Ward Acres Nature Preserve

Stone walls which once defined pastures, the grave sites of Ward champion horses and three of the farm's main buildings still stand on the property.

Born in 1846 in Mount Carmel, Connecticut, Dickerman bought property on Quaker Ridge Road in 1884 for breeding 'American Trotters'; he named the estate "Hillandale Farm".

His son Watson P. Dickerman became well known in horse breeding circles for his elaborate stables and for his two great sires; "Bellini" and "Atlantic Express".

[1] Dickerman died in 1923 leaving the bulk of his $5,000,000 estate to his wife who then sold a large portion of the land to the Ward family in 1925.

[2] After amassing a substantial fortune, Ward moved his family to New Rochelle in 1912 and built a large residence and associated buildings on quaker ridge road.

The main house, which no longer stands, was known as ‘Homewood’ and was located on the south side of the road across from what is today the Hudson Montessori School.

He advertised modern, air-conditioned studios and sound stages at the North Avenue address, but also offered 100 acres of his Westchester estate for private location shooting.

A short rail spur, known as a siding, from the main tracks of the NYW&B enabled the loading and unloading of horses and associated farm equipment.