Merestead Offers Glimpse Into Gilded Past

Did you ever wonder what it would be like to live on a 130-acre summer estate with a 26-room mansion and a staff of 12? Well that is exactly what the historic house of Merestead was for the Sloane family.

The Merestead is an exquisite 130-acre country estate hidden away on Byram Lake Road in Bedford, in the Mount Kisco postal area. It was built in 1906 as the summer home for William Sloane, president of W&J Sloane. W&J Sloane began as a carpet company in Queens, NY during the 1800s and quickly grew into a furniture empire. William Sloane and his family were part of the Manhattan elite in the early 1900s and lived an elegant lifestyle.

William was born on Feb. 18, 1873. He went to the Cutler School in New York and graduated with the class of 1895 from Yale. He grew up in the lap of Gilded Age luxury, destined to take over his grandfather's house furnishing company, which was formed in 1843. He became president of W&J Sloane in 1906. He immediately hired famed architects Delano & Aldrich and began building Merestead.

Merestead means "farmland" in Scottish, and that is exactly what the property looks like. There is a chicken house, a horse barn, a dairy barn and even a creamery. It also offers sweeping views of the surrounding landscape.

William's daughter, Margaret Sloane Patterson, took over the 26-room, Neo Georgian estate in 1922, when he passed away. Margaret Sloane Patterson also married Dr. Robert L. Patterson, a prominent Manhattan surgeon who tended to President John F. Kennedy and many other famous historical figures.

"Many famous people, and many presidential figures passed through Merestead at one time or another," said Gigi Carnes, curator and tour guide.

In 1982, the Sloane-Pattersons deeded the property to Westchester County, upon Margaret Sloane Patterson's death in August of 2001. The county took full possession and has been developing the property for use as an historic site.

Carnes told a group of about 15 on a recent tour of the premises, "There is a trail that is two and half miles long that meanders through the property. It's covered in snow now, but come spring, walking it really gives you an idea of what it was like to live out here is the early 1900's. The property has changed very little."

Merestead also has a large collection of art and literature.

"The Sloane family collected many books and paintings," she said as she pointed to an original Rembrandt and an original Francisco Goya, hanging outside the huge office and library of William Sloane.

In recent years, Merestead has been serving as an extension of the Copeland House in Cortlandt Manor, hosting concerts and musical education programs. The Copeland House is where Aaron Copland, one of the most celebrated and profoundly influential musical figures in American history, lived and worked for the last thirty years of his life, from 1960 to 1990.

Merestead stands as one of northern Westchester's most historical sites and is a glimpse into the Gilded Age of luxury. Merestead and Copeland House preserve America's vibrant heritage and invite all to enjoy walking the grounds and hiking trails, taking guided tours, and to come see the many various concerts.

For more information on the estate you can visit www.westchestergov.com/parks. For information on Copland House, visit www.coplandhouse.org.