Friends of

FRIENDSF lorham CELEBRATE FALL 2016 25 YEARS AT FLORHAM BOARD OF TRUSTEES FRIENDS OF FLORHAM Valerie Adams Christine Adrignolo Carol Bere Samuel M. Convissor Dawn Dupak Elaine Earlywine Susan Garrubbo Beth Hennessy Jennifer Johnson Lisa MacNair Linda Meister Suzy Moran Antoinette C. Petrocelli Ann Wellbrock

HONORARY TRUSTEES Susan Adams Linda Carrington Phyllis Conway Walter Cummins Gabriella D’Amico Emma Joy Dana Kim Dougherty FROM LEFT; ELEANOR FRIEDL, ANN WELLBROCK, LISA MCNAIR, WALTER CUMMINS, PETER WOOLLEY, DAWN DUPAK, SUSAN GARRUBBO, GARY DARDEN AND KARIN HAMILTON STANDING BENEATH FAMILY PORTRAITS Carol C. Knauff Audrey Parker More than 60 people partici- wherever possible, mentioning tune’s Children, were offered for Troy Simmons pated in the Friends celebration that Florence Twombly attend- sale in the Great Hall. Arthur T. Vanderbilt, II of 25 years of dedication to their ed the opening of Biltmore on Then it was on to Lenfell mission of working with the Christmas Eve, 1895. Hall, where Friends President, UNIVERSITY LIAISONS University to preserve the his- We moved to the Great Hall Dawn Dupak, welcomed the Carol Black toric elements of the former Flor- for a museum-quality display group and Gary Darden, Chair Christopher A. Capuano ham estate. Hartman Lounge of 12 posters and a timeline of of the Social Sciences/History Gary Darden was filled to capacity for the the various Friends accomplish- Department, spoke about the Matthew Dikovics first event of the evening, an ments, thanks to the efforts of Friends’ Portrait Project, which he Eleanor Friedl interesting, informative talk by Friends Trustee Susan Garrub- is spearheading. The project’s Karin Hamilton Sarah Hof Laura Overbey, collections man- bo. We celebrate the substantial first phase included portraits ager at Biltmore, the legendary from Biltmore and the Twom- Brian Mauro progress that the Friends have Peter Woolley Asheville, N.C., estate built in actually made — and how these bly-Burden Room at Columbia the 1890s by George Vander- various projects have contribut- University. These nine portraits bilt, Florence Twombly’s young- ed significantly to the preserva- are hung in the Great Hall and er brother. Ms. Overbey spoke tion and sustained beauty of the in Lenfell Hall, along with ex- about the Vanderbilt siblings, Florham Campus. isting portraits from the Flor- their various influences on New ham art collection. As Darden The Friends’ most recent pub- York society, as well as their noted, “these portraits bring to- lication FLORHAM: An Ameri- various architectural enterpris- gether five generations of the es. She also linked the Twom- can Treasure, as well as Arthur blys to the Vanderbilt story Vanderbilt’s earlier book, For- (continued on page 4) PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

