Barons of Broadway #20
In this episode of Barons of Broadway, we explore Glen Iris, a Tudor-revival mansion at 401 North Broadway in Upper Nyack. Built at the turn of the 20th century by Judge Arthur Sidney Tompkins, this 7,700-square-foot estate stands as a monument to a man who rose from humble beginnings to serve as a New York State Supreme Court Justice. Judge Tompkins achieved success in politics, law, and the judiciary, yet he remained deeply rooted in his family’s agricultural heritage that extended back eight generations to Tudor England.
In photos, Judge Tompkins embodied the stern image of a New York State Supreme Court Justice and Rockland County Republican leader, complete with a handlebar moustache. Behind this serious persona, however, he enjoyed life to the fullest. He often hosted clambakes at Glen Iris and passionately pursued his interests in trotting horse racing and fine cigars. In 1907, he commuted to his office in White Plains on a horse and sleigh across the frozen Hudson River known locally as the “Ice Bridge”. His passion for cigars inspired the Rockland Tobacco Company of Nyack to create the Judge Tompkins Corona, marketed as “A Supreme Cigar Verdict.”
Tompkins Family Origins
Arthur Sidney Tompkins was the seventh generation of his family to live in America. His ancestor, John Tompkins, emigrated from England to Concord, MA, before 1640, joining a colony led by Rev. John Jones. Following Jones, John helped found Fairfield, CT, and later settled in Westchester, NY, in 1644. The family thrived in the area for generations. Judge Tompkins was also a cousin of Daniel D. Tompkins, New York’s fourth governor and the sixth U.S. Vice President.
Arthur’s father, Sidney Brooks Tompkins, born in 1831, was a farmer who married twice, first to Caroline Cole and later to Mary Hazy Yokum Taylor. They moved to West Nyack in 1866 when Arthur was a year old. Sidney held various occupations, including farmer, schoolteacher, and expressman—a term used for security guards on train cars transporting valuable cargo.
Arthur Sidney Tompkins (1865-1938), New York Supreme Court Justice
Born on August 26, 1865, in Middleburgh, NY, Arthur attended public schools in Clarkstown and Nyack, leaving grammar school at 13 to work as a clerk in Nyack. By 16, he began studying law under Seth Cole, Abram A. Demarest, and Henry Griffin. He met Jeanie C. Logan while clerking in Tarrytown, and they married in 1889, establishing their home in Nyack. Arthur quickly gained a reputation as a skilled trial lawyer along the Hudson River.
Arthur’s political career began early: he served as a poll worker at 18, became Nyack’s police judge at 21, led the Rockland County Republicans at 23, and joined the State Assembly at 24. By 28, he was a county judge, and at 32, he won election to the U.S. Congress, where he served two terms but missed many votes, preferring life in New York. After returning to law practice, he was elected Supreme Court Justice in 1906, a position he held for 29 years. The Scarsdale Inquirer praised him as “the true friend of the poor man,” noting his pro bono work for those unable to pay. He declined opportunities to run for governor and the United States Senate, choosing instead to focus on his judicial career.
During his later years, Judge Tompkins presided over sensitive political investigations, including the bribery trial of William Anderson of the Anti-Saloon League, the trial of bank superintendent Frank Warder, and the trial of Maurice Connolly over a sewer scandal. Each was convicted and served time in Sing Sing Correctional Facility.
Immediate Family
The Tompkins had two children, Marjorie Jean (1890-1979) and Arthur Sidney Jr. (1902-1943). Arthur Jr., a football star in his youth, worked at Standard Oil and later for the Bank of New York, where he commuted from Rye. He married Nancy Frost, a neighbor and daughter of investment banker Leroy Frost, in 1921. They married at the Frost estate, Widewater.
Marjorie Jean Tompkins lived at Glen Iris until 1959 and never married. An artist and interior decorator, she ran a gift shop called the Gift Tree in downtown Nyack for many years.
