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.

Race to Nowhere Movie Screening on April 4

A film that’s getting a lot of notice in the media is headed to Far Hills Country Day School on Monday night, April 4.  Race to Nowhere will be screened at 7pm in the main school building’s gymatorium, to be followed by an open discussion.  Advance tickets are available for $10 at the school’s website or $15 at the door, and the event is open to the public.  Far Hills Country Day School is located along Route 202 in Far Hills.

Race to Nowhere recounts the true-life stories of young students in the United States who are under incredible amounts of pressure, parents who are trying to do what is best for their children, and educators who are concerned about effectively preparing students for the challenges of the 21^st century.  The website for Race to Nowhere says the movie “is a call to mobilize families, educators, and policy makers to challenge current assumptions on how to best prepare the youth of America to become healthy, bright, contributing and leading citizens.”

Far Hills Country Day School is one of the hundreds of schools, organizations and theaters involved in a six-month grassroots campaign to screen this important film.  It has already captured the imagination of tens of thousands of viewers, who hope the movie will change the nation’s dialogue on education.  Far Hills Country Day School will host a community-wide discussion immediately following the screening.

Since its founding in 1929 as a pioneering school of early childhood education, Far Hills Country Day School has integrated a curriculum that continually evolves to keep pace with an ever-changing world.  Dedicated to academic excellence, the school offers a bucolic 55-acre setting for students in kindergarten through grade 8.

Located on Route 202, Far Hills Country Day School is located right down the road from the Far Hills Office of Turpin Real Estate.  Our agents are well-versed in the area’s many public and private schools, and are a wonderful resource about educational and real estate opportunities in Far Hills.

Maplefield– masterpiece of Far Hills real estate– was listed by Turpin in 2006.

Brandes-Maselli Architects of Bernardsville brought their visionary design approach to this iconic Shingle Style estate home set on ten bucolic acres. 

What began as a 1970s ranch style home was completely re-built using the existing foundation and chimney.  The result of this stunning transformation is an elegant residence created with attention to detail both inside and out.

An ingenious exterior combines brickwork with cedar shingles, a tribute to Old World style seen in country estates at the turn of the last century.  The home is capped by a cedar shake roof and edged with copper gutters.  A seven-car carriage house offers excellent potential for car collectors or future finished space. 

Inside the main home, a gracious floor plan contains over 20 rooms, including six bedrooms and seven full baths.  Thoughtful architectural details include four fireplaces, custom handcrafted millwork and five-inch wide quarter sawn white oak flooring on the first and second levels.

Other highlights of the layout include sun-filled gathering spaces, a mahogany terrace, a chef’s kitchen with finely-detailed cabinetry, a master suite featuring a private stairway and a walk-out lower level with distinctive entertaining areas.

Of special note is the ten-acre parcel, which offers an ideal setting characterized by sweeping lawns, open pastures and captivating countryside views.  Additionally, the property adjoins Natirar’s over 400 acres of protected parkland acquired by Somerset County, assuring an extra degree of privacy for generations to come.

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.

This refined Bedminster estate was listed and sold by Turpin Real Estate in 2009.  As a recent Bedminster home for sale, this listing reminds us that homes in all price ranges are selling, even during challenging economic times.

Designed by New York architect Eric J. Smith and constructed in 1992, this custom-built stone Georgian Colonial is beautifully situated on over 21 acres. 

Among the stunning architectural details within the 16-room interior are high ceilings, intricate crown moldings, extensive custom cabinetry and eight distinctively-manteled fireplaces. 

Spanning the back of the house is an expansive bluestone terrace overlooking formal English gardens and a two-level man-made pond accenting the colorful garden views.  A hard surface tennis court and a 50-foot pool are positioned on the side of the residence, adding to the resort atmosphere of this property.  Climbing vines and an extensive rose garden surround the tennis court, while a grassy lawn edged in bluestone surrounds the pool. 

Fieldstone, white clapboard and slate roofing adorn the traditional façade.  A 30-foot gallery hall welcomes guests and connects to a series of grand public rooms to the kitchen wing.  French doors in the living room, library, media room, dining room, family room and breakfast room open to the terrace.

