Thornwood | ||||||||||||
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Narrative: Thornwood was built in 1925 as the home for Edwin Elmore, the president of the Elmore Milling Company, a major local feed producer. Following Elmore's death in 1927, his son, Earle, resided here with his mother and later, with his wife Dorothy, daughter Elaine, and son Edwin II. The Dutch Colonial style home was designed by AR Mosley of Troy NY, originally contained six bedrooms, five baths,a foyer, study, living room, dining room, family room, kitchen, servants' quarters, two-car garage, and a basement. Named in honor of the large thorn tree next to the terrace, Thornwood sat on a 14 ½ acre estate which included a carriage house, barn, and spring fed swimming pool. The family maintained an experimental farm with a few head of livestock, turkeys, and geese. Though the efforts and support of Earle P. Elmore, "Elmore Field" was constructed in the summer of 1948. Elmore Field is the current home of Hartwick's nationally ranked Division I men's soccer team. In July 1963, Elmore sold Thornwood for $25,000 to the College for use as the president's home. In January 1964, Dr. Frederick Binder became the first Hartwick president to move with his family into this very spacious and beautiful home. President Anderson resided in Thornwood from 1969-1976, and President Philip Wilder resided there from 1977-92 (he had the house sided with aluminum as the paint did not stay on well due to oil in the wood siding). President Richard Detweiler and his family resided there from 1992-2003, during which time major restorations and repairs were made. President Richard Miller currently resides there. References: Bailey, Ronald H. Hartwick College, A Bicentennial History: 1797-1997. Oneonta, NY: Hartwick College, 1997. Milener, Eugene D. Oneonta: The Development of a Railroad Town. Second revised edition. Plainview, NY: EPI, 1997. | |||||||||||
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Last update: November 2006