Historic c. 1765 Bernardsville Colonial

Two notable aspects of this home are its vast acreage and its Early American history, making it a rare gem among Bernardsville homes for sale.  A beautifully-maintained fieldstone Colonial built in 1765 is the centerpiece of 30+ acres featuring a guest house, small barn, swimming pool and pool house.  The leafy surroundings are dotted with Koi ponds, foot bridges, a charming gazebo, woodland paths, native plantings and mature trees.

Several additions over the years enhance the original structure while adding well-appointed living space.  The expansive 20-room floor plan includes eight bedrooms, five full and two half baths as well as a three-car garage.  Among the gathering spaces are a great room with coffered ceilings, a four-season sunroom off the large master suite, and a spacious kitchen.  For the homebuyer seeking a serene property that’s close to major highways and amenities, this enchanting and historic Bernardsville Colonial is a superior choice.

May Day Celebration at Scherman Hoffman on May 7

After last year’s resounding success, The Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary is once again offering its May Day Celebration on Saturday, May 7 from 10am to 4pm.  This free event will feature music and entertainment; hands-on nature activities; live animal demonstrations, face painting and displays from local organizations.  Scherman Hoffman is located at 11 Hardscrabble Road in Bernardsville.  It includes 276 acres of scenic woodland, field and floodplain habitat supporting about 200 species of wildlife. The registration table will have event programs highlighting the day’s events.

This springtime celebration is a great way to get children involved and interested in nature.  There will be a wildlife radio telemetry classes which will help children track wildlife on the grounds of the sanctuary and will also show how professional wildlife biologists track different species as they travel around the world.  There will be a Tour the Young Audubon Art Show, featuring the works of young masters from area schools. 

A special visit by Ranger Rick is sure to be a May Day Celebration highlight. 

All ages will appreciate the live animal displays from The Raptor Trust, Rizzo’s Reptiles, birds from The Chimney Swifts and a close look the sanctuary’s own corn snakes and box turtles.  Musical performances on the schedule include Eco-Man, the NJ Folk Project: Circle Round the Sun, The Fabulous Furry Harmonica Brothers, Kathy Moser, and Tom Picard.

Nature presentations will be given by Peter Dunne, director of the Cape May Bird Observatory, vice president of the New Jersey Audubon Society’s vice president of Natural History Information, and founder of the World Series of Birding.  Gordon Thomas Ward: The New Jersey natural history author, presenter, and educator returns to offer his popular “Hike through History” within the sanctuary and the neighboring Cross Estate.  Pat Kane, the retired New Jersey Audubon vice president of education will tell stories of nature’s most beautiful and creative images.

The Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary is a magical oasis in the heart of Bernardsville.  It’s just one of the many reasons homebuyers are drawn to Bernardsville real estate.  The Turpin Office at 163 Morristown Road in Bernardsville is always ready to answer your questions about local amenities.

Imagine a large glass and steel box enclosing a smaller antique cottage and you have the basic concept of an innovative house-within-a-house designed by noted architect and designer Adam Kalkin in Bernardsville.  Though not actually one of Turpin’s sales, this home is so remarkable that it warranted mentioning as a home Turpin’s Oldwick office recently had on the market!

Tucked at the end of a private lane on the Bernardsville Mountain, this property was once part of the Pfizer estate.  The original 1890s gardener’s cottage encased by a modern steel outer shell is set on three serene acres with pond, stone walls and mature trees. 

Expansive openings and generous rooms within the large box create vast living areas, which are balanced by smaller nooks and crannies.  The resulting layout presents a variety of spaces that are ideal for projects of any size or scope.  The cottage anchors one end of the home, while the other end is detailed with a grid of nine rooms.

