From pirate house to country club – the development of Baron Hugh Maxwell’s estate

Barons of Broadway #26

A new chapter began for Hugh Maxwell’s large estate in Upper Nyack, even before his will was controversially decided. In 1890, the quiet brick house was transformed into the boisterous clubhouse of the Nyack Country Club at 336 N Broadway. During its time as a social gathering place, the house underwent significant expansions and renovations and became the epicenter of Golden Age celebrations. Nyack’s wealthy residents gathered there for various entertainment events.

As Maxwell’s legacy faded, a bizarre legend emerged: the house was built by a French pirate during the War of 1812. A mysterious stone tunnel under North Broadway, said to have been used to smuggle goods, seemed to support the story. The romantic history remained, adding a touch of intrigue to the property’s history. Later revelations revealed that the “Pirate Tunnel” was simply a drainage canal.

After World War I, the property’s identity changed, becoming first the Braeburn Country Club under Pierre Bernard’s ownership and later the Clarkstown Country Club when Bernard moved the center to his larger property in South Nyack. The once-grand Maxwell estate evolved into a quieter existence as a gymnastics center and guest house. Without proper maintenance, the house fell into disrepair and was demolished in 1951 to make way for Upper Nyack Elementary School.

The Nyack Country Club: Gilded Age Splendor

The Nyack Country Club served as a lively social gathering place for wealthy locals and summer visitors. The site featured tennis courts on North Broadway, a 9-hole golf course, archery ranges, horse show venues, billiards rooms, and baseball diamonds. Members enjoyed Shakespeare performances, card games and dancing on Saturday evenings while the lawns were illuminated by fairy lights and Japanese lanterns. The clubhouse restaurant, sometimes staffed by a French chef, adds a touch of sophistication to the club’s offerings.

The club was open from May to November and the shady street was bustling with activity. The newspapers frequently highlighted his tennis tournaments and high-profile events, cementing his status as a cornerstone of Nyack’s Gilded Age society.

Ceremonial opening of the clubhouse

In June 1891, the Nyack Country Club unveiled its newly renovated clubhouse. The Victorian interior, decorated in the club’s gold and white tones, showcased antique oak furniture, wooden floors and lush palm trees. Over 30 engravings by Charles Frederick William Mielatz decorated the walls, likely curated by Julian O. Davidson, a local artist and club member.

A spacious new building offered space for dances, performances and meetings. The house itself delighted visitors with its robin’s egg blue music room, terracotta decorated dining room, billiards rooms and card lounges. Gold-colored electric lighting – a rare novelty – bathed the entire room in a warm glow.

The grand opening culminated in an evening full of festive celebrations. Guests in elegant attire danced to the music of New York Professor Rosenkranz while club members provided a lavish dinner.

Tennis and sporting events

Tennis was the heart of the club, attracting star players such as Nyack champion Augusta Bradley Chapman and international icon Molla Bjurstedt Mallory. The U.S. National Lawn Tennis Association sanctioned the club’s courts, which hosted tournaments that were featured in major publications such as: B. was reported The New York Times.

In a 1906 article entitled “Women Play Fast Tennis.” The times described the scene vividly: “Brown and bare-armed, the lawn tennis players enlivened the competitions on the courts of the Nyack Country Club in Nyack-on-the-Hudson.” In addition to tennis, members flocked to golf, billiards and horse shows. Wilson Foss, owner of the Upper Nyack Quarry and billiards champion, became a prominent figure at these events, and the club’s annual horse shows along Midland Avenue became a popular tradition.

Social life and entertainment

The club’s Saturday night dances were legendary, often accompanied by music wafting from porches lit with fairy lights. Special events included Shakespeare plays, charity performances and lavish card parties. Women-only gatherings such as the Musical Mornings highlighted the club’s progressive flavor, although women still faced restrictions on membership privileges.

End of an era

By 1917, the Nyack Country Club’s golden age had faded. The rise of the automobile allowed members to explore entertainment options further afield, while the opening of Rockland Country Club in 1907 attracted many golfers. The First World War further reduced the club’s vibrancy as the number of young men on site declined. That year, the Nyack Country Club moved to the former Tappan Zee House in South Nyack and merged with the Nyack Art Club to form the Nyack Club.

The Braeburn era and the great OOM

In 1920, Pierre Bernard, known as the Great OOM, purchased the property and then operated as Braeburn Country Club. A colorful and controversial personality, Bernard brought yoga, circus acrobatics and cosmopolitan visitors to the quiet village. Locals watched with a mix of fascination and dismay as women in bloomers and leotards practiced yoga on the lawn, sparking rumors of scandal.

The press seized on the spectacle with sensational headlines about the “disappearance of women from society” and the infamous “pirate house tunnel,” which was supposedly intended to hide women or provide Bernard with an escape route. Despite the Nyack Police Department’s investigation, no wrongdoing emerged. Bernard’s claim that his members were spending $6,000 a month in the village eventually convinced local leaders. A large birthday celebration cemented his acceptance into Nyack society.

The final act of the Brick House

In recent years, the Brick House has hosted lectures, performances and acrobatic exhibitions. Many guests stayed at nearby Moorings, a property also owned by Bernard. When Bernard shifted his focus to his property in South Nyack, the property became less important. Despite their decline, the legend of the French pirate persisted in newspaper articles and local lore.

In 1950, the Nyack School District purchased the property and the house was demolished the following year to make way for Upper Nyack Elementary School. Years later, historian Win Perry examined the remains of the tunnel and confirmed that it was a drainage canal. Over time, the myths of the Pirate House and the memories of the Golden Age and Bernard’s yoga pioneers disappeared from the village’s collective memory.

Note: The postcards in this article are from the Courtwright Postcard Archive in the collection of the Historical Society of the Nyacks.

Mike Hays lived in the Nyacks for 38 years. He worked for McGraw-Hill Education in New York City for many years. HYes is president of the Historical Society of the Nyacks, vice president of the Edward Hopper House Museum & Study Center and historian of Upper Nyack. . He is married to Bernie Richey and enjoys cycling and winters in Florida. You can follow him on Instagram as UpperNyackMike.

Editor’s note: This article is sponsored by Sun River Health and Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty. Sun River Health is a network of 43 Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) that provides primary, dental, pediatric, gynecological and behavioral health care to more than 245,000 patients annually. Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty Is The Luxury Guide to the Lower Hudson Valley. Located in the charming village of Nyack on the Hudson River, approximately 22 miles from New York City. Our agents are passionate about listing and selling exceptional properties in the Lower Hudson Valley, including Rockland and Orange Counties, New York.