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Oheka Castle
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Oheka was built between 1914 and 1919 by Otto Herman Kahn, a philanthropist and multimillionaire. Kahn had started a home in New Jersey, which burned to the ground before being completed. He swore no other home of his would burn, and Oheka was one of the first totally fire proof buildings. It stands on an artificial hill in Cold Spring Hills, Long Island, New York. Originally a surrounding golf course was part of the 443 acre property, but this was sold off after Kahn's death in 1934, becoming a separate country club. When built, and still today, Oheka is the second largest home ever built in the United States, with 126 rooms.
In 1948 Eastern Military Academy moved in, remaining until the school closed in 1979. After that the building remained empty for four years, during which over 100 documented attempts at arson demonstrated Kahn's success in creating a fireproof building.
Oheka ultimately became the property of Gary Melius, a Long Island businessman, who now uses it for catering and business seminars.