The interplay of sleek modern spaces stands in striking contrast to cozy rooms in the former gardener’s cottage.  Of special note are the interiors of the cottage, which were artfully designed by noted New York designer Albert Hadley.  His firm has a long list of celebrity clients including Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Al Gore and Oscar de la Renta.  Windows in the two-story cottage look out on a vast living room and the series of nine rooms grouped together at the opposite end of the home.   Stepping onto the front porch of the cottage and into the contemporary rooms, the distinction is clear in the architect’s use of industrial materials.  Metal staircases, modern fixtures and oversized windows give the outer shell a crisp, clean outlook in comparison to the snug cottage rooms.

When both homes combine, there are a total of 14 rooms with five bedrooms, four and a half baths, two fireplaces, and a chef’s kitchen.  To bring the outdoors in, two enormous glass garage-style doors can be raised to expose countryside views that are close enough to touch.  Using an artistic eye and an appreciation of the whimsical, Adam Kalkin has rendered a space that is both imaginatively designed and exciting to live in.  This innovative residence represents a whole new level of architectural achievement in New Jersey real estate.

Kenilwood is a legendary Bernardsville home which was originally owned by George B. Post Jr., founder of the Wall Street brokerage firm of Post and Flagg.  Post’s father was the famous architect who designed the New York Stock Exchange and other landmark buildings.  Built in the early part of the 20^th century, Kenilwood is an excellent example of gothic revival style.  The manor house’s façade is fashioned of stone.

Gerry-Jo Cranmer in the Bernardsville Office was involved in the sale of Kenilwood in the 1990s when it was owned by heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson. 

The high-profile sale also came with a high price tag, as The New York Times explained in an article from 1994.  “When Mr. Tyson bought the mansion, on Memorial Day 1988, many in this part of New Jersey’s hunt country said he had paid too much, especially for the two lots that bracketed the Bernardsville estate.  He paid a little over $4 million for the house on 14 acres and $950,000 for each of the two five-acre lots.  At the time, similar lots were going for $650,000, according to Jack Turpin of Turpin Real Estate in Far Hills, N.J.”  Gerry-Jo Cranmer says the selling price was the highest price of the year for an off-water property in the tri-state region that year.

Tyson added a tennis court where Martina Navratilova reportedly played at least once.  The 18,000 square foot mansion was set on 14 acres.  He lived there for two years. 

Selling Kenilwood didn’t come without an element of danger, according to Gerry-Jo Cranmer. “Mike Tyson’s sometimes vicious dogs were in residence when I was selling the house (Mike was not) and the caretaker was often not there when I had to show it.  So I always went armed with meaty bones to throw to them so that I could distract them and be able to show the house.”

Little Brook Farm is a charming and picturesque piece of New Jersey real estate set amid 28 acres on the Bernardsville Mountain.  A long, private drive passing by a spring-fed stream and lush valley enters the property leading to the main residence, a circa 1840 Dutch farmhouse with additions made in 1935.  The setting exudes the romance and charm reminiscent of the English countryside with pastures, woodland, ponds, stone walls, formal lawns and gardens.

Selling agent, Gerry Jo Cramner remembers the sequence of events leading to that Bernardsville home for sale:

“It was not on the market at the time that I sold it, but I knew that my buyers would love it.  I had been working with them for some time and had gotten to know their taste very well.  A Turpin colleague of mine had sold it to the people living in it, so I asked him to approach them about selling it.  They set a price and let me show it to my buyers, who immediately fell in love with it, bought it and were then married there in the rose garden.”

Dr. Frank Babbott, president of Long Island College of Medicine, built the home for his wife and five children and lived there from 1934 to 1961.  The additions and renovations he made were incorporated into the original stone farmhouse and created a unique building encompassing seven levels and 20 rooms.  In 1964, Dr. Babbott donated the main house, outbuildings and 28 acres of Little Brook Farm to Drew University.  He handed the keys to Drew’s president with the hope that the estate “would go on bringing beauty and happiness to others.”  Drew used the property as a retreat and conference center until it was returned to private ownership in 1993.

The stone and frame house with custom made clay tile roof features original architectural details like oak floors and beamed ceilings. In addition to the grand main home, this rambling estate includes a two-bedroom cottage, a barn with a one-bedroom apartment and loft, a two-bay garage/wagon shed and a second large barn.  A stone summer house, root cellar, poultry barn and sheep barn are also found on the property, as well as a pool with pool house.

