Manhasset’s Historical Gem Photo courtesy Google Earth While so much of Manhasset in death in 1917 where it resides today.” The Greentree Estate the 1920s was lost to industrial- with no children, Payne Whitney and Helen had is as much a piece ization and the advancement to Hazard Payne two children; Joan Whitney Payson The Hobbs Family modernity, there are a few precious left $63 million (1903-1975) and John Hay “Jock” In this tale of two families, the of Long Island jewels that have weathered the ($1.3 billion in Whitney (1904-1982). Joan, a sports Hobbs family also has an interest- storm of a new century. Greentree 2019 dollars) enthusiast, would later become the ing history. Hobbs’ grandfather, history as the family was the home of the prominent and his estate, first owner of the New York Mets. Walter Hobbs, came to America Whitney family, known for their Greenwood Payne And Jock would become perhaps from England to work for the Whitney who lived in it business enterprises, social promi- Plantation in the most prominent Whitney in the Pulitzer family. nence, wealth and philanthropy. Georgia, to his nephew, William history of the family, accomplishing “He competed in a cross By Jennifer Fauci A third generation worker on the Payne Whitney. more than his contemporaries could county race on a bicycle with estate after his father and grand- Payne Whitney married Helen have imagined. wooden rims—winning it two father, Chris Hobbs has a special Hay, the sister of his Yale roommate. Jock’s first marriage was to Mary years in a row—and used his connection to Greentree, and his As it was common to give a home to Elizabeth Altemus (known as Liz prize money to come to America,” the estate. passion for history and gratitude is a new wife during that time, Payne Whitney) and lasted from 1931 to says Hobbs of his grandfather. “The Among his many job responsi- not lost on the Whitneys and all they Whitney built Greentree Estate in 1940. In 1942, he married Betsey trophy cup is still in the family.” bilities included managing the wine left behind. Manhasset for Helen as a wedding Cushing Roosevelt, the former After the war, Walter married and spirits and petty cash for the gift in 1904. daughter-in-law of President Erminia Donzelli, who came over entire estate, handling hundreds of A Whitney family tree “The estate was made by combin- Franklin D. Roosevelt. Jock from Italy and became a governess thousands of dollars. Walter worked American businessman Oliver ing five large farms and building a adopted her two daughters from to the Pulitzer family. She spoke and for the Whitneys until he was 88. Hazard Payne was born in 1839. modest country house,” says Hobbs. her previous marriage. According wrote in five languages and traveled “My father grew up on the estate Throughout his lifetime, Hazard “When developing the estate, Payne to Hobbs, who has some of the art around the world, taking care of the and I worked there a few summers Payne was an organizer of the Whitney purchased a stained glass from Greentree hanging in his own Pulitzers’ two children, Steve and as well,” says Hobbs, adding that American Tobacco trust, assisted window in France that he had living room, Betsey loved art and Ralph. the gardens on the grounds on the with the formation of U.S. Steel, planned on adding to a chapel on adored her paintings from Picasso Soon after, the newlyweds left the estate were maintained by a staff A view of the expansive and was affiliated with Standard Oil, the Greentree estate. After forgoing and Toulouse Lautrec, many of Pulitzers to work at the Whitney of 28 full-time gardeners. “My wife, gardens from the main house earning him the title of one of the his plan, the window was donated to which were hung throughout Estate. Working his way up, Walter Cheryl, and I worked on the estate 100 wealthiest Americans. Upon his Christ Church (1802) in Manhasset Greentree and her city home. became the buildings manager for and helped in the greenhouses, 12 MANHASSET PRESS MAGAZINE including taking care of the prized anything of orchids.” importance on Hobbs has many fond memories the artifacts he of being on the estate. He recalls came to collect. his first baseball game as a child, a “A lot of what Mets game where he received a very we have was special gift from the owner, Joan. all thrown out. “Tom Seaver was pitching and I My father and remember how earthy Joan Payson grandfather got was; she was a person of the people. it from dump- As Tom Seaver comes back to the ster diving, all dugout, he pulls his hat down and of the personal The Whitney she shouts profanities at him to letters and pho- boathouse. Right: play better,” Hobbs recalls. “When tos,” says