FROM LEFT; PETER WOOLLEY, DAWN DUPAK AND JENN JOHNSON AND CHEF JEFF GORLEY AT THE REP. RODNEY FRELINGHUYSEN AT THE 25TH TIFFANY TABLE Dear Friends, of Friends’ projects; food and We’ve started preliminary work Welcome to the Friends of Flor- beverage stations; and our Flor- on the next classroom reno- ham Fall 2016 newsletter. We’ve ham store featuring the Friends’ vation in Hennessy Hall. Ruth been very busy since we pub- recently published book, FLOR- Twombly’s former bedroom, now lished our spring newsletter. HAM: An American Treasure, classroom M-11, will become the and Fortune’s Children written by Governor Brendan Byrne Room. Our spring fundraiser, “A Tiffa- Arthur Vanderbilt. Seed money from the Friends ny Table,” was a wonderful suc- and The Dodge Foundation has cess, raising friends and funds. been committed. If you’d like to Congratulations and thank you to In September, we contribute to the Friends spe- the event chairs, Danielle Lind- marked our 25th cifically for this project, please ner and Jenn Johnson, and their contact Karin Hamilton, Director committee, and my personal ap- anniversary with a of Special Projects, University preciation to the people who at- celebration at the Advancement, at hamilton@fdu. tended. We plan to hold our next edu. event on May 18, 2017. Save the Florham Campus. date and stay tuned for additional It was a grand details. It was a grand celebration and celebration and my We plan to hold our my special thanks to the commit- tee — Jenn, Susan, Karin, Elea- special thanks to the next event on May 18, nor, Gary and Lisa. committee — Jenn, 2017. Save the date Sadly, I must note the passing Susan, Karin, Eleanor, and stay tuned for of Henry G. Parker, beloved hus- band of Audrey Parker, in July. Gary and Lisa. more details. Henry and Audrey were staunch supporters of the Friends, and we As winter approaches and you will miss Henry’s warm smile and In September, we marked our consider ways to shake off its enthusiasm for all our projects. 25th anniversary with a celebra- chill, you may want to plan a visit Audrey remains a valued honor- tion at the Florham Campus. The to Florham. Stop by the Provost’s ary member. event included a lecture by Laura Office to pick up a guide of the Overbey, collections manager at Filming by NJTV on the Flor- portraits. To access a download- Biltmore, and the unveiling of the ham Estate for the documentary able audio tour go to www.fdu. first two phases of our Portrait “Treasures of New Jersey” has edu and type Mansion Audio Project in Lenfell Hall, followed been ongoing since the spring, Tour in the search box. by Chef Jeff delighting us with and the NJTV people recently By now, you should have re- a demonstration and sampling joined a trustee meeting to cap- ceived our annual membership of two of Mrs. Twombly’s favor- ture additional footage. We are appeal letter. Your continued ite recipes. The Great Hall was looking forward to viewing the support is very much appreci- the perfect venue for the beauti- new series, which is expected to ated, and crucial in making our fully designed gallery of posters air in 2017, and will feature the restoration projects possible. created by Susan Garrubbo that Vanderbilt-Twombly Estate as the commemorated the first 25 years first episode. — Dawn Dupak 2 | FRIENDS OF FLORHAM A MEMORABLE RETURN TO THE TIFFANY TABLE On Friday, May 20, our enthu- siastic guests participated in “A Return to the Tiffany Table,” the second successful fundraising luncheon organized and hosted by the Friends of Florham in part- nership with Tiffany & Co. Len- fell Hall was highlighted by a backdrop of Tiffany blue boxes, while the overflowing tables in the Great Hall displayed a variety of enticing auction items. We credit much of the success FROM LEFT: YVETTE TOSADO, MARISA SPAGNOLETTI, KARIN HAMILTON AND of the event to the hardwork- THEN FDU PRESIDENT SHELDON DRUCKER ing committee chaired by Dani- was raffled off among the “mys- many enticing items, donated elle Lindner and Jenn Johnson tery boxes.” Jets and Giants tickets and an and comprised of Valerie Ad- at-home dinner catered by Chef ams, Christine Adrignolo, Dawn Other auction items ranged Jeff. Dupak, Ann Wellbrock and Karin from tickets to the Morris Arts Hamilton. “Giralda” concert featuring the We were thrilled that the 2016 Tiffany Table was a memorable New Jersey Symphony, an eve- The luncheon, catered by Gour- event enjoyed by all who attend- ning bag ensemble from Lu- met Dining, was excellent. Tiffany ed. Look for announcements of donated 99 boxes, each contain- cy’s Gift in Morristown and gift our next event on May 18, 2017, ing two wine glasses. One spe- cards from The Chatham Sand- at which the Friends will join forc- cial box also contained a gold wich Shop and Café Beethoven. es with a new and equally excit- and diamond bracelet, which The live auction included, among ing partner.

GUESTS GATHER TO ENJOY THE SILENT AUCTION. JENN JOHNSON WELCOMES THE GUESTS.

