New York Times February 14, 1892

In 1890, Augustus T. Gillender, then forty-seven years old and a prominent New York attorney, purchased seventy-five acres of farmland in Westchester County. His vision: to convert the property into a self-contained, exclusive community fashioned after Tuxedo Park, complete with country club facilities. By 1891, he had begun plotting property sites, grading and macadamizing the streets, constructing sewers, laying water mains, and erecting a club house. Upon a portion of the land (probably on the hill overlooking the eighth green) he built his own colonial mansion, where he and his family would spend the better part of coming years. He named the grounds Knollwood in deference to its picturesque location overlooking a magnificent view of the surrounding countryside.

The New York Times carried a progress report on the plans for the "Knollwood Country Club" in its February 14,1892 issue. Westchester County Reporter five days later reported:

"A number of summer residents in the vicinity of Elms and build a magnificent club house in that picturesque locality. They have given contracts for the club house, which is to be completed before June 1."

So apparently our forebears had a club and a house (built by members Charles I. Berg and Edward H. Clark at a cost of $20,000) on a relatively small plot of land as early as the summer of 1892. But the ensuing financial panic of 1893 no doubt dissuaded them from legally organizing until late in 1894. The formal opening took place on September 28, 1894.

[previous] [next]