Friends of

KENTUCKYF lorham DERBY: A DAY AT THE RACES WINTER 2020 BOARD OF TRUSTEES FRIENDS OF FLORHAM Valerie Adams Carol Bere Samuel M. Convissor Elaine Earlywine Susan Garrubbo Beth Hennessy James Howard Jennifer Johnson Rosemarie Kells Lisa MacNair Suzanne Manke Suzy Moran FROM LEFT: KAREN HUGHES, MAUREEN TOM CURNIN GINA AND JON KARNIK BYRNE AND PAT WYER Natalia Semenova Ann Wellbrock Guests gathered at the man- Those attending A Day at Guests could take their pic- Peter Woolley sion house (Hennessy Hall at the the Races were greeted with a nic to the outside veranda if Edward Zimmermann Florham Campus) on May 4 this signature of mint julep they wished or pull up a chair to past spring to celebrate A Day and an air of anticipation as to one of the many festive indoor HONORARY TRUSTEES at the Races with the Friends which horse would be the big tables. Susan Adams of Florham. The Great Hall and winner in the Race for the Ros- Linda Carrington No Derby-viewing Phyllis Conway Lenfell Hall were the perfect es. A special menu created just gathering would be complete Walter Cummins backdrops for the 145th Ken- for the day, by FDU’s own Chef without guests donning their Gabriella D’Amico tucky Derby viewing. Friends Jeff Gourley, was provided to all best race-day hat and attire. A Kim Dougherty of Florham held the event as a racegoers as well, in a fun jute highlight of the day was seeing Dawn Dupak fundraiser to continue its efforts picnic bag. Staying on theme of all the beautiful hats and seer- Carol C. Knauff in the preservation, care and a proper Kentucky picnic, the sucker suits. Several communi- Linda Meister maintenance of the Florham menu consisted of horseradish ty partners stepped up to offer Audrey Parker estate. And what better way pimento cheese and crackers, assistance in getting ready for Troy Simmons Arthur T. Vanderbilt, II to do so, than hosting a grand crispy black-eyed pea salad, the big day. Hat Shop Madison, STITCH Boutique (Madison) event for one of America’s old- corn bread hush puppies with and Vineyard Vines (Short Hills UNIVERSITY LIAISONS est sporting events, in one of honey butter, barbecue pork Carol Black America’s grandest buildings. sliders and chicken-fried steak. (continued on page 3) Christopher A. Capuano Katie Carpenter Gary Helm Darden Eleanor Friedl Sarah Hof ARCHER THE ORGANIST Brian Mauro James Lewis has put together a fascinating compilation of quoted cor- respondence and letters between patrons (H.C. Frick, John D. Rocke- feller, Florence Vanderbilt-Twombly, among others) and organist Archer Gibson; correspondence between Mr. Gibson and the Estey Organ Company; as well as newspaper and magazine clippings reporting recitals given by the esteemed organist. The book includes a great many archival photographs of various instruments and of Mr. Gibson. — Eleanor Friedl Research and Instruction Librarian and Friends of Florham Board FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear Friends: • A Day at The Races on May 4, Vanderbilt. We thank Florence The Olmsted Cutleaf Maple 2019, was a Winner’s Circle suc- MacDonald, great-great-grand- Grove on Dreyfuss Road was par- cess! Many joined us for a mint daughter of Florence, for this generous and exciting reproduc- ticularly colorful last fall, and I an- julep, the watch tion of a portrait to complete the ticipate the twinkling lights guid- party, and dinner with a Kentucky Portrait Project in Lenfell Hall. ing us on the winding road from Derby theme. We loved the hats, Madison Avenue to Florham. As the outfits, and the enthusiasm. Thank you for your effort to the Friends of Florham reviews the Thanks to all who attended (see help us reach our collective goals! past few months and the upcom- article). You help to make our programs ing season, we reflect on what we • We hosted an American Girl flourish. You protect the integrity have accomplished and what we Luncheon in June 2019, introduc- of the Vanderbilt-Twombly Estate. hope to accomplish in the future. ing Florham to another group of And you continue to heighten As always, preservation is a pri- young people. interest in historic preservation ority, with community awareness within our communities. • The Friends will honor Emma a close second; and your dona- It is with your continued mem- Joy Dana, who bequeathed a gen- tions make our work possible. bership and support that we erous gift from her estate in 2019. With these themes in mind, we share this special, magnificent With this support from Emma Joy, highlight the following: place. Will you join the Friends the Friends will undertake the • A bus full of Friends partici- of Florham? Visit us at https:// restoration of the stained-glass pated in a fun and engaging day support.fdu.edu/giving/friends- windows next to Mrs. Twombly’s trip to the Holiday Train Show at of-florham. Thank you. original breakfast room. the New York Botanical Gardens Lisa MacNair in December 2018. We’ll plan an- • We have been gifted a repro- President, Friends of Florham other trip in spring 