The Buena Vista Estate began on 10 February 1789 when the Royal Governor, John Murray, Earl of Dunmore and Viscount of Fincastle, granted a 150 acre parcel of land to the Honourable John Brown, Esquire. Over the years, the estate passed through a number of owners.
In 1921, Patricia and Edward “Ed” Toothe from Madison, New Jersey, purchased the property. They arrived to Nassau in 1933 and set-up residence at the Buena Vista Estate.
In the winter of 1960, Mrs. Toothe leased the Buena Vista Estate to a group of hoteliers comprised of Mrs. Lorraine Onderdonk, former manager of the Victoria Hotel and owner of the Cumberland Hotel, Mrs. Hedwig Hauck former Cuisine Manager from the Prince George Hotel, and later from the Cumberland Hotel and chefs Mr. Terry Mahony and Mr. Bernard Perron from the Cumberland Hotel. On the 23 November 1960, the hotel opened their restaurant.
The Buena Vista was eventually purchased by McAlpine & Sons, Ltd. By 1966, all the partners from the Onderdonk-Hauck group had sold their stake in the property. Less than half a decade later, it once again passed hands to a group that was eventually headed by Mr. Stan Bocus.
Postcards
1953 – Mardon, Son & Hall Ltd (No.1-39)
1964 – The Lewis Agency (55600 Series)
