Hayes' Pretty Penny for sale.

Pretty Penny, the legendary Nyack, New York estate of actress Helen Hayes, is offered for sale through Sotheby's International Realty in association with co-exclusive listing broker, Lydecker Realty of Nyack. This announcement comes from Thomas B. Anderson, Senior Vice President and Tri-State/Mid-Atlantic Regional Manager for Sotheby's International Realty.

Widely acclaimed as the "First Lady of the American Theater," Helen Hayes purchased Pretty Penny with her playwright-screenwriter husband, Charles MacArthur, in the mid 1930s. In her autobiography, "Helen Hayes-My Life in Three Acts," Ms. Hayes mentions her home along the Hudson River often, describing it in detail:

"We bought a white Victorian house on the heights, with eighteen rooms, lots of big windows, and porches that invited you to put your feet up and enjoy the view. We maintained an apartment in Manhattan, but from now on, Nyack was home. Charles Lederer, Marion Davies' nephew, called our house "Pretty Penny," because that's what he supposed it had cost. It was very stately, with gingerbread decoration and magnificent grounds. We terraced the land, which swept down to the river. There was a rose garden on the first level, a pool and cabana on the second, and then a tennis court and a small orchard of apple, cherry and peach trees."

"There is something special about a big, easygoing house; it attracts company, and we had plenty of it," wrote Ms. Hayes, and she certainly did. Throughout the nearly sixty years she lived there, guests to Pretty Penny included Scott Fitzgerald, Noel Coward, Beatrice Lillie, Ruth Gordon, Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh.

Secluded behind a brick wall, a large covered porch with gingerbread trim greets visitors to this circa 1880 residence. The home encompasses approximately 5,000 sq. ft. and features 12 principal rooms, 7 family bedrooms and a staff suite. Interior design details of note include handpainted wall and ceiling murals, fine moldings, terrazzo floors, floor-to-ceiling windows, 2 marble fireplaces and a full basement with office, flower room and a small wine cellar.

To the rear of the home, a second large! porch overlooking the terraced grounds sloping gracefully down to the Hudson River captures magnificent water views. Brick paths wind through a glorious formal rose garden with over 300 bushes, past a tranquil fountain with lily pond, to a 60' swimming pool with pool house.

Rich in both history and detail, Helen Hayes' beloved estate, Pretty Penny, is offered for $1,900,000.