The Alkiers were among many newcomers to Brentwood during the early twentieth century.  Mr.and Mrs. Arthur Alkier and their four children-Gertrude, Clara, Herbert,and Arthur-arrived here as visitors on a Sunday afternoon in May 1914.

While awaiting their host, the family met Emerson McWhorter. He showed them around the village and told them a lot about it. The Alkiers liked what they saw and hear about Brentwood and in July 1914 they rented

Edward Cummings’ home on Washington Avenue and stayed there for ten summers.

Then on February 1,1924, Arthur bought Charles Codman’s famous home, “The Hermitage Of The Red Owl” on Brentwood Road, from Robert Lee Dunn.  The family then really became a very important part of Brentwood social life.  They also greatly

participated in civic improvement.  Arthur Sr. became a faithful member of the School Board. Clara was an original member of the Brentwood Golf And Country Club, while Herbert helped to organize the Brentwood

Fire Department. The other Alkiers were also

prominent.

Arthur Jr. died in May 1921,and Herbert in April 1934.Arthur Sr. passed away in April 1939.  But as of 1950,all three Alkier women were still alive. Gertrude and her mother were living in Floral Park.Clara and her husband, Louis C. Geiss, whom she married in 1935,lived in the Codman house at the time. It still had the tall, beautiful cathedral pine trees planted by Charles Codman one hundred years earlier and considered to be the best in Brentwood.

-N. Ziino, Local History Newsletter, March 2008