One of the highlights of this extraordinary tour was an invitation to visit the original home of Secretary-General Trygve Lie in Forest Hills, one of New York City’s most exclusive and thoughtfully planned suburban enclaves.
Known as Granston Towers, the house served as Trygve Lie’s official residence from 1946 to 1952, until his return to Norway.
At the time, it was described as a “modest but dignified residence,” reflecting a careful balance between the Secretary-General’s political neutrality and the prominence of his role.
Ron, the current owner, graciously guided us through the early 20th-century colonial revival mansion, pointing out original architectural details, distinctive furnishings, and sharing countless fascinating stories that transported us to a bygone era.
The house remains remarkably intact, with its original walls and room layouts preserved, yet it has been beautifully and thoughtfully modernized for contemporary living.
Built in 1927 by Albert P. Armour, inventor of the telephone booth door, the residence stands proudly nearly a century later, a testament to its enduring design.
The brick and granite structure originally featured six bedrooms and seven bathrooms spread across three floors, all connected by a magnificent circular staircase.
It has since gained an additional bathroom. It includes an elegant parlor, a study, formal dining rooms, garden views, and a garage underneath the house.
In the basement lies a grand ballroom where the first Secretary-General once hosted lavish events attended by diplomats from around the world and their elegantly dressed spouses.
Trygve Lie also used the basement as a makeshift studio, where he recorded radio and TV programmes for the UN.
When he moved in, Ron described finding multiple telephone lines, which would have enabled the Secretary-General to conduct UN business from home.
From the moment we stepped inside, the energy was unmistakable. The thick walls seemed to hold history itself, evoking images of important meetings around wooden tables and countless footsteps ascending and descending the turret staircase.
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Many thanks to the Department of Operational Support's Archives and Records Management Section for their support and for providing information about the UN's historical sites.
