The Gold Coast of Long Island and Harkness

The Harkness family has some understated connections to the famous Gold Coast of Long Island, NY.

Weekend, Edward S. and Mary Harkness in Manhassett

Edward S. and Mary Harkness kept their golf retreat “Weekend” at Manhassett on the Gold Coast. It was an understated weekend getaway catering to Edward’s love of golf. See more about that by clicking HERE. (Their Eolia estate in Connecticut was on a much grander scale.)

William L. Harkness also had a summer retreat here on West Island (aka Dosoris). Again, in Harkness fashion, it was not as showy as the neighboring estate “Salutation” owned by Junius Morgan…but it was certainly in the right location. Nearby was East Island, the home of JP Morgan.

East Island, JP Morgan Estate

Away from the City – Long Island Gold Coast

Throughout history, New York City residents have embraced the tradition of maintaining both an urban residence and a “country” or “summer” home, providing them with an escape from the fast-paced lifestyle of the city. The Harkness family, in line with this practice, possessed a country home on Long Island as their retreat from bustling city life.

The Long Island Gold Coast, a stretch of the North Shore of Long Island, New York, gained renown during the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a haven for opulent estates owned by affluent families. Characterized by its picturesque landscapes, waterfront mansions, and grandeur, the Gold Coast became synonymous with wealth and luxury. Notable residents, including the likes of the Vanderbilts, Pratts, Astors, Whitneys, Woolworths and Harknesses, erected magnificent estates that showcased architectural splendor and hosted extravagant gatherings. The allure of the Gold Coast persisted through its association with the American Gilded Age, capturing the imagination of many and leaving an indelible mark on the region’s history and cultural legacy.

Dosoris Island was owned entirely by JP Morgan’s son Junius after he added the Harkness family’s 15 acres of land to his 31 acres in 1948.

In 1873, the 46-acre Dosoris Island (Wife’s Dowry in Latin) was purchased by Charles Dana, editor, and co-owner of The New York Sun newspaper. He lived in the existing home there and brought in the famous landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead to create an exotic oasis full of trees and fauna from around the world.

Dosoris, minus East and West Islands, was called Dosoris Park in the 1800s, and was purchased by Charles Pratt, a board member of Standard Oil. Dosoris Park would encompass all of the Pratt family estates that were established between 1890 and 1915. Besides the area and the road (Dosoris Lane) that connects Glen Cove’s commercial district to its north shore, the name has been preserved in Dosoris Pond, which separates East and West Islands from the mainland, and Dosoris Way, a street that parallels Forest Avenue. Additionally, West Island is often shown on maps as Dosoris Island. Again, a Standard Oil connection with the Pratt and Harkness families.

Charles Dana died in 1897, and in 1905 his son Paul subdivided the 46-acre island into two properties. He kept 31 acres for himself and sold 15 acres to William L. Harkness. This included the old frame house. In 1913 Harkness contracted James Gamble Rogers (often referred to as “The Harkness family’s architect”) to build a more elegant residence – as seen in the photo below.

Photos above courtesy of Nancy Titus Helfrich, granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Titus.

There is a photo above of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Titus. Fred Titus started with the Harkness family in 1907 as superintendent of the grounds and had a staff of 28 gardeners, 2 painters, a carpenter, and a plumber.

Will Harkness died in 1919 at the age of 60, and his wife Edith Hale Harkness inherited the Dosoris home along with their other properties. Edith passed away in 1947 at the age of 81. Shortly afterward, the Dosoris estate was purchased by their one and only neighbor, Junius S. Morgan III, who in 1928 had snapped up Paul Dana‘s half of the island and built Salutation. In about 1948, Mrs. Morgan demolished it to make way for a Colonial-Revival-style guesthouse in its place.

While the Harkness home is no longer standing on the island, the Morgan Salutation estate is and can be seen here. More information about the Gold Coast Mansions can be found here.

Junius Morgan estate Salutation on West Island

Junius’s father Jack (JP Jr.) Morgan lived on East Island, right next door.

JP Morgan Jr.’s Matinecock Point Estate on nearby East Island

The Showtime series Billions has a number of scenes located at Salutation. The 1995 movie Sabrina was filmed there, as were 1998’s A Perfect Murder and parts of 2023’s Succession.

More on Salutation in the movies: Salutation House in the Movies

The PBS video below does a great job of showing the splendor of the Gold Coast. Many of the mansions still exist today.