2020. Join us! duction portrait of Florence Adele THE FRIENDS ARE OFF TO ENGLAND After a successful FILL (Florham Institute for Lifelong Learning) trip, the Friends decided to have a go as well. We have four spots remain- ing on our “Gardens and Estates” tour of southern England based at historic Wroxton College, the landmark-listed, 17th-century man- or house campus that Fairleigh Dickinson owns and operates in rural Oxfordshire, England. Sites to be visited include Blen- heim Palace, Althorp Estate, High grove, Sulgrave Manor and Oxford, among others. • One afternoon group tea and Price Excludes cake at historic Tudor-era • Group-escorted flight to/from Sunday, July 19, 2020, to Sun- castle; London’s Heathrow Airport day, July 26, 2020; $2,290 per per- • Two evenings with group; round (booked and paid separately) son (single or double occupancy) and of at historic pubs; Price Includes • Airport transfer to/from Newark • All admission fees to all sched- Liberty International Airport. • Seven days/six nights at his- uled sites with expert faculty toric Wroxton Abbey; guides; Payment Deadlines • Welcome buffet lunch and fare- • Deposit of $500 (nonrefundable) • All transport for all scheduled well reception and dinner in • Balance of $1,790 due by site visits via luxury charter Wroxton’s Carriage House; March 31, 2020 coach; and • Breakfast and dinner daily in Please email Gary Darden, Wroxton’s Carriage House; • Airport transfer to/from Lon- FDU professor of U.S. history • Four group lunches at historic don’s Heathrow Airport and and Friends of Florham Board locales (two country estates, Wroxton (for those on selected [email protected]. (for a brochure, one pub, one hotel); group flights). questions and registration). 2 | FRIENDS OF FLORHAM KENTUCKY DERBY: A DAY AT THE RACES (continued from page 1)

Mall) were all available to outfit racegoers from head to toe. Priz- es were awarded to Carol Menniti for Best Hat, CJ and Kim Minetti for Best-dressed Couple and Carol and Rob Black and Jon and Gina Karnick for Best Overall Dressed. Much thought went into each and every outfit, and defi- nitely added to the atmosphere. Other community partners in- cluded Crowley’s Cupcakes, Cambridge Street Papers, Go- CJ AND KIM MINETTI CAROL MENNETI ROB AND CAROL BLACK Charity, Gourmet Dining, Lash House, J & M Home and Garden As all eyes and ears were on the House to move into the winner’s and the FDU Bookstore – Madi- races, the final race did not go circle and take the title at the son. Thanks to all of our generous off without controversy. In a first 145th Kentucky Derby. supporters! in the history of the 145-year-old A fun day was had by all. If guests wanted to “place their race, the final race saw its first Friends of Florham tips its hat to bet” on a winning horse, they just on-track disqualification ever. all those who supported and at- needed to drop their ticket into While Maximum Security was the tended A Day at the Races, and a bucket before the big race. If first horse to cross the finish line, support its preservation efforts. they wanted to raise their odds, he was later disqualified for in- — Suzanne Manke additional tickets were available. terference. This allowed Country Friends of Florham Board COME VISIT! TREASURE OF MORRIS COUNTY The Florham mansion in Mad- a winter stroll in the fresh snow a group with such a wonderful ison, with just one visit, this little- and enjoyed a family picnic in cause, and which is dedicated known estate may well become one the summer. Consider a romantic to sharing all of Florham’s beau- of your favorite spots in Madison! stroll in the spring when every- ty with those who appreciate it. Few people know of one of thing about this historic treasure The Friends’ events have includ- Madison’s most beautiful places is brighter and brilliant. ed a gilded-age tea; a lecture to visit, and even fewer have There are scores of breathtak- on the landscape architecture actually visited. It was created ing features to be explored at of the estate; an American Girl more than 115 years ago, and it Florham. Just a few of these fea- luncheon; a day trip to a sister is just as enchanting as when tures include the Italian Gar- Vanderbilt mansion in Hyde Park, it was first erected. I’m talking dens, the Hassan Orangerie N.Y.; and most recently, a Ken- about the Florham mansion, (where the Vanderbilt family tucky Derby party. which was built in 1897 by Flor- grew their own oranges!), the ence Vanderbilt. Madison was Clowney Gardens, and of Anyone who is interested in chosen as the location for her course — the mansion itself. history, architecture or simply family’s spring and fall home for enjoying a day off is welcome If you’re wondering how Flor- many of the same reasons that to visit the Florham mansion at ham is preserved, you may be families choose to live in Madi- 285 Madison Avenue in Madison, surprised to learn that there is a son today: the picturesque land- nonprofit philanthropy composed N.J. You can expect breathtaking scape, ample and