STEVE AND DANIELLE LINDNER THE SALES AND MANAGEMENT TEAM FROM TIFFANY & CO., SHORT HILLS, N.J. FRIENDS OF FLORHAM | 3 MORE THAN 25 YEARS: (continued) FRIENDS CELEBRATE 25 YEARS

GARY DARDEN POINTING OUT THE PORTRAITS LINDA MEISTER AND REP. RODNEY FRELINGHUYSEN

Vanderbilt-Twombly-Burden fam- prise find, an 1877 lithograph of shared the Chef Donon recipe for ilies to better tell the historical the wedding portrait of Florence Crabes a la Diable, which can be narrative of the legendary Ameri- and Hamilton Twombly, which found on page 7. can family who made Florham a was on the cover of Frank Leslie’s Throughout the celebration, home for six decades.” Illustrated Newspaper (Decem- and on the other side of the room, Still to come, among various ber 8, 1877). He is donating the the film of Florham shot by Jo- portraits on the project “list,” are gift to the portrait collection; the seph Donon in the 1930s (and reproductions of two of Flor- framing was also a gift from Ex- digitized by the Friends) ran con- ence’s brothers, Cornelius Van- press Frames in Morristown, N.J. tinuously. derbilt II from the Breakers in The portrait will ultimately hang in the Great Hall. It was a thoroughly enjoy- Newport, R.I., and George Wash- able evening. Our thanks to the ington Vanderbilt from Biltmore, Next up, literally on the menu, committee (Dawn Dupak, Gary and the reproduction of the por- Chef Jeff Gourley demonstrated Darden, Eleanor Friedl, Susan traits of members of the design and served two of Chef Joseph Garrubbo, Karin Hamilton, Jenn team, Charles Follen McKim and Donon’s famous recipes, which Johnson and Lisa McNair), who Stanford White. Darden conclud- everyone agreed were delec- worked to make this wonderful ed his presentation with a sur- table. Chef Jeff has graciously evening a spectacular celebration.

CHEF JEFF GOURLEY OFFERING HIS DISH FROM LEFT: LAURA OVERBEY, DAWN DUPAK, GOV. BRENDAN BYRNE, SAM CONVISSOR AND PETER WOOLLEY 4 | FRIENDS OF FLORHAM FRIENDS CELEBRATE 25 YEARS