Hobbs, A 1967 picture sent to Walter Hobbs the game ended, Joan contacted the noting that some from Mr. and Mrs. manager, Casey Stengel, and said to of the treasures Whitney celebrating my grandfather that they had a pres- include a pen- 50 years of service. ent for me. They did up a ball that nant that hung on Jock Whitney’s the entire 1965 Mets team signed.” yacht, the Aphrodite; photos of Hobbs’ home is filled with boxes foreign dignitaries and royalty who of history from the past. His father came to visit; checks signed by was so passionate about the estate, Jock; receipts from wine purchases having grown up and worked on and staff files of every employee of it, that he made detailed notes the estate. “I donated a lot to the and wrote down names, dates and Long Island Historical Society.” A Jock of All Trades Although Jock Whitney’s life was incredible since birth, he acquired his own relationships, many of which revolved around the theater scene as he and Joan invested in many plays, including bringing A Streetcar Named Desire to Broadway. Jock was also lifelong friends with the greatest dancer of all time, Fred Astaire. Keeping in the Hollywood circle, Jock befriended David O. Selznick, the producer of Gone with the Wind. “Jock knew a literary agent named Kay Brown from the New York theater scene and hired her as the literary agent of Selznick productions. She discovered a manuscript from an unknown author named Margaret Mitchell,” says Hobbs. “When Whitney read the manuscript, he called Selznick, and urged him to buy the story. In According to Hobbs, when 1937, Selznick bought the rights Selznick Pictures ran out of money making Gone with the Wind, Jock and two year later, Gone with the The Oscars in 1940 Wind would become one of the put up $850,000 of his own money. David O. Selznick, Vivien Leigh, Olivia de Havilland most iconic movies of all time.” Although it was Selznick who and Jock Whitney at the Oscars. 16 MANHASSET PRESS MAGAZINE discovered Vivien Leigh, it was Whitney who decided to cast her in the role of Scarlett O’Hara. It was also Whitney who made a deal with Warner Bros. to cast Clark Gable, who was under contract with the studio, in the role of Rhett Butler. In exchange for Gable’s service, Warner Bros. distributed Gone with the Wind. CHOOSING THE “The stars stayed at Greentree ahead of the premiere in Atlanta RIGHT AGENT and my father caddied for Clark Gable, his wife, Carol Lombard and MAKES ALL Vivien Leigh,” says Hobbs. THE DIFFERENCE Taking on a more political role, The Greentree Foundation Jock served as the U.S. Ambassador When the Whitney estate was later Jock and his sister, Laffey Real Estate’s to the United Kingdom during the divided, land was gifted to several or- Joan, often spent time at the races, rooting for Greentree Stables. Top Overall Producer 2016, 2017, 2018* reign of Queen Elizabeth II. The ganizations: the North Shore Unitarian Queen’s sister, Princess Margaret, Universalist Society (now known as the "Rising Star Residential Agent visited Unitarian Universalist Congregation Greentree and Of The Year" at Shelter Rock (UUCSR); North (awarded by Long Island Business News) stayed in the Shore Manhasset Hospital and the pool house in Manhasset Lakeville Fire Department. Laffey Real Estate’s what became The remaining 408 acres, including the Top "Luxury Sale” Nassau County known as family home, are run by the Greentree 1st Quarter, 2017 the Princess Foundation, a philanthropic nonprofit Margaret Room. organization, as a conference center Laffey Real Estate’s “Jock was the dedicated to international justice and Top "Luxury Sale” Nassau County largest private human rights issues. The Greentree 1st Quarter, 2018 art collector in Foundation was founded in 1982 by the country, Betsey and has owned the property Laffey Real Estate’s later becoming since 2000. Today, Greentree is used by "Top Luxury Sale" Suffolk County The Ambassador: The Whitneys the president at Buckingham Palace. the United Nations. Part of the original 3rd Quarter 2018 of the Museum garage was converted into gardens and At Jock’s death, his collection of art amassed of Modern Art (MOMA). When he meeting areas for UN use. The stables over the years was conservatively valued at $500 to $600 million in 1980s dollars. died, one of the crown jewels of were also renovated to provide lodging (Photos courtesy of the Hobbs family) the art collection, a Renoir painted for visiting dignitaries and UN staff. JIM GAVIN “Le Moulin de la Galette” (1876) was sold by Betsey for $78 million,” Your local agent– says Hobbs of the painting, which exceeding client’s was acquired by Jock in 1929 and hung in the living room of his city expectations time home.