lush space of numerous FDU alumni and scenery, transportive architec- and a burgeoning community. friends of the campus who volun- ture and an all-around lovely visit. Although Florham is currently teer to tend to the maintenance Inquiries of any kind may be used by Fairleigh Dickinson Uni- and restoration of this grand his- sent to friendsofflorham@gmail. versity, anyone can visit Flor- toric site. This group is called the com. I wish you a wonderful visit, ham to take a self-guided tour, Friends of Florham, and it holds and hope that you have an expe- just mention Friends of Florham cultural events and gatherings rience that leads you to cherish at the entrance gate — any sea- throughout the year. I have served this estate the way I do! son is the perfect time! During as a public relations volunteer for breaks, FDU students have re- more than two years, and it’s been — Sarah Hof treated from the campus, taken incredibly rewarding to be part of Friends of Florham Board FRIENDS OF FLORHAM | 3 SPYING ON THE SOUTH: AN ODYSSEY ACROSS THE AMERICAN DIVIDE By Tony Horwitz, Penguin Press, 2019

When most people today hear and 160 years later, Horwitz fol- With his journey completed, the name of Frederick Law Olm- lows Olmsted’s initial path to ex- without reaching any resolutions, sted, they tend to think of the plore what might be considered Horwitz sits alone in Central Park famous landscape architect of today’s divides, focusing on race before he meets two children, such well-known sites as Central and the political divide. and asks them what they like best Park, Biltmore, and, locally, Flor- Horwitz traveled, like Olmsted, about the park. Briefly, they men- ham. by boat, train and other modes, tion “exploring” or “going where Yet long before Olmsted found for example, down the Missis- they want.” Horwitz tells them his calling, he was somewhat sippi via a paddle wheeler, to a about Olmsted, and his work on adrift, that is, until the early 1850s dangerous Mexican town. Among the park. Before getting back on when he undertook an assign- various sites, he visited a cre- his Hoverboard, one of the boys ment from The New York Times ationism museum, and viewed a says, “Tell Fred he did good.” as an undercover correspon- memorable Cajun-country mud Sadly, Tony Horwitz died sud- dent. Briefly, through his travels, fest. Yet while Horwitz discover- denly at age 60, shortly after pub- Olmsted was looking to under- ed significant diversity, the book lication of his well-received book. stand, generate dialogue and overall is somewhat pessimistic, find common ground in what was as Horwitz concluded via his — Carol Bere Friends of Florham Board apparently a divided country. He travels that the country is still di- failed. In Spying on the South, vided. PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION PLAN Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Ongoing Projects The original leaded stained- historic Florham Campus, estab- The fountains that reside be- glass window, located on the first lished in 1958, features Gilded- hind Hennessy Hall (the mansion) floor of Hennessy Hall, is being Age structures, antique statues are in desperate need of repair. restored to its former glory. and elegant stone fountains. These fountains are reflective of The delicate cleaning of the Over time, these historic trea- the grandeur of the estate. statuaries located in the Clowney sures have deteriorated due to Structural work and restoration Gardens will soon be underway. exposure to the elements, but the are planned for the two gazebos attention that they deserve will that are the cornerstones of the Commitment to Preserve soon commence. The Friends Clowney Gardens. This restora- This historic estate is not only a of Florham is working with the tion will transform them to their “Treasure of New Jersey” but is University to enact a new, five- original splendor. also treasured by those of us who to-seven-year preservation and study and work here. The contin- restoration plan. The scope of The Friends of Florham en- ued work and stewardship that this plan includes the repair of sured the safe return home of two the Friends of Florham provides these various artifacts and edi- lion statues that stood guard on helps us with our commitment STATUARY fices around the campus. the estate before spending de- to preserve this beautiful estate cades in Seattle, Wash. The res- for the enjoyment of future gen- toration and cleaning of the lions erations. Current students and are almost complete; soon they alumni boast to their friends and will reclaim their stately position in family how proud they are to be front of Hennessy Hall. on such a historical campus. Your help will keep it that way for many years to come! I look forward to working with each and every one of you and am hopeful that, together, we can keep GAZEBO Florham one of the most beautiful estates in the . STAINED-GLASS WINDOW FOUNTAIN — Brian Mauro Florham Campus Executive

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