CORNELIUS HAMILTON MCKOWN TWOMBLY “COMMODORE” VANDERBILT

ALICE VANDERBILT TWOMBLY

RUTH VANDERBILT TWOMBLY FLORENCE TWOMBLY BURDEN

FRIENDS OF FLORHAM | 5 INSIDE FLORHAM WITH CHEF DONON house. We would know very ized function: a pastry chef, a little about life at Florham, about cook who prepared all the vege- Mrs. Twombly and her daughter, table dishes and a man in charge Ruth, were it not for an incredible of the equipment and machinery. treasure trove of primary source There were always five footmen material — the reminiscences of in the pantry who “wore the court Chef Donon. After the death of livery just like they had at Buck- Mrs. Twombly in 1952 and Ruth ingham Palace — only in maroon in 1954, Donon retired at the age color, the Vanderbilt color.” It was of 67 with the help of a generous Chef Donon’s job to oversee and bequest from Mrs. Twombly. In run what was called the “depart- retirement he realized how ex- ment” which was the core of Flor- traordinary it had been what he ham: dining. had witnessed in his career at Every day his kitchen prepared Florham, a way of life gone for- meals in two shifts — for the staff ever, and set out to record his CHEF JEFF GOURLEY of 32 who worked inside the memories in a draft memoir he mansion, and the staff of 80 who The New Yorker called him dictated to a friend and in several worked outside. “probably the richest and most interviews with The New Yorker, famous private chef in the world,” including a lengthy profile. “It was “In mid-April I was given the and there is every reason to be- an epoch! It was a special time, schedule for Florham — so many lieve that Mrs. Twombly’s beloved and the way those houses were dinners, so many ladies’ lunch- French chef, Joseph Donon, was run should not be forgotten.” eons and so many weekend par- ties.” just that. Slight in stature and youthful in appearance when he was hired Every week when Mrs. Twom- CRABES A LA DIABLE by Mrs. Twombly in 1917 at the bly was at Florham there were (DEVILED CRABS) age of 29, Donon was as tough luncheons and dinners for 20 to 30 guests. Every Tuesday she Ingredients: and savvy as they come. When the Italian chef he replaced threat- would invite two dozen friends Meat of 1 dozen hard-shell crabs from the Morristown area for (about 1 ½ pounds meat) ened him, Donon told him that he a ladies luncheon followed by 1 tablespoon butter had fought for France and killed bridge and tea. Lunch was al- ½ tablespoon flour Germans in the war and would not hesitate to kill him. A senior ways at 1:30 and “dinner was 2 cups hot milk staff member who tried to give eight o’clock sharp! We heard 1 onion, chopped him orders in matters pertaining that if a guest was late by just ½ cup fresh bread crumbs to the kitchen found herself dis- five minutes they might not be 2 tablespoons cream missed by Mrs. Twombly the next invited again for months — or 1 teaspoon chopped parsley day. He replaced the kitchen years!” Chef Donon would begin staff and hired his own workers to prepare three to four days in Melt the butter, stir in the flour and advance for the large weekend cook the roux for a minute, stirring who were intensely loyal to him constantly with a wooden spoon. Add and stayed with him for decades. parties of 125 to 150 guests, the hot milk and the onion, chopped, When, for instance, Donon want- which often included midnight and cook for 10 minutes, stirring from ed fruit from the Orangerie, rather suppers, which continued on into time to time. The sauce should be thin. than telling the head gardener he the small hours of the morning. Add the cream, a little salt and pepper gave his order to the Twombly’s As Chef Donon noted: “Mrs. to taste, bread crumbs, crabmeat and New York City Office, which then parsley. The mixture should be thick Twombly knew cooking, and she enough to hold its shape. If necessary, instructed the gardeners what to knew wines; entertaining was add more bread crumbs. Fill prepared bring to him and when. He had her life, and she lived for it. Mrs. crab shells or individual scallop dishes no budget and his expenses Twombly’s desire to please her with the crab mixture, mounding it were never questioned. His mis- friends was touching.” high. Mix some dry mustard to a paste sion was to fulfill Mrs. Twombly’s Serving the “best of the best” with water and brush the filled shells sole request: “The only thing that began with the best ingredients, with it. Sprinkle with bread crumbs and Mrs. Twombly asked for is that almost all available on the thou- with melted butter and brown quickly we give her the best of the best.” in a hot oven. Serve bubbling hot. sand acres of Florham. From the And that he did for 38 years. Florham farm there were Guern- Those of us addicted to “Down- Do not picture Chef Donon toil- sey cows and their own dairy, ton Abbey” know that the staff is ing over hot stoves in the base- vegetable gardens “on the hill always the key to finding out what ment of Florham. He had a core near Convent Station,” green- is happening in a great manor staff of five, each with a special- houses for all kinds of grapes 6 | FRIENDS OF FLORHAM (continued on page 7) CHEF DONON: (continued) and melons. Donon asked for a ment was filled with so much wanted to keep in touch with all cave to be built where he grew wine and liquor that vast quanti- the help. She was very nice; very mushrooms and celery “white as ties remained after the deaths of humble for her place. She wanted snow and very crisp.” Mrs. Twombly and Ruth. to say a few words to all my staff.” “From our greenhouses we Chef Donon remembered Mrs. Running the Florham food ser- could get melons the size of a Twombly fondly. “Once a week, at vice department was nonstop small beach ball and grapes nine o’clock in the morning, Mrs. work, but Chef Donon had a day the size of my thumb — one Twombly would ring for the but- off every week, rested for several bunch would be a foot long! In ler, Frederick Berles, who would hours each afternoon in a bed- the Orangerie we had every fruit come for me, and we would go to room for his use and took two — oranges, lemons, figs — ev- see her about our schedules. Ev- months’ vacation each year. Mrs. erything. Mrs. Twombly told me ery few days though, she would Twombly paid for the trips he and that she only enjoyed vegetables call me to her sitting room [now his wife took all over Europe and at home. Even those at the Ritz Campus Provost Peter Wool- the United States, and when he Hotel in Paris were not as good as ley’s office] to talk about special would submit all his vacation ex- what we had at Florham. We got things, like a birthday cake or penses upon his return, he would them fresh in the morning — right something like that. I would sit receive a check for what he had to the kitchen door. If I wanted down with her, and she enjoyed spent. something special or something that talk — she spoke to me like “Mrs. Twombly was wonderful changed, I would work through a mother! She seemed very hap- to me. At Christmas she would our office in New York and they py. Occasionally she would ask, give me something special. The would tell the gardener what to “Are you happy, chef? Would you office would send me a check, grow. Mrs. Twombly had a big like a raise?” She had one party but it was she who would give me greenhouse just for flowers; she after another — that was her the gift — all the time. That last really loved orchids — that was life! Oh, she really enjoyed life, Christmas, in 1951, I remember her flower. She had them on the her daughter too! Mrs. Twombly that I was the only one of the staff table every day. During the sec- was quiet; she ate simple, not she had upstairs. I got in line with ond war, we raised steers and too much. She was like a queen. all her family and friends — she lambs on the farm, so we could Once a week she would come to lined us up! — and she gave me be sure of our supplies.” Before the kitchen to see me and said a silver service.” Prohibition, the Florham base- ‘good morning’ to everyone. She — Arthur T. Vanderbilt II

