Villa Rosa Seawall Crumbles

Hurricane Irene sent waves crashing into the shore so powerfully that  the seawall along the Poli cottages -- that stand beside the Villa Rosa mansion -- came crumbling down.

Once majestic, the wall of the compound -- including 10 cottages built by vaudeville movie theater mogul Sylvester Poli in the early 1900s -- was reduced to ruins.

The owner of one of the cottages -- known for their stucco construction, tile roofs and stained glass windows -- nearly came to tears when speaking of the destruction.