The home, originally called "White Eagle", was built between 1916 and 1918 for Alicia Heyward (née Bradford) Maddox, the second wife of Alfred I. du Pont and daughter of Judge Edward Bradford. It was designed by the architectural firm of Carrère and Hastings in the Georgian Revival style and the interiors were designed by Charles of London.[2] The residence is two stories plus a basement level, with a red brick façade, white marble and limestone embellishments, and a gabled, slate roof.[3] Alicia du Pont died in January 1920 before the home was finished.[4]
In 1921, the estate (which had been completed and fully furnished in January 1921, but never lived in), which was valued at over $1,500,000, was to be sold at public auction conducted by Arthur C. Sheridan for the benefit of Mrs. du Pont's child by her first marriage, Alicia Maddox, who had been adopted by Alfred du Pont.[2] It was sold for $470,000 to David T. Layman Jr., who was understood to be acting for Howard C. Phipps of the Phipps family.[4]