New Jersey Country Houses - The Somerset Hills - Volume 1 by John K. Turpin and W. Barry Thomson

by john-k-turpin-w-barry-thomson-brooke-hyde-goode

Lavishly ilustrated, The Somerset Hills provides a rare glimpse into some of New Jersey's finest country houses and estates, and the fascinating people who designed and built them. Volume 2 of this stunning series is also now available.

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Suzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read volumes 1 and 2 of 'The Somerset Hills', and the photographs and stories bring back wonderful memories of growing up on the Bernardsville mountain. I remember trick-or-treating, selling girl scout cookies, playing and eventually babysitting at many of these estates, but it wasn't until I became an adult and read these volumes that I learned of their amazing histories and understood the magic of my childhood. I have wonderful memories of attending elementary school at the Pyne mansion with its beautiful labyrinth, and the delight of trick-or-treating at the Engelhard mansion where the butler would lead us to the entrance hall twinkling with candlelit tables overflowing with candied apples, hot cider and a banquet of homemade sweets! While there weren't a lot of kids my age living on the mountain, I spent many wonderful hours following the caretakers about as they tended to the gardens, stables, garages, and woodworking projects. I remember picking wild raspberries for the wife of my favorite caretaker, who would make jam and homemade bread. There were pastures to wander, ponds for swimming, and sometimes our neighbors would take me on horse-drawn sleigh rides across the snow-covered fields in winter. How lucky I was, and how wonderful to have these books to bring back so many happy memories!

[Aileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative read on the mansions around Somerset County. It's a good piece of the local history pie that often gets overlooked.