Mansion's Centennial Spotlights Gold Coast's Golden Age

Among the mega-rich who built turn-of-the-20th-century homes on Long Island, the Pratt family had a particularly extensive connection to Glen Cove. To escape the congestion of Manhattan in favor of the glacier-sculpted shorelines and deep, old-growth woods of Long Island's North Shore, the sons of Charles Pratt were so enamored of the Glen Cove area, they built five mansions here. The elder Pratt had amassed the family fortune as part of John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil Company in the latter part of the 19th century. A century later, each of his son's mansions is still representative of the finest in early 20th century architecture and gracefully landscaped grounds. 

"The Manor," built by John Teele Pratt and his wife, Ruth Baker Pratt, on Dosoris Lane, celebrated its centennial last month, under its latest incarnation as the Glen Cove Mansion Hotel and Conference Center.

On or about the time of its completion in 1910, John Pratt's Manor would enjoy the company of "Killenworth," brother George's gothic Tudor mansion, which are today the Russian Consulate's quarters. Brother Frederic's stone mansion, "Poplar Hill," is now a home for the aged. Herbert's waterfront home, "The Braes," is the Webb Institute of Naval Architecture, and Harold's Neo-Georgian mansion is the centerpiece of Nassau County's "Welwyn" Preserve.

Lord of The Manor John, who passed away in 1927, was an attorney and an executive with Standard Oil. Ruth Baker Pratt was New York's first Republican Congresswoman, representing New York City's "Silk Stocking" district. She and her family maintained the estate until her death in 1965.

Since 1967, Glen Cove Mansion is regularly recognized as one of the premier conference center hotels in the country. Readers of Corporate Meetings & Incentives magazine have chosen it as among the "Ten Best Conference Centers in the United States." It has also received Corporate Incentive & Travel magazine's "Award of Excellence," and "Gold Platter" awards for excellence in hospitality and food and beverage services from Meetings & Conventions magazine.

"The Glen Cove Mansion is an important and integral part of the Long Island Gold Coast legacy and history," said its director of sales & marketing, Fred Leuthold.  "The combination of outstanding service with state-of-the-art conference facilities makes the Mansion a unique venue to conduct corporate and special events." 

Despite the yo-yoing economy, Leuthold explained the facility is doing well and is well-positioned for future bookings.

"The Mansion has built, over the past few years, a reputation to excel in all areas of services and experience," Leuthold said. "Our customer satisfaction ratings have increased to an unheard level above 99.0% overall. The booking pace and future business outlook is excellent."