The Man Who Built 'Bayberry Hill' In Syosset

William Kennedy was the President of the William Kennedy Construction Co. of Brooklyn. His company had erected many notable and breathtaking buildings in his lifetime. In 1928, he built a wonderful summer home in Syosset, also. Although, he died in 1938 at the age of 72 and is long gone now, his contributions were incredible, and many of them still stand today.

One of his most famous buildings, The Williamsburgh Savings Bank Tower, is Brooklyn's loftiest skyscraper, (see pictures), and it remains the borough's most recognizable icon. Conceived in 1926, it was completed by May, 1929. It was declared an historic landmark in 1977, with its distinctive clock tower and gilded dome, both fully restored, and preserved. At 512 feet, it still remains one of the tallest structures in Brooklyn. Recently, basketball's "Magic" Johnson was involved in the conversion of the building creating beautiful, luxury condominiums at One Hanson Place.

Among Mr. Kennedy's other buildings were: the Bronx County Court House, the Brooklyn Central Courts, the Hotel Grosvenor, the North River Insurance Company, the Albee Theatre, the Brooklyn Dime Savings Bank, the Columbus Club - K of C; the Brooklyn St. John's and Methodist Episcopal Hospitals, the Central Methodist Episcopal Church, the Eighth Avenue Temple Parish House, the $5,000,000 Broadway Temple, and the Brooklyn Garden Apartments.

Born in Belfast, Ireland, he was the son of John and Jane Neilly Kennedy. In 1870, at the age of 5, he came over with his family in an old sailing ship, and it took two months to make the crossing. He attended the old public schools on Gold Street, and in his teens, Mr. Kennedy started in the building business with his father. He continued with his studies at night, at a local business college.

He received a $1 a day working construction on the Navarre Flats in Manhattan. For about six months he went to work with Richard Deeves. Three years later he reached the daily wage of $4 a day, and then returned to his father's employ, as a foreman.

In 1886, he married, and at the age of 21, he was put in charge of more important construction work. Two years later he became a partner in the concern of John Kennedy & Son. The first steel construction which Mr. Kennedy worked on is the Arbuckle Sugar Refinery and Warehouse on the Brooklyn waterfront. Then the Kennedy concern completed the armory of Troop C, which cost about $500,000.00, and contained the world's largest steel spans in the world, at that time.

Years later in 1912, Mr. Kennedy became President of the building firm. In addition to the local buildings, the company built power plants for Westinghouse throughout the country. And, although, he and his wife continued to own a home in Brooklyn, at 18 Montgomery Place, they began to come to Syosset for the summer months, (and spent some of the winters at the Hotel Grosvenor, Manhattan). He had two children, a son, Edward Kennedy, Jr. and a daughter, Mrs. Charles Lynde Babcock, Jr.

His summer home in Syosset called “Bayberry Hill” borders Oyster Bay Cove and is now currently on the market for sale. There have been several homeowners since, and even though it was originally set on 65.947 acres, the home still sits majestically on 1.93 acres in a serene and very private setting. The home itself is perched on one of the highest points of LI – 305’ above sea level (and it’s wonderful to feel those caressing breezes). Reminiscent of Long Island's memorable past of the Great Gatsby era, this home still proves to be truly a 'One of a Kind' Estate Home.

This unique brick manor home showcases classic Georgian style architecture throughout and has a beautiful slate roof, too. Throughout the home there are French doors with overhead lead-glass arches, architectural crown moldings, four fireplaces (three marble, one brick), and rich hardwood flooring throughout. Included on the sprawling acres are English gardens, mature specimen plantings, a vegetable garden, large slate patio, private fencing, and a sparkling 20x40 in-ground pool, too.

Solidly constructed and virtually fireproof, as the first home built in 1921 on the site burned down and was replaced with this home. The strong foundation is made of cement and stone, and the building with brick, stone, and steel. Years later, however, they took down the east and west wings back to the fireplace stacks as it looks today, (see pictures).

You’ll find yourself thinking, "If only these walls could talk," as you walk through this astonishing Syosset home. An impressive home with a rich past and the legendary man who built it makes a great story for a new homeowner to tell!

The home is just minutes away from the LIRR, all major highways, shopping, beaches, parks, golf courses, equestrian and tennis facilities. It is, also, within the award winning top-rated blue ribbon SYOSSET schools system.

To fully view estate as it appears today: http://1waterford.epropertysites.com

To see the estate as it once was: The William Kennedy estate was designed by Architects Kern & Lippert c. 1922 in Syosset, NY. http://www.oldlongisland.com/search?q=bayberry+hill

For a more information, please email or call.

Linda Koziatek, NYS REALTOR®, LSA, CSA

Realty Connect USA, LLC, 175 Crossways Park Dr. W., Woodbury, NY 11797

Cell: 516.502.5725

Email: Lindasre@hotmail.com