Over the hills and far away, an hour from New York
A palace with pedigree and heritage, Ellistan remains one of the most magnificent estates in New Jersey.
A northern New Jersey property for sale holds an unexpected tradition: Since the early 1930s, it has been the starting point for the Essex Fox Hounds’ Thanksgiving Day Meet. Many horses have won the Stirrup Cup, which began with a day of galloping through the county’s fields.
All the locals know Ellistan. It could pass for a European hunting lodge. Its Norman-style stone facade with high red tile roof and tall chimneys is an unforgettable landmark. Amid the rolling hills and peaceful farms of Somerset County’s Peapack-Gladstone district, this decidedly horse-oriented community of fewer than 800 households feels like an enclave of a bygone era. Yet it’s less than an hour from the noise and commotion of New York City.
Planning for the estate began in the 1920s when wealthy engineer and businessman Francis Edgar Johnson purchased land that was originally a working farm. Noted architect Albert Musgrave Hyde, known for his palatial estates in horse country, was commissioned to design a residence and guest house, as well as stables for polo and hunting purposes. (Johnson’s four sons formed a polo team that took the estate’s name.) The complex was completed in 1931.
The stable building remains one of the most striking features of the property. It houses 10 horse boxes, a pine-panelled tack room, three apartments, a four-car garage, a workshop, a dog kennel and a tractor barn. It leads to seven paddocks and a riding arena.
The 100-year history of Ellistan is a history of equestrian tradition.
Inside, the house has nine bedrooms over three floors. Stone houses usually have dark interiors. Not so in Ellistan. Large windows in the living and dining areas and glass doors leading from the living room and hallway onto sun-drenched terraces fill the property with light. There are views of the surrounding countryside from virtually every room.
Originally, the house was furnished with furniture from an Austrian castle. Over the years, the tone became lighter. The interior design firm founded by Sister Parish brought an American aesthetic, favoring painted furniture, rag rugs and botanical prints. The idea was to create a cozy, family atmosphere. (Decades later, Sister Parish would be the first designer hired to customize the Kennedys’ White House.) Parish-Hadley, the contemporary firm based in New York City, updated the interior design for the current owners, adding a soft, warm, modern color palette throughout without losing an ounce of the aristocratic country ambiance.
Numerous design legends have contributed to the design of the house’s exclusive interior. … (+)
Ellistan is mentioned in two books on New Jersey country houses and gardens. The gardens themselves are remarkable, combining an English naturalistic style with a reasonable amount of low-level formal order. Most recently, self-taught British designer Penelope Hobhouse, who learned her skills by studying the great gardens of Tuscany, added outdoor rooms and herbaceous borders for a gentler appearance. A stocked pond and tennis court provide active entertainment.
Estates of this size and pedigree rarely come on the market. Ellistan has only changed hands three times since it was built, with the current owners serving as caretakers for 40 years. In Somerset County, it’s common for families to preserve historic homes and care for the area’s hills and woods. “Neighboring farms preserve their fields, so the character of their property never changes,” says agent Ashley Christus of Turpin Realtors.
The gardens are simple and naturalistic, but still bloom with symmetrical hedges, perennial borders … (+)
As for the heritage and fox hunting, Ellistan’s new owners will decide whether to follow tradition and host the event’s inception. In many ways, the Essex Fox Hounds Thanksgiving Meet exemplifies Peapack-Gladstone’s quiet discretion. When former First Lady Jackie Kennedy and her son John once attended in the 1970s, the only rumor about it was whispers. “It’s an event so deeply rooted in the community,” Ashley Christus says, “that only those who know about it know about it.”
Turpin Real Estate is a member of Forbes Global Propertiesan invitation-only network of top-tier brokerage firms worldwide and the exclusive real estate partner of Forbes.
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