Cutting, Bayard, Estate
Also known as: Westbrook
Why it's listed
Westbrook is a former summer estate near Great River on Long Island's south shore, now owned by New York State. W. Bayard Cutting, a financier, bought the former Lorillard property in 1886 and hired New York architect Charles Haight to design a long, rambling two-and-a-half story house of four blocks with transverse gables, brick chimneys, shingled walls and half-timbering. Interiors carry Tudor and Jacobean-style paneling and carved woodwork. Frederick Law Olmsted landscaped the grounds, which hold a large collection of trees and shrubs. Surviving outbuildings include a half-timbered gatehouse, a carriage house with a cupola, and Westbrook Farm, whose brick Cow Barn, stable, animal hospital and carpenter shop surround a courtyard. The estate was listed because house, grounds and farm survive together as an example of late 19th century design and of the south shore country-seat community. The house and most grounds are open as the Bayard Cutting Arboretum, noted for its conifers.
Significance in brief: The estate is argued to illustrate the 19th century history of Islip and the south shore country-seat community. House, grounds and farm survive remarkably intact, each significant alone and together. They show late 19th century design concepts, including a picturesque house by Charles Haight, landscaping by Frederick Law Olmsted, and a lavishly designed agricultural complex.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 73001271, listed October 2, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | N of Great River on NY 27, Great River |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | October 2, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001271 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architect / builder | Charles Haight (house); Frederick Law Olmstead (landscape); T. J. Green of Sayville (Cow Barn); Charles H. Hulse (rebuilt farm buildings); drawings possibly by Stanford White (undocumented) |
| Architectural style | Picturesque, with English Tudor/Jacobean-style ornamentation and half-timbering |
| Areas of significance | Landscape Architecture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | House and most grounds are open to the public as the Bayard Cutting Arboretum; the farm was leased to a private dairy until August 1973; condition marked unaltered and on original site. |
| Acreage | 750 |
| Coordinates | 40.74745, -73.16741 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 73001271.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7987161
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.