Judge Tompkins, his children, parents, and two siblings are buried in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Community Involvement and Legacy
Judge Tompkins was active in numerous fraternal and civic organizations. A member of the Masons, Elks, Mazzepa Fire Company, and the Odd Fellows, he often served in leadership roles. He also joined the Knights of Pythias, Foresters of America, and Junior Order of American Mechanics in Nyack. In addition, Tompkins presided over the exclusive Order of Camels, a group of attorneys and officials who met for social gatherings. He led Mazzepa Fire Engine Company for 50 years and was active in the Nyack YMCA and Baptist Church.
Historian and Horseman
Alongside his legal and political career, Tompkins compiled Historical Record to the Close of the Nineteenth Century of Rockland County, published in 1902. His passion for harness racing led him to train and race trotting horses, often at the Orangeburg track and Goshen’s renowned trotting park. His last significant race was in 1934, when, at 69, he bested former Justice Albert Seeger.
The Historic Glen Iris Property
In 1901, the Tompkins family moved from Tallman Place to Glen Iris, a riverside estate that Tompkins built on 12 acres as a statement to his growing success. Named after Jeanie’s Scottish heritage and inspired by the famous William Letchworth estate and two neighbors Glenholme and Lochborn, Glen Iris remains a Tudor Revival architectural gem. The house’s fieldstone first floor, exposed crossbeams, steep roofs, and multi-pane windows embody the style, along with original features like chestnut paneling, wood beams, and a stone fireplace. The home’s oversized living room, sunroom, eight bedrooms, five bathrooms, and three-car garage reflect its grandeur.
Views of Glen Iris interior today. Photos courtesy Christies International Real Estate.
Glen Iris Changes Hands
In 1936, Judge Tompkins began experiencing health issues. A foot infection led to the amputation of his leg, and after suffering a stroke, he passed away in 1938. Jeanie continued living at Glen Iris until her death in 1959. After the Tompkins family sold the estate, the property was subdivided, and in 1960, Norman Rose, an actor and radio announcer known for his rich voice, purchased Glen Iris now on 2.2 acres. Catherine Rose sold the estate in 2014.
Glen Iris Legacy
Glen Iris stands as a reminder of a bygone era and a man who left an indelible mark on his community. Judge Tompkins, commuting to work by horse-drawn sleigh across a frozen Hudson River, remains a figure from a different age, yet his story endures in the historic charm of Glen Iris.
View of Glen Iris driveway from North Broadway sidewalk
Barons of Broadway Series
#1 The Magnificent Saga Of Larchdell
#2 Revisiting Underclyffe–A Lost, Gilded Age Mansion
#3 The Adriance Era At Underclyffe Manor
#4 The Flying Dutchman Lands at Underclyffe Manor
#5 The Saga of Rivercliff”s Storied Residents
#6 The Winding Saga of River Hook
#8 The Legacy of Belle Crest: From Clockmakers to Tennis Champions
#11 The Dynamite Baron- Wilson P. Foss Legacy at Under Elms
#12 Atlas Acres – The Botanist in Under Elms’ Garage
#13 The Baroness of Shadowcliff
#14 The Peace Room at Shadowcliff – The Story of the Fellowship of Reconciliation
#15 The Troubled Legacy of Williamson Manor
#16 The Moorings: A Confederate General & the Cottages
#17 The Moorings: A Glimpse into the Clarkstown Country Club Era
#18 The Legacy of Henry Palmer – Nyacks First Baron of Broadway
#19 Glenholme: A Historic Estate’s Evolution
Mike Hays lived in the Nyacks for 38-years. He worked for McGraw-Hill Education in New York City for many years. Hays serves as President of the Historical Society of the Nyacks, and Vice-President of the Edward Hopper House Museum & Study Center. Married to Bernie Richey, he enjoys cycling and winters in Florida. You can follow him on Instagram as UpperNyackMike.
Editor’s note: This article is sponsored by Sun River Health. Sun River Health is a network of 43 Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) providing primary, dental, pediatric, OB-GYN, and behavioral health care to over 245,000 patients annually.