The gardens contain a number of statues along with various bits and pieces of broken stonework. I found myself asking if it was broken because of age and the general dilapidation of the property or was it made to look that way to give the gardens the “romantic” look that was very popular at one time.

Above the entrance to the property from the adjoining Lenoir Preserve, which was once the site of two mansions: The Lenoir Mansion (which still survives) built between 1850 and 1870 for future presidential candidate Samuel J. Tilden and the Duell-Stillwell mansion, Ardenwold, which burned down at some point.

Intact Urn on a pedestal.

Its twin, the urn now lying broken on the ground.

A Greek theater. Plays and other types of entertainment were once performed here.

Another tiled pool. On the left you can make out a wall with a relief on it. This is one of seven or eight on this wall, most of them in quite poor condition.

Taken with a Fuji X-E1 and Fuji XC 16-50mm f3.5-5.6 OSS II

The gazebo is intact and has a tiled pool in front of it. A path from it leads down towards the Hudson River, beyond the balustrade seen in the first picture.

Closer view of the gazebo. Here you can clearly see the tiled pool.

View from the gazebo looking back towards the west facade.

Taken with a Fuji X-E1 and Fuji XC 16-50mm f3.5-5.6 OSS II

Carrère and Hastings were commissioned to design the house. As a lover of plants and gardens, he supervised the planning and planting of the landscapes around the house, and retained considerable influence over it. While the house has many similarities with the Frick Mansion in New York City, which the firm was designing and building at the same time, this Mansion has some touches that reflect his personal preferences, such as the colored marble in some columns, imported fireplaces, and classical detailing in the gardens.

Above the main entrance.

A side entrance, possibly to a servants wing.

The west facade faces the Hudson River. In its day it must have been quite spectacular. Unfortunately, over time trees have grown up, partially obscuring the view.

Looking back at the west facade.

At some point a fragment of a 16th Century Baroque church was affixed to Alder Manor’s north façade. The rectangular space towards the top marks the north end of the indoor swimming pool. It’s missing a stained glass window that was stolen during the 1990s.

Taken with a Fuji X-E1 and Fuji XC 16-50mm f3.5-5.6 OSS II

After success in the mining industry, the owner continued to be involved in mining as an investor on Wall Street, and made more money. In 1905 he began acquiring the 22 acres (8.9 ha) on which he built his mansion, intended to be a weekend residence.

He lived in the house until his death in 1930 and left $20 million ($310 million in modern dollars in trust to his wife and daughter on condition that they continue to live at the mansion. His wife lived there for another 20 years. After her 1950 death, she willed it to the Archdiocese of New York, for use as a Catholic high school, which was upgraded to a junior college in 1960.

Some modifications were made. The addition of a chapel and a fire escape were done discreetly, with great sensitivity to the architecture. On the inside, however, some rooms were modified extensively to serve as bedrooms and offices. Among these were the basement den, where the original owner had displayed his gem collection. Its Chinese-themed decor was greatly minimized, and only the woodwork remains today. The college also built a dorm to the west, blocking the view of the Hudson the mansion had once enjoyed.

The college closed in 1995 and the property began to be to be subdivided and sold. The City of Yonkers bought 14 acres (5.7 ha) including the mansion and other buildings, some of which it used as an elementary school. A developer bought the remaining land to the south and built an assisted living center.

The mansion remained unused and vacant. Signs of neglect became apparent, and it became a target for vandals and thieves. Among the items stolen were the brass nameplate at the main entrance, a chandelier and a Tiffany glass window. The city put out a request for proposals from interested parties.

Two years later, in 1997, an Irish American cultural organization acquired the building. The mansion cost the group $1.2 million to acquire, and it was estimated that fully restoring it would take another $2 million.

Throughout the 2000s limited use was made of the building due to its condition. Classes in Irish music and culture were offered, and concerts hosted. Further revenue was raised by renting the mansion for weddings, banquets and film shoots. It was first used in that latter capacity as the mansion where Russell Crowe as mathematician John Nash drops mail off in the 2001 film A Beautiful Mind. It was also used for scenes in The Royal Tenenbaums and Mona Lisa Smile.

The Mansion in now owned by the Goren Group of New York City, which plans to make it a catering and boutique hotel for conferences and weddings.

Taken with a Fuji X-E1 and Fuji XC 16-50mm f3.5-5.6 OSS II