St. John's University acquired the Oakdale location in 1999. The
campus was the former estate of Frederick Bourne, President of
Singer Sewing Machine Company from 1889 to 1905. Mr. Bourne
purchased the property to use as a summer estate and constructed
his mansion in 1900.
The mansion houses over 100 uniquely designed rooms, most with
working fireplaces. In addition to his corporate duties, Mr. Bourne
was Commodore of the New York Yacht Club and had as many as seven
of his yachts docked in the basin in front of the existing boat
house.
In 1926 the property was purchased by the De LaSalle
Congregation of Brothers who transformed it into the La Salle
Military Academy which they ran successfully for over 75 years.
Today the Oakdale location is one of St. John's University's
premier centers for graduate program study.