My mother worked for Katherine Mackay Hawkins, daughter of Clarence H. Mackay, in the 1960s. Mrs. Hawkins was living in Reno, Nevada and I remember her home and even though I was a little girl, I can still remember the beautiful paintings and furniture and silver that she had. Mrs. Hawkins told my mother that she was an adult before she ever entered a kitchen (she always had so many servants).
I remember going to her house and seeing a huge portrait of a lady in a long blue dress. It hung at the front of the house by the stairs. If I remember right, it was Mrs. Hawkins' grandmother. It must have been 15 to 20 feet tall. It was really something.
Mrs. Hawkins showed us pictures of the house she grew up in from a photo album but I barely remember what it looked like. My mother was responsible in part for taking care of the silver (it was displayed somewhere in Reno, maybe at a museum or the university).
My mom had a couple of personal items that Mrs. Hawkins gave her. One was a white linen handkerchief with the letter "K". My mom gave it to me when I got married and it was inserted in my bridal bouquet. I still have it.
Kristi Hawthorne, California
Thank you for the great site. My Great Aunt Gwendolyn Rose married Clarence Mackay's son, John William Mackay. I am also looking at the Mackay-Rose connection from the Rose side.
I just want to say how helpful your site is to me.
Benson Rose
Just discovered your fascinating website. I grew up in Roslyn and also remember walking up the Mackay driveway eventually reaching the overgrown foundation, circa 1960.
I remember one or two rusted junk cars in the woods. There was a wall the length of the driveway.
My dad passed me this treasure, a one quart, clear milk bottle embossed "Harbor Hill, Guernsey Milk, Roslyn, L.I."
Ted Biedrzycki, New York
mentioned above.