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Beautifully preserved movie of the Florham estate.

This reminds me so much of many of the big old mansions that stood on Madison Ave into the 60s. We used to explore them and run around the grounds. It was fascinating. I love shutters on all the windows. Notice two windows have them closed in the front of the house for some reason. One house I knew had cranks inside so the shutters could be closed from inside without opening the window. The shutters have long since been removed from Florham. I guess they'd be maintenance headache now. If you visit the house today you can still see the remnants of the latches that held them in place on each side of every window.

How many people (besides me) believe the daughter; Ruth was a lesbian? I have zero proof and I admit it's all supposition and instinct but she was pretty, smart, adored her Mother, never married and loved Paris. I rest my case.

These overly rich are sickening.

Cross country trip back then would have been miserable, especially for the maid.

Sad, really. I'd wager the Twombly's would have received more joy by using some their squandered fortune building orphanages and interacting with the children they helped. And I have nothing against acquiring wealth.

I grew up in Florham Park. My parents and I would often drive through the estate in the early 1960s on the way back from Rod's Ranch House after dinner. It was pretty mystical on a summer evening with the top down on the convertible. It was still pretty much like this video at that time. There was no thought of security in those days and you could just wander around. I remember being in the main house and on the patio with the breathtaking view. Must have been in the summer when FDU wasn't in session. My father always said that it was a scaled-down version of Hampton Court, obviously, he was only partially right.

Beautiful footage...but Ha! I guess the french chef was as much of a 'hoity toity snob,' with the best of them! Calling to the NY Office, instructing them to instruct the gardener (who I'm sure was easily accessible); as to what he required from the food gardens on the estate, for preparation of meals! How absolutely PRETENTIOUS!

Draining a marsh on top of a hill?

Awesome 👌

Went to FDU in 1959 2nd year after they bought estate. The Orangerie still existed which they turned into a library. There was a coach house and garage building with upstairs living quarters for chauffeurs. That was turned into a science building. They also had a playhouse with indoor swimming pool and indoor clay tennis court. The pool had tropical murals painted on the walls and ceiling with a mirrored fireplace at one end. The women's dorm was in the mansion using the original bedrooms some with fireplaces and the men's dorm was in the servants quarters which was attached to the main house. There was a pipe organ on the main floor which was tuned and repaired while I was there. A private train station was also on the property. This all belonged to a granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt who also had homes in NYC and Newport. It was very easy to pretend that you were a rich teenager living the life. Somewhere online is a more recent documentary about Fairleigh Dickinson and the Twombly Estate.

I'm surprised it's not abandoned and rotting away like many of these mansions unfortunately are now. For example, Lynnwood hall north of Philly.

I bet he was really skilled at cooking the remains of children that they hunted down in their woods. He was probably an expert at harvesting their tormented blood aka adrenachrome during their child hunting/raping parties. F****** Illuminati pedophile assholes.

It's a real piece of history, this short film offers, and a novice filming without a Production Crew makes it even more authentic. I'm sure a narration absent in judgemental innuendos could enhance the experience and allow for a copy to be filed for the annuals of the Guilded Age. Thank you for sharing.

I wish this was in the colour so I could see the true beauty of all the flowers.

As a child in the 1950’s, my aunt took me to the estate sale of the Twombley’s. I remember being awed by all the fabulous furnishings, all being tagged for the auction. I especially remember all the doors on the main floor. They were very thick and tall, possibly 12 or 14 feet . At the time I thought what a shame those beautiful dark wooden doors were to be removed and sold. Fairleigh Dickinson University purchased the estate some time thereafter and in 1968, I went to night school there and was delighted to see the doors still intact. I am now 74 and have very fond memories of that time.

Thisisa grand place . lol ve to live theirs

Is this home still standing ? I know this area well, but can't picture the location.

These places was left there after the reset! These horse and buggy ppl didn’t have the technology to build such a marvel

Wow ! The unrestrained decadence !

Wow a pagans home

“Swamp”? That means wetlands. So, they drained wetlands and put in lawns and non-native trees. Mahogany door - a species of wood that’s now threatened. This is a spectacular house and property. And it’s everything we now understand to have been an unfortunate mindset.

I can’t even begin to imagine what it would be like to live on this estate, no words can describe what it must have felt like to have a orchid presented to you 4 times a day and having Lillie’s named after you. Never having to worry about how you were going to pay the bills or scrub a floor, dripping in jewels and couture gowns that you only wear for an hour and never wear again. The Vanderbilt’s all lived unimaginable lives far beyond even the queen of England

1000 acres for a single country residence, amazing, the luxurious lifestyles of the rich in the gilded age is unimaginable to comprehend. Everywhere you look is beautifully tailored and manicured and beyond compare, the worlds richest men today can’t even scratch the surface of the amount of opulence these robber barons were surrounded by, and no amount of money can recreate the gilded age.

That Chef sounds like an incredibly arrogant SNOB!

I went to the college next to this estate (St. Elizabeth University). This was a beautiful property.

Route 124 was loaded with mansions. There a few left in Madison. Madison then became the rose city. Town hall was donated by ggeraldine dodge in memory of her son. The train station resembles the town hall across the street. Two houses in the area were designer showcases during the last decade.

Thank God for McKim Meade and white. Geniuses a shame so little is left.

I went to college here as well in the 80's. Met my wife in a classroom that was one story over the service entrance. 2 of our girls went/go to Salve Regina in Newport that now owns Florence Twombly summer cottage, Vinland as well as living across the street from the Breakers.

Wrong! This building was left over from a past civilization; hence the spires and electricity. Workers drained the grounds and renovated the building that was left from a mud flood. All alleged 'industrials' did this; they were the only ones with the $$ to renovate the old ruins. Same with our Capitol bldg and White House. How can you NOT see this?

meanwhile back in town thousands are out of work and starving

Crooks & Castles

Mermaid took the first hit for her?

THIS is how they threw their money away during the Great Depression? As much as I enjoy this bit of history, my interest was changed to anger when the timeline came into focus. The filthy rich, completely divorced from the rest of humanity. Disgusting!

Such a fantastic estate! A great film!

Very interesting! Thank you for sharing this time capsule treasure. I read the book about the Vanderbilts, "Fortune's Children" by Arthur Vanderbilt and part of the book is about the Twomblys. The whole book is fascinating reading I highly recommend for those interested in American social history.

Ain't this the news reporters family. Gloria's son what's his name??

Too big

The level of wealth is staggering. What a life they led.

It sounds like a speech impediment every time I hear tWombly😅

looks like an apartment building.

Regarding the staff, seems to be a prime example of treating people well so that they’ll take care of your business or in this case your estate and yourself.

Well, David, very interesting. An amazing look into the past. Obviously, your nose isn't high in the air it appears. Being of French royal descent, I in the French case can see why their heads were surgically detached shall we say. Their workers were nothing more than slaves, you might say they lost their heads over the matter. But it's amazing how many massive homes are abandoned all over the Earth.

What a treat for historians. Thanks to a french chef, and his wife.

Less taxes meant more employement and more spending, a more logical approach but one that doesn't seem to interest governements!

Thank you for passing this, very interesting!

The American version of Downton Abbey

With today’s technology, a color upgrade would make this video a. stunning historical educational tool for today’s youth

Robber barons

The NJ government employees appreciated the taxes then and now.