John Hartford House

The John Hartford House is a Tudor Revival residence in Valhalla featuring fieldstone walls, a slate hip roof, and red brick chimneys with corbelled tops. Today it stands on the Westchester Community College campus and serves as administrative offices, including the college president's workplace.

The residence was built between 1930 and 1932 for John A. Hartford, the businessman who transformed A&P into America's first nationwide retail chain. This construction period reflected his significant economic power during the early 20th century.

The building displays craftsmanship from the 1930s through original woodwork, marble details, and plasterwork that show the tastes of wealthy Americans of that era. These handcrafted elements remain visible throughout the interior spaces today.

The building sits on a college campus, so the grounds are accessible during school hours and quieter outside them. Visitors should know this is a functioning administrative building, making exterior viewing more practical than interior access.

The original estate sprawled over 300 acres and included a nine-hole golf course, yet today only the main house and greenhouse survive from that vast property. This dramatic shrinkage shows how wealthy estates have transformed over generations.

Location: New York

GPS coordinates: 41.06889,-73.79028

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:20