Blue Spruce Inn
1480 Old Northern Boulevard, Roslyn
Project Files
With the death of Elizabeth Skillman Andrews in the 1930s, the Francis Skillman House and farm were sold. The house was expanded and became the Old Orchard Inn, providing lodging accommodations and dining.
In 1936, it was renamed the Blue Spruce Inn & Polo Bar operated by Mrs. E. Iverson and Wilberg Lundin. In mid-1938 it was taken over by Curt Kroner and Curt Hildebrandt and managed by Carl Werner. By 1941, the Blue Spruce Inn was purchased by Carl and William Werner.
As described by the Newsday restaurant critic Jack Altshul in 1962:
Set in a 180-year-old house and surrounded by the beautiful trees in which it is named, the Blue Spruce Inn has for years been the gathering place for North Shore residents. The Polo Bar is a favorite of the young college set, but essentially , the Blue Spruce Inn is a family dining place that specializes in German dishes. You can't miss with such specialty entrees as wiener Backhendl or the paprika chicken with spaetzle. For desert try the Bavoroise au rum. Price range: $4 to $7.
The Blue Spruce Inn remained a popular restaurant until it was engulfed by a fire on January 20, 1974. It remained vacant and was preparing for a restoration when a second fire struck on February 18, 1981. The building was demolished and the property became the Harborview Shoppes, a proud supporter of the Roslyn Landmark Society.
Henry "Red" Allen played at the Blue Spruce Inn in August 1965.
An aerial view of the Blue Spruce Inn looking northwest taken on December 30, 1949 with the just completed Roslyn Viaduct in the background.
Blue Spruce Inn engulfed in flames on January 20, 1974. Courtesy of LongIslandFireTrucks.com Herb Barber Collection .
The abandoned restaurant in 1978.
The Blue Spruce Inn prior to being demolished in 1981.
Today view of Harbourview Shoppes
6 Comments
The owner/operator of the Blue Spruce Inn was James Tompros, after several heartbreaking l fires the landmark building became uninhabitable. James Tombros move on to become general manager of the Glen Oaks Country Club in Old Westbury.
My dad, Walter G Wurl was the chef at the Blue Spruce Inn for 17 years while ownered by Carl Werner. When Carl Werner sold it he & Hans Wygle (not sure of spelling) purchased The Captain Collan restaurant in Williston Park & changed it to The Copper Pan Restaurant for 10 years before retiring.
For Joy Wurl I have a different take on the Williston Park restaurant. The building was the residence of John E. Collins in the 1950"s and he was a pilot for KLM Airlines. In the mid-1950's "Captain Collins" turned into a restaurant calling it the Captain's Table. Your dad and Hans Bertram, also a chef, opened the Copper Pan restaurant in 1964/1965 featuring German- American food. They were there until 1974 when it became the La Marmite restaurant.
It's true it was Captain Collins Table. The Copper Pan Restaurant was co-owned with Hans Wygle who was the Host at the Blue Spruce Inn. Hans Bertram was sponsored by my father to enter the United States, he met Hans in Germany when the family was there in 1956 or 1957 (I can never rememember which year). Hans worked with my father in the kitchen at the Blue Spruce Inn. He never worked at the Copper Pan Restaurant. They had the Coper Pan for 10 years when my dad and Hans Wygle sold it and my dad retired. The restaurant then changed to La Marmite. My dad after he retired changed his mind & started to work for Woodmare Country Club. Not sure how long he was there. They retired and moved to Daytona Bch.
Is that the intersection in Northern Blvd and Glen Cove Rd? Maybe? And thanks! These are awesome! Love the cars too!
Corner of Glen Cove Rd and Northern Blvd in Greenvale
I use to pester my parents to go the Blue Spruce when I was about 8-12 years old. I think I had the duck. I love duck. Are you related to Wally Wurl? She went to Lu-Hi and was on my bus. I'm about 5 years younger than her. My father was the President of Quality Fish Co., Inc. Do you have any interesting stories? We are the children of all of these people and when we were younger, we did not have a clear perspective of our parents. That took many decades.
Living in the Harbor since 1970, that blue neon sign was a welcome sight. I didn't not know about its past name of Old Orchard. In the early 80s, there was a nightclub just up the hill called The Apple Orchard. do you know if there any connection, a past shout out or just dumb luck? Thanks and I love your work and great photo-eye.
I don't think the the Francis Skillman property was a farm per se. An ad in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle June 1931, describes the property as a " 38 acre wooded estate". Makes sense as the property to the rear and east of the building rises steeply, unsuitable for a farm but just fine for an orchard.
Howard, Regarding the Blue Spruce Inn. Previously it was the Old Orchard Inn. In early 1936 it opened as the Blue Spruce Inn operated by Mrs. E. iverson and Wilberg Lundin. In mid 1938 it was taken over by Curt Kroner and Curt Hildebrandt. Some time in the early 1940's Carl and William Werner took it over.
Al, thanks for your insight into the Blue Spruce Inn. I will revise the profile.
To this day, when I drive by there I instinctively look up toward where it was! Thank you for the photos and history.
Isabel, I was surprised how close the building was to Old Northern Boulevard. Clearly most of the parking was in the back.
I think I remember too that there was no paring in the front. I don't think though we ever ate there as a family though. I think my parents did. It really was a landmark.