Rhiannon Promotions The Universal Cavalier Special Issue 2013 | Page 30

Eldridge died in 1927 at the age of
seventy. His obituary in the Great
Neck News referred to him as Squire
Eldridge an “Old World Squire”. He
left an estate of $4,000,000 most going to Louise with the exception of
some bequests to family and charities.
On Eldridge’s death Louise succeeded
him as mayor of Saddle Rock.

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were all his employees. This move
was also of financial consideration as it
would be less expensive for him to pay
for the upkeep of the property than to
pay the heavy tax burden of road and
residential development in the
surrounding area. Other estate
landowners in the area would later
follow suit; sometimes a couple of
landowners grouping together to
separate their properties into villages.

For Cavalier enthusiasts the name
Roswell Eldridge is well-known as the
American gentleman who visited
England looking for the “Blenheim
Spaniels of the Old Type, as shown in
pictures of Charles II’s time, long face,
no stop, flat skull, not inclined to be
domed with spot in centre of skull.”
When he could not find a dog of this
description he offered £25 (a great
deal of money at the time) to the best
dog and best bitch “nearest to type
required” at the Crufts dog show for a
period of 5 years. The Great Neck
Library’s history notes claim that
Eldridge bred the “Cavalier King

Despite this seemingly insular move
the Eldridges were not adverse to
improving the Great Neck area and
were the primary backers of the Great
Neck Park District which bordered their
property and included a village green,
bathing area and pavilion and athletic
fields. They also made a significant
donation of $50,000 to buy lands and
build the Great Neck Public Library.
They made generous donations to the
All Saints Episcopal Church including
providing the church’s silver chimes.

Roswell Eldridge on one of his Saddle
Horses
Great Neck Bathing Pavillion
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