Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer was a frequent visitor to this land called “Willowbrook” as was Captain Myles Keogh, who fought bravely at his side in the battle of Little Big Horn. Custer, who had an eye for the ladies, remarked that “Sweet Auburn contains more than her proportion of pretty females.”
Keogh had been a close friend of General Andrew Alexander of Auburn. During one of his visits he met Alexander's sister-in-law Nellie Martin of Willowbrook.
Legend has it that a love affair developed between the two. The romance never grew to fruition because Myles Keogh and his colorful commander, George Armstrong Custer, met their fate on a grubby ridge of land at the junction of the Big Horn and Little Big Horn rivers in the Minnesota territory. Keogh's body was not mutilated, as were most of the other 300 soldiers, because of his bravery during the massacre.
His body is buried at Fort Hill Cemetery along with his sweetheart, Nellie Martin, who never married and religiously visited his grave during all of the 50 years that separated their deaths.
Long before the turn of the 20th century - Willowbrook was. It is the most romantic and historic site in the entire Finger Lakes region. This enchanting enclave hosted presidents and potentates, pundits and poets and many other of America's rich and famous for over a century.
Secretary William H. Seward was a frequent visitor. Other notables who enjoyed its hospitality were Martin Van Buren, Washington Irving, General Ulysses S. Grant and Admiral David Farragut. Jenny Lind, the “Swedish Nightingale” sang her sweet songs by a grove at the lakefront.
At one famous gathering, during the Civil War, representatives of eleven nations gathered at Willowbrook at the invitation of Secretary of State William Seward who was trying to determine whether they would side with the North or the South during our nation's epic conflict.
For all of its rich history, Willowbrook is probably best known as the residence of Enos Throop - a colorful character who moved to Auburn in 1807 and became active in politics.
Throop was elected to Congress in 1814. In 1828, his old friend Martin Van Buren, who was seeking the governorship of New York, persuaded Throop to become his candidate for lieutenant governor. When Van Buren was made secretary of state by President Andrew Jackson, Throop became acting governor. The next year, he was elected governor. Had Throop continued to follow in the footsteps of his mentor, Van Buren, he might have been president of the United States.
The Willowbrook enclave consisted of a rambling house near the entrance of, what is today, Martin Point and a “Lower House” near the lake. A lovely Sycamore tree, undoubtedly there before Willowbrook, graced the front of the lower house. Probably some of the pandering, which surely went on in that romantic setting, occurred under its graceful branches.
The entire estate, including 50 acres on the lake and 50 acres across Route 38A, was purchased from relatives of Enos Throop in 1951 by the Enna Jettick Corporation. The intention was to keep this historic site, which comprises 8,000 feet of lakefront, “forever wild.” For many years a portion of the land was leased to the YMCA and became Willowbrook Day Camp - a camp for boys from Auburn and surrounding areas to go for sports and other activities during the summer (our sons went there). Tents were pitched where the Pavilion of Martin Point sits today and an Indian style Hogan was built adjacent, where Willowbrook Creek empties into Owasco Lake.
The Emerson Foundation decided, reluctantly, to sell Willowbrook in the mid-1980s to a partnership of local developers. They placed strict covenants on its use stating that; “The estate will be developed as a residential property in keeping with its natural beauty and historical tradition.” The Emerson Foundation sought the architecture of a New England village on Martha's Vineyard.
We, the developers, presented architectural drawings to their board and won the right to build on this beautiful land.
Today, the majestic Sycamore tree - the only remaining icon of “Willowbrook” - stands in an island on Willowbrook Drive at Martin Point and serves as a living testament to a more romantic time in our history.
Harold Miller is a businessman and Auburn native. He may be reached at hmillermod@aol.com
Highlight
Willowbrook hosted presidents and potentates, pundits and poets and many other of America's rich and famous for over a century.
Legend has it that a love affair developed between the two. The romance never grew to fruition because Myles Keogh and his colorful commander, George Armstrong Custer, met their fate on a grubby ridge of land at the junction of the Big Horn and Little Big Horn rivers in the Minnesota territory. Keogh's body was not mutilated, as were most of the other 300 soldiers, because of his bravery during the massacre.
His body is buried at Fort Hill Cemetery along with his sweetheart, Nellie Martin, who never married and religiously visited his grave during all of the 50 years that separated their deaths.
Long before the turn of the 20th century - Willowbrook was. It is the most romantic and historic site in the entire Finger Lakes region. This enchanting enclave hosted presidents and potentates, pundits and poets and many other of America's rich and famous for over a century.
Secretary William H. Seward was a frequent visitor. Other notables who enjoyed its hospitality were Martin Van Buren, Washington Irving, General Ulysses S. Grant and Admiral David Farragut. Jenny Lind, the “Swedish Nightingale” sang her sweet songs by a grove at the lakefront.
At one famous gathering, during the Civil War, representatives of eleven nations gathered at Willowbrook at the invitation of Secretary of State William Seward who was trying to determine whether they would side with the North or the South during our nation's epic conflict.
For all of its rich history, Willowbrook is probably best known as the residence of Enos Throop - a colorful character who moved to Auburn in 1807 and became active in politics.
Throop was elected to Congress in 1814. In 1828, his old friend Martin Van Buren, who was seeking the governorship of New York, persuaded Throop to become his candidate for lieutenant governor. When Van Buren was made secretary of state by President Andrew Jackson, Throop became acting governor. The next year, he was elected governor. Had Throop continued to follow in the footsteps of his mentor, Van Buren, he might have been president of the United States.
The Willowbrook enclave consisted of a rambling house near the entrance of, what is today, Martin Point and a “Lower House” near the lake. A lovely Sycamore tree, undoubtedly there before Willowbrook, graced the front of the lower house. Probably some of the pandering, which surely went on in that romantic setting, occurred under its graceful branches.
The entire estate, including 50 acres on the lake and 50 acres across Route 38A, was purchased from relatives of Enos Throop in 1951 by the Enna Jettick Corporation. The intention was to keep this historic site, which comprises 8,000 feet of lakefront, “forever wild.” For many years a portion of the land was leased to the YMCA and became Willowbrook Day Camp - a camp for boys from Auburn and surrounding areas to go for sports and other activities during the summer (our sons went there). Tents were pitched where the Pavilion of Martin Point sits today and an Indian style Hogan was built adjacent, where Willowbrook Creek empties into Owasco Lake.
The Emerson Foundation decided, reluctantly, to sell Willowbrook in the mid-1980s to a partnership of local developers. They placed strict covenants on its use stating that; “The estate will be developed as a residential property in keeping with its natural beauty and historical tradition.” The Emerson Foundation sought the architecture of a New England village on Martha's Vineyard.
We, the developers, presented architectural drawings to their board and won the right to build on this beautiful land.
Today, the majestic Sycamore tree - the only remaining icon of “Willowbrook” - stands in an island on Willowbrook Drive at Martin Point and serves as a living testament to a more romantic time in our history.
Harold Miller is a businessman and Auburn native. He may be reached at hmillermod@aol.com
Highlight
Willowbrook hosted presidents and potentates, pundits and poets and many other of America's rich and famous for over a century.
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