This was the estate of Harry Payne Whitney and his wife Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney. Gertrude was a daughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt, the transportation mogul. Gertrude had a passion for the arts. She both funded and created many projects. She founded the present day Whitney museum. It is said that a sculptor that was working on a sculpture of her had fallen in love with Gertrude. When he unveiled the nude sculpture she wasn't present. The sculptor climbed to the top of the water tower and jumped. It is said he still haunts the tower that is now in the middle of a private golf course.
The estate was self sufficient and even had its own dairy. The dairy is now used by NYIT's Old Westbury Campus.