Wednesday, October 14, 2009

'Broad Hollow Farm'

'Broad Hollow Farm', the estate of Thomas Hitchcock and later his son Tommy Jr., with alterations to a Quaker farmhouse by Richard Morris Hunt c. 1892 in Old Westbury. The house was originally part of the Titus homestead. Thomas Hitchcock Sr. was a 10 goal polo player who helped found the Meadowbrook Polo Club and is also credited with founding steeplechase horse racing (he's also in the Racing Hall of Fame for horse training). His son, Tommy Jr., was also a 10 goal polo player and is considered one of the best polo players in the sport's history. Following his death during WWII, the home housed jockeys who raced at the Roosevelt Raceway, and they also used to property to train. Click HERE for more on 'Broad Hollow Farm'. Click HERE to see 'Broad Hollow Farm' on google earth.

Part of the very large stables complex.



The polo field and 1 mile racetrack (which nature has been slowly reclaiming).

17 comments:

An Aesthete's Lament said...

WOW! Who owns this? The place is lovely! Is it all being allowed to collapse?

Zach L. said...

I refer you to SPLIA's letter to Old Westbury regarding the future of the site:

http://www.oldlongisland.com/2008/12/message-from-splia-regarding-hitchcock.html

Anonymous said...

Tommy, jr. was quite a hero as well. In WWI, he was a member of the Lafayette Escadrille. Captured, he escaped by jumping from a POW train headed towards Germany. He walked over 100 miles, for over a week, to the safe, neutral borders of Switzerland. He died in WWII in his forties as a test pilot. He was a man of amazing courage! - Robert

Anonymous said...

I use to play on this estate as a child and teenager, as my family was good friends with the owners in the 1980's and 1990's. I saw it in magnificent condition, it is sad to see these recent pictures. I was always attracted to this estate and its great history.

marketmargin said...

I worked there for about 2 years when it was known as Old Westbury Farm. Dominic owned it then and was managed by Frank.
The last year I worked, we were painting the mansion and stables for the arrival of the horses to come back to. But we ended up losing our jobs, because Dominic decided to sell the place.

Anonymous said...

my grandad worked here his entire life, for Thomas Sr, and Jr.. My dad helped keep up the track and clipped hedges for days as a young man. The Hitchocks were very nice, and held my grandad in high regard, I have many old newspaper clippings about them, and a polo mallet or two,.. sorry to see it so run down.

mustangnancy said...

I have a four poster bed and a steamer trunk with many tags from overseas trips by the Hitchcocks. My mother also had a very large sisal rug but they left NY and the rug was damaged. I don't exactly know how my family came to own these treasures.

mustangnancy said...

I own a four poster bed and a steamer trunk with many tags from the Hitchcock's travels overseas. My mother also had a very large sisal rug but it got damaged and she did not take it when she moved from NY. I don't really know how we came to be in possession of these treasures.

Pete said...

I live next door to it and have just learned that the mansion is going to be torn down in the next couple days (Jan 22, 2018). It is very much in a state of disrepair, but it's still so sad to see it go. The farm is now the property of the Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre and will become the Queen of Peace cemetery.

marketmargin said...

I’ve been pass their a few months ago. It’s a shame it’s being torn down. Are the stables being torn down too.?

Dave Russo said...

January 26, 2018 --- the house is being torn down right now. I went on a morning run down Hitchcock Lane to find this is halfway torn down. Thank you to the RC Church for tearing this down. Another lost LI relic. This one goes back to the 1700's actually, extremely unique.

marketmargin said...

See all the red and white doors. Me and a few employees painted those. It the last thing we did before Dominick closed the place down.

Anonymous said...

Does anyone know since the last post in early 2018 the current status of the barns and old track area? Has the barn area been torn down yet? It’s so sad ...... I wish someone would have purchased it who would’ve restored it. Thank you for any info anyone can give.

Unknown said...

I have just finished reading the biography of Tommy Hitchcock. As a lover of Gold Coast history of the mansions and families, I naturally wanted to know more about Broad Hollow Farms. And, I so want you to know, Zack, that your magnificent website is nirvana for people like me whose fascination knows no bounds with the beauty, architectural elegance, and fantasy way of life. This passion started with my senior high reading of THE GREAT GATSBY. So, thank you for being my/our mentor into a lifestyle long gone. I refer to your site so frequently.

Dave said...

Everything is gone. The barn, stables, and greenhouse are all gone. There are no more remnants of the race track. There is still an old garage building (used for construction vehicles and equipment) and a guest house but there is no more Hitchcock history that remains.

Anonymous said...

I lived on this estate for many years.why the state of New York or the county could let this historic landmark be destroyed for a cemetary is unheard of.it's one of the the most historic landmarks that was still standing.Thomas Hitchcock was a war hero with his design of planes for ww2. This was his family home. Lots of ghosts...how it could be destroyed and not preserved by the historical society is total breech.

Anonymous said...

He was also the greatest Polo Player that was born in Aiken, SC.