Thirteen years ago, Roslyn High School alumni organized to restore an enormous, yet dilapidated and in ruins statue known as the “Horse Tamer.” A decade, lots of controversy, and $150,000 later, the statue has been resurrected, restored and returned to the front entrance of Roslyn High School.

This restoration was no easy task. Many parts were missing and red straps held the statue together. In 2012, the district placed the statue in storage to prevent further damage. That's when the alumni stepped in– they knew the value of the statue to the Roslyn Community and wanted to save it. A group was even formed to track the fundraising and restoration efforts. Despite numerous issues and an increasing price, the efforts were successful. After a seven-year absence, the newly restored Horse Tamer Statue was returned in 2019– standing as a symbol for generations to come.

Now, why would so many different people pour so much time, money, and effort into saving a statue? The truth is, it's not just a statue. A century ago, Roslyn wasn't made up of thousands of houses like we know today— but rather a single estate, owned by Clarence Mackay. It was 576 acres, with an enormous Renaissance-style mansion as the centerpiece. The estate was divided into formal gardens and for the west garden, two 25-ton sculptures were commissioned. Clarence Mackay donated the land for the high school to be built upon, and his wife, Katherine, served on the school board as its first female trustee. After the estate was ultimately demolished, one of the statues was given to Roslyn High School. Considering the Mackay's deep ties to the District, the crumbling statue gave reason for many to come together and save it.

To find out more, tune into this episode where host Sydney Spier explores the history of the Mackay Estate, the Horse Tamer statue, the significance of the statue's home at Roslyn High School today, and the importance of school districts on Long Island.

The articles below are featured in this podcast:

Roslyn Landmark Society 

RLS Mackay

Facebook.com  

Vanderbilt Cup Races

Newsday 

NY Senate.gov. 

Newsday: LI Divided 

Many historians still marvel at the fact that the United States was able to win the Revolutionary War against the British. How were the chaotic, poor, and scrappy colonies, who had never met up before, able to unite and defeat a global superpower? There had to be more behind their victory than just miraculously winning battles. The truth is, there were– spies. 

General George Washington knew the value of espionage– if the colonies were not necessarily stronger than the British Army, the best they could do was outsmart them. Washington appointed Benjamin Talmadge to create a spy network in New York City, providing information on the movements of British troops. Washington even funded a lab that helped develop invisible ink, so any messages sent out could not be read by the enemy. 

The spy ring became known as the Culper Spy Ring– spreading out into Long Island and ultimately reaching the town of Roslyn. 

This is where Hendrick Onderdonk comes in. Onderdonk owned his very own Paper Mill and was an “average” resident of Roslyn… or so people thought. 

It is speculated that Onderdonk was involved in the spy ring, using his paper mill to benefit the Continental Army– sending supplies, money, and secret coded messages out. The problem is, as many protective measures were established to safeguard the identity of the spies, there is no definitive proof that Onderdonk was a spy– but the evidence lines up. 

Join host Sydney Spier as she investigates the possibility that Onderonk and his paper mill were involved in the spy ring that helped win the Revolutionary War. 

The articles below are featured in this podcast: 

Roslyn Landmark Society

Pine Barrens.org

Sources anchored in various articles from the Bryant Library:

The Local History Collection - Roslyn 

Sydney Spier, a junior at Roslyn High School, takes a closer look at a local Long Island restaurant that once served as a pivotal  stop on the Underground Railroad.