For more information about Little Brook Farm, refer to New Jersey Country Houses: The Somerset Hills, Volume 2.

Grand Country Estate Home

It would be hard to imagine a more perfect Colonial estate than this 10-plus acre property on the Bernardsville Mountain.  Originally built in the 1700s, its sun-filled rooms brim with charm and sophistication.  The enchanting grounds include a long drive marked by stone pillars, sweeping green lawns, perennial gardens, rustic stone walls and a picturesque pond. 

The main house has been meticulously cared for and extensively renovated through the years, resulting in a bright, fresh interior graced with timeless design elements.  An open floor plan of six bedrooms and six full baths also includes elegant spaces for entertaining, an updated chef’s kitchen, plus a newer addition featuring a family room and home office.  Outbuildings include a three-car garage.

As one of the earliest homes on the Bernardsville Mountain, this estate is a rare offering in a coveted part of the state.  For more information about Bernardsville homes for sale, contact our Bernardsville Office.

Weekend Events at the Scherman-Hoffman Center

Residents of Bernardsville are lucky to live alongside all the natural wonders of the Scherman-Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary at 11 Hardscrabble Road, owned and operated by the New Jersey Audubon Society. Two outdoor events on Saturday, March 26 are on the sanctuary’s schedule, with many more to come as the weather becomes milder.

Meet at the Hoffman Center on Saturday morning at 8am for a one-hour bird walk led by a staff member or an associate naturalist.  This free walk will cover topics like birds, trees, wildflowers, reptiles, amphibians and animal tracks.  The walks are offered every Friday and Saturday morning from 8 to 9am, a great way to start the weekend.

Saturday afternoon from 2 to 3:30pm, “A Froggy Wonder Walk in Spring” is on the calendar for young naturalists.  Listen to frog calls as you discover signs of spring along the river trail, then make a frog puppet out of a paper bag.  Members pay $5 per child and non-members pay $7 per child. 

The Scherman-Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary borders Morristown National Historic Park near the historic Cross Estate.  It offers three miles of hiking trails along the headwaters of the Passaic River, a bookstore/nature store and Environmental Education Center.  The Visitor Center and bookstore are open Tuesday to Saturday from 9:00am to 5:00pm and on Sundays from noon to 5:00pm.  Hiking trails are open every day from dawn to 5:00pm.

The Bernardsville Office of Turpin is located at 163 Morristown Road, a short distance from the wildlife sanctuary.  Local residents know they can expect the most recent news, trends and listings concerning Bernardsville homes for sale when they visit the office.

Bernardsville’s Legendary “Claremont” Estate

Claremont is the historic estate property sited on 70 Bernardsville Mountain acres and designed by renowned architect George Brown Post for use as his Summer home.  Its history is well-documented in the pages of New Jersey Houses: The Somerset Hills, Volume I, authored by Jack Turpin and W. Barry Thomson. 

Post was a founding father of the Bernardsville Mountain colony established in the late 1800s, and his home was an exceptionally fine example of the grand homes still located here.  The circa 1903 estate was a neo-Federal style residence fashioned of stone and terra cotta.  Using his considerable architectural gifts in the plans for Claremont, Post was also known as “the father of the tall building in New York,” and his Summer home has distant views that reach as far as the Manhattan skyline (the location of skyscrapers he designed). 

Inside, the size and scope of Claremont’s floor plan is immediately evident in the wide center hall which serves as a starting point for grandly-scaled rooms.  Marble floors, gracefully appointed fireplaces, soaring ceilings, detailed millwork and spacious windows are among the timeless design elements. 

Upstairs are four en-suite bedrooms, a master suite of rooms and roomy staff quarters.  Of special note is the upper floor’s Palladian window wall which takes in sweeping views of distant valleys, rolling hills and the estate’s elaborate terraced gardens.  This classic estate property also includes a lovely shingle style carriage house with apartment and an inviting guest cottage. 