Each of the six bedroom suites features generous room proportions and unique bathrooms with luxury appointments.  Dual fitted dressing rooms and private bathrooms adjoin the master bedroom, offering organized storage for clothing and accessories.  Two of the bedroom suites are located in the kitchen wing, providing private accommodations for guest or staff.

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.

Monday is Girls’ Day Out at Natirar

Here’s an idea for a delicious and unconventional way to celebrate Valentine’s Day: Ninety Acres Culinary Center at Natirar is hosting a Girls’ Day Out cooking class on Monday, February 14 from 11am to 2pm.  This workshop will cover the skills and techniques for making a crab and brie bisque with roasted garlic crostini, shrimp and scallops en papillote with fresh oranges, baby spinach with spicy pine nuts and warm pancetta vinaigrette, and a decadent chocolate cherry fondue with cream cheese pound cake and fresh fruit dippers.  These popular workshops sell out quickly, so call for availability.

This hands-on workshop is sponsored by Viking appliances, and a percentage of the $85 tuition will be donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.  The Valentine’s Day program is for students 16 and older.

Natirar (named for the Raritan River, and “Raritan” spelled backwards) is located within the borders of Far Hills, Peapack-Gladstone and Bedminster.  The former grand estate of Kate Macy Ladd, it is now home to the acclaimed Ninety Acres Culinary Center at 2 Main St in Peapack-Gladstone.  Ninety Acres is owned by the famed international businessman Richard Branson.

A regal landmark in Far Hills real estate, Natirar was sold by Turpin Real Estate in 1982 to H.M. King Hassan II, Sovereign of Morocco.  The $7.5 million transaction set a record in the state of New Jersey that year.  It was acquired by Somerset County in 2003 and a large portion of the property is used for public recreation.

Established in 1900, Gill St. Bernard’s School is an independent, non-sectarian day school for students ranging from Pre-Kindergarten to grade 12.  Pupils from a 40-mile radius attend, and enrollment totals about 700.  The bucolic 72-acre campus is located on St. Bernard’s Road in Gladstone.  Its 17 buildings are arranged in a collegiate-style setting with separate facilities for the Lower, Middle and Upper Schools.  The campus has a new environmentally-friendly library and humanities buildings as well as an athletic center, theater/art gallery and administrative buildings. An extensive array of sports and extra-curricular activities are offered for Middle and Upper School students. 

Education at Gill St. Bernard’s School focuses on “balance, integrity, excellence, creativity and leadership.”  To foster individual growth, class sizes are intentionally small, with an average of 14 to 16 students.  Approximately 90 faculty and administrators are on staff, and the school reports that 100% of its graduates attend college (many at their first choice university or college).  Honors and Advanced Placement courses are available to Upper School students as part of the College Prep program.

Another point of pride is the school’s commitment to providing vigorous, meaningful and age-appropriate curriculums.  The sense of community is further fostered by the school’s Honors System which reflects the essential elements of a Gill St. Bernard’s education: respect, truthfulness, service to others and responsibility. 

Gill St. Bernard’s School is a fully accredited member of the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.  The school maintains active membership in the National Association of Independent Schools, the National Association of College Admission Counselors, SSATB, and the Educational Records Bureau.

While academics are at the heart of an education at Gill St. Bernard’s, the staff is also committed to creating life-long learners.  Students learn the importance of integrity, compassion and respect for others both inside and outside the classroom.

A mainstay in the local community for well over 100 years, Gill St. Bernard’s is one of the area’s most-respected schools.  Attracting students from ten surrounding counties in New Jersey, the school has influenced generations of learners.  Consider a visit to one of our offices in Far Hills, Mendham, Oldwick, Bernardsville or Chatham for more information about schools in the region, and for the market updates about New Jersey homes for sale.

This striking ca. 1911 English Tudor estate has been featured on a recent HGTV video as a Classic Tudor Revival.  Meticulously restored by the current owner, great detail is evident throughout this wonderful country property.  Gracious and inviting rooms feature 7 plus bedrooms, 10 fireplaces, updated kitchen and baths and new heat and air conditioning systems.  Additionally, this elegant home set on 13± acres offers exceptional views, from inside or from the expansive bluestone terrace.

It is conveniently located near schools, restaurants, a network of local and interstate highways, and represents the very best of Bedminster homes for sale in today’s marketplace.