"Eastover Farm" (Centre Island, New York)

 residence, LIGC - Long Island Gold Coast, shingle style (architecture)

Originally comprised of 173 acres of the former Patrick Green farm, the estate of Colgate Hoyt included a working farm and a large shingle style mansion. Designed by the firm of Renwick, Aspinwall & Owen (architects of the neighboring Wetmore estate "Applegarth") in 1891 under the direction of Wm H. Russell a member and later partner of the firm. Since the boathouse (demolished 2008) was Elizabethan in style but remodeled as colonial revival, it is suspected the main house may once have been of Elizabethan design as well.

Colgate Hoyt was associated with Henry Villard and the Northern Pacific and was also a major shareholder in West Superior Iron and Steel and associated with John D. Rockefeller in numerous ventures including the American Steel Barge Corporation. Colgate's father was James Madison Hoyt a prominent Cleveland Attorney and land developer. At various times the estate was leased by the Hoyts to Cornelius Vanderbilt and C.K.G. Billings.

Colgate Hoyt died in 1922 and his family retained ownership of the estate until its sale to George N. Armsby in 1929. Several unsuccessful attempts were made to subdivide the property in the late 1930's. The Boat House on 90 acres was sold to the Oelsner and Grace families in 1939. Currently there are a number of modern post-war homes spaced at 3 acre intervals along the eastern shore.

A large salt meadow and tidal creek which are a designated nature reserve make up about 30 acres at the center of the property. Tradition has it that Captain William Kidd buried a portion of his treasure near this meadow when he moored off of the point in 1699 while enroute to surrendering to the authorities in Boston.

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