A Long Island Gilded Age Riverside Retreat - Cutting Arboretum

Westbrook Farms began when William Bayard Cutting purchased the George C. Lorillard estate along the Connetquot River in the Long Island hamlet of Great River. Cutting was a New York City lawyer and sugar beet refiner who amassed his fortune through railroads and the development of the Red Hook waterfront in Brooklyn.

The estate’s rambling shingle-style mansion, designed by architect Charles C. Haight, was completed in 1886. The surrounding grounds were designed by renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted and included a working farm and an arboretum. The property is also credited with hosting the first private golf course in the United States, designed by Willie Dunn and established in 1895.

The estate was gifted to the public in two phases. In 1936, 200 acres were donated to the Long Island State Park Commission for use as an arboretum, with the stipulation that Mrs. Bayard James and her mother retain full use of the property for the remainder of their lives. The second and final gift occurred upon Mrs. Cutting’s death in 1949, accompanied by a $1 million endowment fund, presented by her daughter, Mrs. Olivia James.

In 1954, the 691-acre Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park officially opened. The house and grounds were donated “to provide an oasis of beauty and quiet for pleasure, rest, and refreshment for those who delight in outdoor beauty.”

Here is what caught my eye, I hope you enjoy!

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Chimney with the inscription “Wm Bayard Cutting built me in 1886”

The rambling 60-room Tudor-style country house, with stained glass windows and views of the Connetquot River, across the open lawn, is the heart of the park.

Dahlia garden bloom

The beautiful gardens lining the winding path as you approach the Manor House

Birdhouses near the William Wolkoff Dahlia Garden

Purple echinacea

Another view of the manor house

Black-eyed Susans

The Manor House from across the Great Lawn

Dahlia garden bloom

Gardens in bloom

In 1895 Stanford White was commissioned to design a dairy after a fire destroyed many of the farm buildings.

Part of the Farm Group at Westbrook Farm

There is also a farm that serves a community shared agriculture program.

The house and gardens

Dahlia bloom

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Tulip blooms

The second floor Carriage Barn entrance

The expansive Carriage Barn

A lower entrance to the Carriage Barn

A view of the Connetquot River from one of the many trails

Mrs. Cutting’s teahouse was originally on this spot on Breezy Island.

Another view of the Manor House

The Manor House with phlox blooming

Another view of the shingle-style facade with turret

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Tiffany stained glass windows in the entrance hall

The grand fireplace in the entrance hall

The entrance hall with stained glass windows by Tiffany Studios

The dining room

The dining room

The stone dining room fireplace with reddish marble. in an alcove in the dining room

The dining room with original silk fabric wall covering

The Breakfast Room with horseshoe-shaped table, allowed all seated, a beautiful water view.

The beautiful Tiffany & Co. glass tile fireplace surround in the breakfast room

The servant’s call bell system in the kitchen

The original cabinet in the kitchen

The original coal stove in the large kitchen

The Ice box

The partition separating the house staff area from the rest of the home’s second floor rooms. The glass in the partition is Tiffany & Co.

Female house staff bedroom

Second floor linen closet

One of the female house staff bedrooms

Our very informative docent, Deborah, told us that this could have been the wheelchair of a female house staff member that had her leg amputated. The Cuttings let her stay on and probably even bought her this wheelchair to get around.

One of the ten bathrooms

Bronson Murray Cutting’s bedroom

Toys in Bronson’s bedroom

Bronson’s bedroom

Justine’s bedroom

Justine Bayard Cutting’s bedroom on the second floor

Olivia Bayard Cutting’s bedroom

The second-floor staircase leading to the third floor

Tiffany & Co. frog eye pattern glass window in the former guest room, eventually becoming Mr. Cuttings’ bedroom when the guest annex was built.

Olivia Peyton Murray Cutting’s bedroom

The decorative fireplace in Olivia Peyton Murray Cutting’s bedroom. Her portrait hangs above the fireplace.

An original Cutting piece in Olivia Peyton Murray Cutting’s bedroom

Olivia Peyton Murray Cutting’s bedroom

In Mrs. Cuttings’ dressing room

William Bayard Cutting’s bedroom

William Bayard Cutting’s bedroom

Tiffany & Co. stained glass windows in the main stair hall

The impressive main stair hall

The main stair hall with Tiffany & Co. stained glass windows

What you should know:

• The arboretum prohibits: picnicking, alcohol, pets, kites, frisbees, bicycles, skateboards, scooters, rollerblades, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, swimming and other sports.

• There are walking trails.

• Restrooms are available.

• One price includes parking and self-guided garden and first floor house tours; there are additional charges for guided entire house tours. Check the website for more tour information.

• You could spend a couple of hours to the entire day.

• The New York State Empire Pass is accepted for the entrance fee.

• The Hidden Oak Cafe, in the Manor House, serves lunch and desserts.

Location:

440 Montauk Highway, Great River, NY

For more information: Bayard Cutting Arboretum

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