With a legacy that reaches back over 100 years, Claremont is undoubtedly one of George Post’s most remarkable designs.  A rare and historic offering, this Bernardsville home for sale is truly a legendary estate property.

The spectacular Bernardsville Mountain estate owned by real estate entrepreneur Dick Schlott was listed and sold by Turpin Real Estate in 2007.  Dick Schlott is known to many New Jersey residents as the founder of Schlott Realty, which he later sold to Coldwell Banker.  The fact that he chose Turpin to manage the sale of his home speaks volumes about the company’s outstanding reputation for successfully representing Bernardsville homes for sale.

Styled to reflect an elegant English manor home, this estate is sited on about 15 mountaintop acres.  Built in 1999, the 18-room residence includes five bedrooms, five full baths, two powder rooms, eight custom-designed fireplaces and an attached three-car garage.  Attached to the newer structure is the original home, which was completely renovated to become a large guest wing.  The exterior is an appealing combination of stucco, stone and ash beam, capped by a wood shingle roof. 

One of the unique aspects characterizing this home begins right at the point of entry, where a custom-created oak door is fitted with a leaded glass window and antique English hinges.  Interior appointments showcase a variety of unusual architectural details such as antique ceiling beams, hand painted murals, glazed walls and leaded glass windows imported from France.  In keeping with the British feeling of the home, an authentic bar from an old English pub is the focal point of a billiards room with ten-foot coffered ceilings.  In the luxurious master suite, a fireplace framed by a French limestone mantel is a charming centerpiece, while a secluded sun terrace, dressing room and opulent master bath with polished limestone floors are further amenities.

An outdoor living room and an outdoor dining or “folly” room set beyond an antique garden gate from France takes in wonderful views of the surrounding countryside.  Enhancing the bucolic setting are a three-bedroom guest cottage, two-bedroom carriage house, a 40-foot Roman-shaped swimming pool, formal English gardens and spacious bluestone terraces.

This is a great time of year to add art appreciation to your calendar, and there are some exciting options to get you started in downtown Bernardsville this weekend. 

Design Domaine Gallery is hosting “Winter Magic,” an exhibition of 75 works of art showcasing varied artistic viewpoints of the Northeast’s winter scenery.  This is the last weekend to view this exhibit, and visitors on Saturday can enjoy complimentary wine and cheese from 1 to 6 p.m.  Among the featured artists of “Winter Magic” are Andrew Orr, James McGinley, Jill Olivito, Frank Cannas, Chris Coyne, Gordon Haas, John Reilly, Arville Pustrom-Uus, Ramona Dooley, Ty Hodanish, Diana Gibson, Doreen Tighe, Patrick Antonelle, David Ohlerking and Frank Cannas. 

Design Domaine is located at 67 Mine Brook Road (Route 202), and its gallery has 250 original works of art on display at all times.

J. M. Stringer Gallery at 21 Claremont Road in Bernardsville is presenting the final days of its “Garden of Life” exhibit.  Saturday is the last day to appreciate the recent works of contemporary artist John C. Traynor, a celebrated oil painter born and raised in New Jersey.  Traynor has local ties, spending his early years in Chester and Mendham and attending the Delbarton School in Morristown.  The gallery has assembled a collection of Traynor’s striking landscapes, life studies and floral paintings.

The artist recently joined the company of other acclaimed artists including Norman Rockwell, Al Hirschfield and Everett Raymond Kinstler when the Salmagundi Club of New York awarded him the Salmagundi Medal of Honor and Merit, their highest award for artistic achievements.  Traynor currently lives and works in his New Hampshire studio.

The Somerset Hills is known as an area where artistic and cultural events are readily available.  This appeals to local residents who enjoy a relaxed yet sophisticated country lifestyle.  Those seeking information about Bernardsville homes for sale are welcome to call or visit the Bernardsville Office of Turpin Real Estate at 163 Morristown Road, just a short distance up the road from these two exceptional art galleries.