By Susan Alai
“The Story and Scandal of Hurstmont. A House of the Gilded Age” is the featured topic presented this Sunday at 3 pm by the Friends of Florham at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison.
Historic preservationist Janet Foster, and author Barbara Brennan will discuss the architectural and social histories of Hurstmont and the challenges to restoring this once-elegant country home, which sits on nearly 20 acres abutting Morristown National Historical Park in Jockey Hollow.
Hurstmont, in Harding Township, is currently listed on New Jersey’s list of the 10 Most Endangered Historic Sites. The house was originally built in 1886 and was essentially reconstructed in 1902-1903 on the original foundation by renowned architect Stanford White.
The extension of the Erie Lackawanna railroad into Morris County made properties such as this one attractive to New York businessmen who could house their families in comfort while pursuing their fortunes in Manhattan.
The house was rebuilt for New York industrialist James T. Pyle, whose fortune came from the popular Pyle’s Pearline Soap, a household brand of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Hurstmont is an excellent example of the early 20th century Country House, a type preferred by American industrialists who aspired to the lifestyle of English landed gentry. Since then it has taken another turn.
“The house wasn’t loved and maintained for a long time,” said Foster, a co-chair of the Save Hurstmont Committee with Brennan. Foster explained that its significance comes because it was a product of the famous McKim Mead and White architectural firm.
“It’s going to be a tough road to restore,” she added, although Foster said she is committed to bringing the house’s history and significance to the attention of the public. Foster is a professor at the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation at Columbia University.
The Pyle family owned the estate through 1925. David McAlpin gave a 17 acre parcel of land to his daughter, Adelaide, who had married James Tollman Pyle. The family commissioned a house for Adelaide and her family in 1902, which was near their home, Glen Alpin.
By the time it was finished, Adelaide had four children. Three different parties owned it from 1925 to 1981. The current owner purchased it in 1981 with plans to restore it although work never commenced and the house has stood unoccupied. Long term roof and skylight leaks and some recent vandalism have contributed to the decline of the home.
The estate’s primary building is a 15,000 square foot mansion with more than 30 rooms. The first floor contains large, beautifully detailed rooms typical of White’s 20th century residential designs. The house is similar to White’s own house, Box Hill, and is fashioned in the classical Revival style.
The house features a grand staircase, several staff and service stairs and an elevator. The building is set on a tall fieldstone base with a single wood roof. Most of the wood windows are original with leaded and stained glass patterns. Decorative plaster ceilings, elaborate stone or wood mantelpieces, wood wainscoting and patterned wood or brick floors are some of the striking elements.
The formal gardens, which have fallen into disrepair, were designed by Daniel W. Langton, a charter member of the American Society of Landscape Architects. The house is located on Route 202 and the price has recently been lowered to $1,950,000. Debra Ross of Weichert Realtors in Bernardsville is the listing realtor.
Sunday’s talk will take place at 3 p.m. at Lenfell Hall, Hennessy Hall, 285 Madison Avenue, Madison on the campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University’s College at Florham.
The afternoon includes a reception with refreshments and music by guitarist Dan Williams. Admission is $25 at the door. Students 22 and under have free admission with their student ID cards.
The Save Hurstmont Committee can be reached by contacting Barbara Brennan (973) 267-2624, barbarajbrennan@preludeinc.com or Janet Foster (212) 854-3080, jf2060@columbia.edu.
Photos courtesy of Barbara Brennan and Preservation New Jersey.
Interior photos of Hurstmont are here.
How sad. I think my great grandparents lived there too.
Funny, we knew it was there all the time – my great-grandparents lived there! (the Jenks family). I drove by it about 10 or 15 years ago and we were a bit sad that it had fallen into disrepair. It’s great to hear it’s been found, and we hope it finds/found a buyer!
What an interesting and well-written story! The writer clearly was moved by the story of the house and so was I.
If I had a spare $2 million, I’d pop for it.