Eolia Mansion – Edward Harkness

November 11, 2026

By Don C. Schueler6 min readModern Era · 1950s

Great News! Funding Granted for Harkness Park/Eolia

State bond funding will go to Harkness Memorial State Park for improvements for Waterford residents, state Rep. Nick Gauthier and state Sen. Martha Marx announced Tuesday. The funding will benefit pa...

Edward and Mary Harkness had a number of homes in addition to Harkness House in New York. Mary’s sister and brother-in-law built Eolia. In 1907, Jessie Stillman and William Taylor sold Eolia to them. This property was one of their seven homes and was said to be their favorite. They spent summers, May through September, here at Eolia mansion on Long Island Sound in Waterford, Connecticut, near where Mary had visited her grandparents in the summers. The home and 230 acres (93 ha) of ornamental gardens and grounds are now maintained by the State of Connecticut as Harkness Memorial State Park.

You can visit this incredible site or rent it for events. Check here:

Visit Eolia or have your wedding or other event in this wonderland

Set on Long Island Sound at Harkness Memorial State Park, Eolia features formal gardens, sweeping grounds, and panoramic seaside views open year-round. It offers a timeless coastal setting for estate tours, waterfront strolls, and elegant weddings or private events.

Donate and Support Eolia

Eolia (circa 1916): Back row: Edward Harkness,Yale '97, second from left. Middle Row from left: Malcolm P. Aldrich? (Yale '22), Mary (Stillman) Harkness, William Ambrose Taylor Sr. and Jessie (Stillman) Taylor(the original builders of Eolia). Bottom row, from left, William A. Taylor Jr., Yale '19, Archaeologist, Ex-Diplomat, Henry C. Taylor, Yale '17, unknown. — Eolia (circa 1916): Back row: Edward Harkness,Yale ’97, second from left. Middle Row from left: Malcolm P. Aldrich? (Yale ’22), Mary (Stillman) Harkness, William Ambrose Taylor Sr. and Jessie (Stillman) Taylor(the original builders of Eolia). Bottom row, from left, William A. Taylor Jr., Yale ’19, Archaeologist, Ex-Diplomat, Henry C. Taylor, Yale ’17, unknown. — Family / private collection

The Harknesses used their steam yacht Stevana (named after his parents) to commute back and forth to New York. The yacht was often anchored in the sound here at Eolia or nearby at Shaw Cove in New London, CT. It turns out that Mary Harkness was an ardent user of Stevana, often traveling back and forth from Eolia to nearby Fishers Island.

On the left, the Cythera(aka Agawa) owned first by C.W. Harkness, then by Mr. & Mrs. W.L. Harkness, and on the right is Stevana owned by Edward S. Harkness, anchored at Shaw Cove in New London, near Eolia in May, 1939 — On the left is the Cythera (aka Agawa), owned first by C.W. Harkness, then by Mr. & Mrs. W.L. Harkness, and on the right is Stevana, owned by Edward S. Harkness, anchored at Shaw Cove in New London, near Eolia in May 1939. — Public domain (pre-1929)

Eolia had a dock. However its not clear if the Stevana could dock here or if it was docked offshore and this was where a tender boat would dock that shuttled passengers back and forth. For maintenance and longer docking we know the Stevana docked at Shaw Cove in New London in the above photo. — Eolia had a dock. However, it’s not clear if the Stevana could dock here or if it was docked offshore and this was where a tender boat would dock that shuttled passengers back and forth. For maintenance and longer docking, we know the Stevana docked at Shaw Cove in New London in the above photo.

AI Imagined Stevana in the harbor - Combined with a great photo taken by Sue York from the Friends of Harkness — Ai Imagined Stevana in the harbor - Combined with a great photo taken by Sue York from the Friends of Harkness

Stevana – Ned and Mary’s yacht

Edward and Mary Harkness used their steam yacht, Stevana (named after his parents Stephen and Anna) to commute back and forth between New York and Eolia and they also often traveled to Fishers Island and sometimes up the coast up to Maine.

The Acania, a “sister ship” similar in design to the Stevana

A colorized version of a photo by Mattie Edwards Hewitt of The Music Room at Eolia circa the early 1920s. Mary was an accomplished pianist but played sparingly for family.

In addition to the New York townhouse and Eolia, Ned and Mary also owned a house on Long Island in Manhasset, New York, on 186 acres called Weekend, designed by architect James Gamble Rogers, plus houses in North Carolina, San Diego, California and a camp at the Ausable Club in the Adirondacks.

The Harkness Weekend Estate on Long Island

While there were no lavish, over-the-top parties at Eolia, Ned and Mary did entertain many guests such as JD Rockefeller and JP Morgan, but most guests listed in the guestbook were family and closer friends like the board members of the Harknesses’ Commonwealth Fund.

Carriage House

The Harkness Family’s multi-use support compound was a large U-shaped building. The structure had three distinct wings with different functions. The South Wing, located on the right side of the building, was used as a clubhouse for Edward Harkness and his friends. It boasted a billiards room, squash court, and two bowling lanes. Large windows provided a stunning view of the ocean and the property’s sprawling gardens.

Billards and games room — Billiards and games room

In the central block of the building, there was a garage equipped with a turntable to aid in the parking of Mr. Harkness’s growing collection of limousines. The garage also had a gas pump and a car wash.

Automobile Turntable at Eolia Carriage House

An example of a similar vehicle turntable

The North Wing, situated on the left side of the building, served as the horse stables and carriage area. It also had a tack room, smithy, and a designated space for dog grooming. The portals leading to the carriage area had small rounded stones to protect the building from damage caused by the wheels.

Golf at Eolia

Like me, Ned was an avid golfer. He was a member of National Golf Links, Links Club, Cypress Point Club, Valley Club of Montecito, Yeamans Hall, Ausable Club, and Creek Club. So, it makes sense that he would want to be able to play golf at home at Eolia. So, he had a 9-hole course built on the property. More about the course can be found HERE. He was also a member of the Racquet and Tennis Club in New York City and likely played some squash given that there were squash courts (a unique squash tennis style of court) at Eolia and in the Harkness House Carriage House in NYC.

Also, note that to the left of the first tee was the tennis court.The Golf Course at Eolia. Also, note that to the left of the first tee was the tennis court.

Aerial survey of Connecticut 1934 photograph 00513 - 9 x 7 in., b&w photograph; Connecticut State Library, State Archives, RG 089: 11a

Harkness Memorial Park

Upon her death in 1950, Mary Harkness left the property to the State of Connecticut, specifying that the grounds were to be used for the purposes of promoting good health. In 1952, the land became a part of the state park system. The park is still operating and open today, and tours are available through The Friends of Harkness, an awesome group who are dedicated to preserving Eolia and the surrounding grounds. Great work, team!

Friends of Harkness - Harkness Memorial State Park - Waterford, CT

The Friends of Harkness organization is dedicated to the restoration and preservation of the Harkness Estate and to the provisions of Mrs. Harkness’ will, in which she bequeathed the property to the State of Connecticut for the well-being of its citizens.

PLAY ▶ This is a video of an interior tour of Eolia. The audio has some issues, but if you can’t get to Connecticut, this is the next best thing: