Photographs Relating to Ophir Hall in Purchase,
ca. 1877-1925
Entire Record
Catalog
Transcription
Here is a collection of photographs relating to Whitelaw Reid’s home, Ophir Hall. Reid was the publisher and editor-in-chief of the New York Tribune when he and his wife bought the 1,000 acre estate in Purchase in 1887.
The first two photographs are portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Reid. Elizabeth Mills Reid was the daughter of D. Ogden Mills, a wealthy California financier who was born in North Salem and is buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. Her portrait was taken about 1877. Mr. Reid’s portrait was taken in 1881 at the time of his marriage to Elizabeth.
The next photograph shows the original mansion on fire in 1888. It burned to the ground in a fire of uncertain origin. The Reids decided to rebuild, and the aerial view of its replacement shows a much grander mansion, which was built using granite quarried on the estate.
The next two photographs show the interior of the mansion: the paneled study, with its elaborately carved chimneypiece, which originally came from England; and the Library.
Today, Ophir Hall, now known as Reid Hall, serves as the main building of Manhattanville College.