The Lakewood of Long Island was a beautiful resort area located in Brentwood and received it’s nickname from it’s competitor Lakewoods, N.J.  This resort was rich in Pine trees including spruce, hemlock, larch, fir and other species. Here you would fine beautiful flowers, meandering paths with arches of foliage, still streams and other natural wonders. Many superb hotels could be found among the natural splendor.  Hotels like the Brentwood, Austral, Ehler’s, Guanahassett and the Larches Hotels. These hotels serviced the upper class providing a peaceful haven where they could sooth their nerves or take some time out from their everyday life. Dr. Ross a well known physician from Brentwood opened up a health resort known as Onetah.  This resort was fully equipped with a surgical operation room, and private rooms for guests who came to this resort due to the pine trees and the healthy environment that they provided.

 The Austral Hotel was considered one of the finest hotels on Long Island.  According to an article that appeared in the “Brooklyn Eagle” on July 16, 1890 the hotel accommodated no more than 300 guests and cost an extravagant price of 80,000. For a few years they used the mansion that was approximately 150 yards away from the hotel.  The entrance was an enclosed glass porch behind it was a large hallway where a circular grand staircase came down.  Underneath the staircase was the office and to one side of the office was the Otis elevator.  An open fireplace also adorned the hallway. There were card rooms, women’s parlor, general parlor, solarium, dinning room, and there was an L shaped wing which housed all the necessities for running the hotel including the kitchen.  Four floors that were above the main floor housed the guest rooms.  The hotel was lighted by gas and used steam heat.  The architect was J. C. Cody of New York. With the addition of cottages that were added latter on this hotel continued to uphold its standards.

Resort life consisted of attending parties, playing tennis, meandering down secluded paths, concerts, teas, dancing and other parlor entertainment. The resort was open all year round to the rich and famous. To sum it up, “to many a man and woman the woods of Brentwood are a veritable fairyland.” (New York Time , June 17, 1894)

-  M. Koferl, Local History Newsletter,  February 2008