FLORHAM: AN AMERICAN TREASURE Friends of Florham is pleased later, after the death of Hamilton to announce the publication of Twombly and two of their chil- FLORHAM: An American Trea- dren, for Mrs. Twombly and her sure, which was conceived, unmarried daughter, Ruth. written and produced by four The authors have mined many members of the Friends of Flor- contemporary sources to tell this ham — Carol Bere, Samuel Con- story, and provide quotes from vissor, Walter Cummins and the Twombly’s grandchildren; Arthur Vanderbilt. This beautiful their famous French chef, Joseph new book is full of vintage photo- Donon; and other members of graphs of the estate taken by the staff of 120 who for so many famed photographer Shirley Bur- years kept Florham running like a den, one of Mrs.Twombly’s grand- in the 1880s to acquire the 1,200 “Downton Abbey” type of estate. sons, as well as gorgeous color In doing so, the authors provide photographs taken this past acres in this area; how they re- tained famed landscape archi- fresh insights into the lives of spring and summer by photog- the family who lived there. It is rapher/artist Mark Hillringhouse, tect Frederick Law Olmsted to lay out their estate, and the most an extraordinary story of one of whose work captures the beauty the most fabled Gilded Age es- of Florham in ways we’ve never prominent architectural firm of the day, McKim, Mead & White, tates, which perhaps longer than seen before, including spectacu- any other, continued well into the lar shots using a drone. to design the country home that they would use for two months 20th century to be run just as it FLORHAM traces the history every spring and two months in was when first created. of this special estate, explaining the fall; and what life was like at FLORHAM goes on to tell the why Hamilton Twombly and his Florham — first for the Twom- story of the famous auction of wife, Florence Vanderbilt, began blys and their four children, and the contents of the estate, the (continued on page 8) FRIENDS OF FLORHAM | 7 FRIENDS OF FLORHAM 285 Madison Avenue, m-ms1-04 Madison, New Jersey 07940 Visit the Friends of Florham online at fdu.edu/fof and at https://www.facebook.com/ fdufriendsofflorham

FLORHAM BOOK: (continued) purchase of the property by Fairleigh Dickinson BECOME A FRIEND University and the remarkable transformation of the estate into a university campus. The work and Join the Friends of Florham. Participate directly projects of the Friends of Florham since 1990 to in our efforts to preserve the architectural history raise funds and assist Fairleigh Dickinson Univer- of Florham, and support our informative program sity on projects to restore and preserve the his- series. Your support will make a difference. toric elements of the campus is recounted in text and accompanying photographs. Name______One hundred percent of the proceeds from Address______the sale of this book will be used by the Friends to further their work renovating the mansion and City______its grounds. What a wonderful gift to your family and friends interested in Florham, in FDU or in the State______Gilded Age! Zip______Copies of FLORHAM may be purchased for $20 at Amazon.com or via these options: Telephone______• Directly from Friends of Florham by sending Please check desired category: a check for $25.00, which includes the cost of Your gift is tax-deductible shipping, to: q $25 — Friend q $50 — Special Friend Karin Hamilton c/o Friends of Florham, FDU q $100 — Contributor q $200 — Supporter 1000 River Road, H-DH3-13 q $500 — Patron q $1,000 — Sponsor Teaneck, New Jersey 07666 • Online via credit card courtesy of the Fair- Please mail your check to: leigh Dickinson University Alumni Association Friends of Florham website at www.myfdu.net/fofbook Fairleigh Dickinson University • Online from the Florham Campus Bookstore, 285 Madison Avenue, M-MS1-04 www.fdumshop.com, or purchase directly in the Madison, N.J. 07940 bookstore.