one photograph, the clash between the warm browns of
05:39a nightstand and the cold greys of a nearby bottle and clock created a chilling, almost surreal mood.
05:46Adding to the atmosphere, the clock was frozen at 2.54, an eerie detail. Attics are often haunting,
05:52but this one suggested warmth and utility. Likely used by domestic workers, the space surprisingly held
05:59vintage 19th century petticoats, metal structures once used to shape women's skirts, hanging rusted but
06:05intact. A fashion relic in a humble space. Despite the decay, corners of the home radiated charm and
06:12personality. A hand-painted china teacup, fabric flowers, and a hand-stitched embroidered cushion
06:18revealed the warmth that once filled the mansion. These unique personal touches distinguished the home
06:24from mass-produced modern interiors. Among the most historically significant items was a hand-carved wooden
06:30desk. Possibly used by Marion Carl herself, it appeared ready for use, save for the dust.
06:36The craftsmanship in the drawers and chairs was exquisite, a testament to the artisan quality of
06:41the era. Beyond the house, the estate spans nine acres, including preserved farm stables. These
06:48structures offer insight into how stables were built centuries ago, further emphasizing Marion Carl's
06:54desire to preserve the estate for educational purposes. The barns stood as a reminder of the
07:00mansion's life as a working farm. And then there was the antique safe, rare, and valuable. Unlike
07:06today's high-tech vaults, this 19th century safe once secured its owner's most prized possessions.
07:13It bore the engraving, A.J. McCarthy, DDS. Perhaps a resident or relative, the name added another layer to
07:21the mystery. Could he be linked to the medicinal bottles found earlier? We've talked about the historical
07:27significance of this estate, but what about the interior design? The concept and use of wallpaper
07:32actually date back to ancient times. But modern trend and style of wallpaper didn't come about until
07:39the early 1900s. We're not exactly sure when this wallpaper was hung up, but seeing as it's partially
07:45deteriorated and falling apart, we're going to guess that it was a while ago. All the little details from
07:51the chair to the chandelier to the wood-framed mirror are so unique to our time. But what we
07:56love about this room the most is the beautiful marble fireplace. There are clearly many items from
08:01centuries past, but some more modern pieces from the 1900s can also be spotted around the property.
08:08Blue patterned china tableware, once a holiday staple in many homes, remains in pristine condition. Other
08:14items in the kitchen include an oil-burning lamp and a heavy-duty steel tea kettle resting on the mantel
08:20beside the chest. Some areas of the estate appear untouched, as if someone still lives there,
08:26while others, like the upstairs, are clearly abandoned and deteriorating. Over the years,
08:32the property has seen trespassers and looters, prompting Mary and Carl's descendants to raise
08:37concerns about the estate's upkeep. Their efforts aim to protect this historic mansion and its legacy.
08:43Another marble fireplace stands out, this time accompanied by a series of framed pictures.
08:49The large photo above the mantel is believed to be Mary and Carl. To the sides, smaller images of a
08:56child and a dog create a poignant family setting. In contrast, a nearby room seems like a snapshot from
09:02a post-apocalyptic film. The walls are chipped, debris is scattered, and years of neglect are evident.
09:09Still, some furnishings like a bed's headboard, a marble top dresser, and ceramic vessels remain
09:15surprisingly intact. Back in 2011, Huntington Town historian Robert C. A. G. Hughes nominated the
09:22Marion Carl Mansion for historic preservation. It's a wonderful time capsule, Hughes told the New York
09:28Times, citing not just the buildings but also their contents. From photographs to handcrafted furniture
09:34and artifacts, many have worked to preserve the estate's integrity and honor Marion Carl's wishes to
09:40maintain the property for educational purposes. To be recognized by the National Register of historic
09:46places, a property must meet certain criteria, age, integrity, and significance. It must resemble its
09:53original appearance, be at least fifty years old, and be associated with historical events, people,
09:59or architecture. If one photo proves the estate's worthiness, it's the one of the preserved carriages.
10:05Rarely do we see pieces like this anymore. They look like something from a fairy tale. Their
10:11craftsmanship has withstood the test of time. Although Hughes pushed for preservation in 2011,
10:16the mansion had already been added to the National Register in 1979. However, disputes over who should
10:23maintain the property continued for years. The issue wasn't neglect, but cost. According to the New York
10:29Times, the town spent over $44,000 in insurance and maintenance for just the second half of 2010,
10:37it wasn't until 2019 that a decision was finally made about the estate's future. Marion Carl wasn't
10:43just a school teacher. She was a respected figure in the Comac District, known for her academic
10:48accomplishments. In addition to teaching in Comac and New York City, she served as the district's
10:54treasurer and census tracker for nearly thirty years. She was also involved in historic societies
11:00and helped form the district's first parent-teacher association. Beyond preservation, legal discussions
11:06have focused on making the mansion safe and accessible for public appreciation. Cynthia Clark,
11:12co-director of Marion Carl Farm Preserve Incorporated, told CBS News,
11:23The archaeological and historical value is through the roof.
