Adapted from the 1998 House Tour Guide (Page 661-658)

There is no real record of when the Roslyn Academy was established. Simon Douglas Replogle, Principle of the Roslyn schools from 1890-1902, in his unpublished notes on early schools in Roslyn, in the Bryant Library (S.W. Donaldson Collection), wrote: "In Roslyn, Galpin and Toby had an academy at "Locust Hill" about 1840, this later was run by Hyde and Eastman." Nothing is known of "Galpin and Toby." However, Munsell (page 419) informs us that William H. Onderdonk founded the first newspaper in North Hempstead, the "North Hempstead Gazette" in Manhasset, in 1846. In March 1848, Onderdonk sold the paper to John T. Cogswell who moved the paper to Roslyn and employed Eugene A. Hyde, "a Connecticut schoolmaster settled at Roslyn," as its editor. In 1852, Cogswell and Hyde moved the Gazette press and supplies to West Farms (in Westchester County) where they published a paper under another name. Apparently they had been forced out of business by Augustus W. Leggett and Henry W. Eastman's "Roslyn Plain Dealer," which was published July 12, 1850 through July 9th, 1852. Eugene Hyde obviously was present in Roslyn in 1848, when John Cogswell moved "The Gazette" here as he was operating the Locust Hill Academy.

There are several type-script references to the "Locust Hill Academy" and "The Roslyn Academy" in the Local History Department of the Bryant Library. These are not always dependable. For example, there are at least three references which suggest that the "Locust Hill Academy" and the "Roslyn Academy" were the same institution and that it was in operation by 1840. There are no specific references to "Locust Hill Academy," but a number to the "Academy at Locust Hill." If the name of the academy was the "Roslyn Academy," it could not have been organized before 1844, as that was the year the name "Roslyn" was adopted by the Village. More specifically, there is a typescript copy of an agreement between Eugene A. Hyde, of Glen Cove, and Henry W. Eastman, of Roslyn, dated April 10, 1848, "In reference to School at Roslyn." The agreement was to remain in force for a period of one year. The agreement was made between the two parties "to form a copartnership for the purpose of carrying on the business of School Teaching." Eugene Hyde agreed to advance 70% of the funds required to purchase the necessary furniture and equipment. Henry W. Eastman was to advance 30% of the funds required. The two partners would own stock in proportion to their investments and all profits or losses would be shared in this ratio.

Eugene Hyde would devote all his time and attention to the school, as principal and teacher. (In his remaining time he functioned as editor of the North Hempstead Gazette). Henry W. Eastman would devote no more than two hours per day to the school's affairs. (In his remaining time, he would be able to attend to his legal practice). The School would be located and kept on the premises now owned by said Eastman (presumably without additional compensation) and was to be known as the "Roslyn Academy." Hyde also was to have the use of Eastman's law office and library at such times as were convenient to Hyde. The school year was to be divided into four quarters of twelve weeks each. At the end of the period of the agreement, on April 10th 1849, the agreement would continue for another year, during which Hyde would receive 75% of the proceeds and Eastman 25%, but Hyde would relinquish his rights to Eastman's law office and law library.

The Hyde-Eastman agreement apparently continued into its second year, as a typescript copy of an advertisement in the North Hempstead Gazette for March 22, 1849, announced that the "Roslyn Academy," which was very pleasantly situated on Locust Hill, in this village, will convene its Spring Term" on April 25, 1849, "under the supervision of Mr. E.A. Hyde, as principal and assisted by H.W. Eastman, Esq." The quarterly fee for the "Primary Dept" was $3.00; for the "Common English branches"—$4.00; and for the "Highest English branch with ancient languages"—$5.00. The same Bryant Library file also includes a list of some of the people who sent their children to this school. The list not only includes the names of the most prominent local families, but also that of Warren Mitchell, of Manhasset, One name of particular interest is that of "S. Hendrickson" about whom nothing is known. However, according to Francis Skillman, "John Hendrickson" built the "Locust Hill" mansion in 1836. Perhaps the "S" is a typographical error. Another typescript entry on the same page, source unknown, states that "H.W. Eastman sold out to Mr. Hyde in 1850. The school ran from 1848 to 1850 in Roslyn as far as the records show." In any event, there is a typescript of a lease dated July 15th 1850 of the Academy building and its premises, including the use of the lane leading to it, to Benjamin W. Downing, for the period from July 22nd, 1850 to May 1st 1851, at a rent of $35 per quarter. The lease was witnessed by Eugene H. Hyde and does not indicate that Downing intended to use the building as a school.

So far as the Roslyn Academy is concerned, there is no real evidence to support that it was in operation before April 10th, 1848 or after April 10th 1850, unless Benjamin W. Downing continued to operate it as a school until May 1st, 1851. One wonders what the Academy building was built for and how Henry Eastman was able to buy the Locust Hill mansion and the surrounding property. He was born in Roslyn in 1826. His father, Jacob C. Eastman (TG 1977-78) was a carpenter and probably was not a very rich man. Henry W. Eastman's biography in Munsell (page 456) states that he was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court on May 14th, 1847, when he was 21 years old, after completing the seven years of study required at that time of those who did not attend college. He started practice in Roslyn in the same year. Later in the same year and "Pending the arrival of business he accepted the position of assistant tutor in the Academy, where he found opportunity to supplement his resources, which were then quite circumscribed." These reduced circumstances continued at least until 1850 when he started the "Plaindealer" with Augustus W. Leggett (Munsell, page 419). After the "Plaindealer" failed, in 1852, he decided that "the law is a jealous mistress, not willingly dividing her favors" and devoted himself entirely to the practice of law. Apparently he did well, as by 1854 he started assembling his household property on the east side of Main Street, a procedure which lasted until 1867 (TG 1977-78). The Academy building may have been built for him by his father. It was not built to be his law office, as his biography, in Munsell, states that he started practice in Roslyn Hall. Also, it is hard to understand why he would have given up Locust Hill Mansion, as a residence, as it was basically a much finer house than the one he eventually lived in.

The Roslyn Academy was built by Henry Western Eastman in 1847. It is approximately 25' x 40'; 2 storeys high and has a pitched roof, the ridge of which extends from east to west. It is situated about 160 feet west of the main house. The building is clapboarded and obviously has been extensively reworked. According to John Pisarski, the gardener and maintenance man employed by the Browers, who worked on the place from 1927 until his death in 1980, and who lived in an apartment on the main floor of the building during most of this period, the Roslyn Academy originally stood a short distance to the north of its present location.