Ringwood Manor
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We are so happy to hear that the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference and The Friends of Long Pond Ironworks were able to reroute and reopen the historic Hasenclever Trail! The trail connects Ringwood Manor and Long Pond Ironworks, following closely the original road between the two iron mining areas. In addition to the interpretive signs along the trail, hikers will also see historic features such as the historic Hope Mine and former charcoal burn sites. Check out the blog post below for information about the original creation of the trail, why it had to be temporarily closed, and how the reroute came to be. Bravo to both groups for their hard work and dedication!

Wishing all our followers a happy and healthy new year! Ringwood Manor is looking forward to 2021. Here: a postcard from the Roome Collection at Ringwood Manor, dated December 28th, 1906.

The sunset tonight put on quite a show! (As seen over the mule barn at Ringwood Manor)

We know everyone is disappointed that we aren't having our annual holiday event this year. So we decided to spread some holiday cheer by sharing photos each week from various decades! And it looks like last week's post really brought back memories for our followers! This week, we move into the 1990s with images of the decorations found throughout Ringwood Manor during the Victorian Christmas event that decade. The images dated to 1994 were featured in the magazine, "Victorian Homes," that year. Enjoy!

We know everyone was disappointed that we didn’t have our annual holiday event this year, so instead we decided to spread some holiday cheer by sharing photos each week from various decades. It’s our last week of images, and if you have been to the event in recent years, some of the décor should look very familiar! This week, it's all about remembering the period Victorian Christmas from 2014 to last year, 2019. The event was on hold in 2012 and 2013 while the interior of the... Manor underwent a large-scale conservation project. When Victorian Christmas returned in 2014, we started our very popular evening concert series, which has expanded from two performances to four performances because of demand. And in 2019, several new rooms were added to the event as the Breakfast Room, Butler’s Pantry, and Kitchen were all decked out for the first time ever during the event after being restored. We hope you enjoyed our trip down memory lane this year and we look forward to having the event return next year. Until then, Ringwood Manor hopes all our followers have had, and continue to have, a joyous holiday season!

Visitors frequently will ask if the painting above the fireplace in the Dining Room is one of the Cooper & Hewitt family members. Somewhat strangely, it is not! How do we know? Well the back of the canvas tells! Written in Latin, roughly translated it notes that the figure is Johann Baptiste Landi, the son of an Italian nobleman and his wife, who was born on September 24, 1783. It also notes that the portrait was painted when the boy was 5 years old. Why did the Hewitt family own it? Where did they purchase it? When did they come to own it? We do not know the answers to any of these questions! But clearly the family was fond of the painting as it was placed in such a prominent location within Ringwood Manor.

We know everyone is disappointed that we can't have our annual Victorian Christmas event this year. So we decided to spread some cheer by sharing photos each week from various decades! Today, we are starting with some images of decorations found in Ringwood Manor during the Victorian Christmas events of the 1980s. We hope you enjoy them!

On this day in 1813, Peter Cooper married Sarah Bedell. Peter met Sarah in Hempstead, NY and soon after their meeting, he was calling on her at her father’s house. By late spring of 1813, she was known among Peter’s friends as Peter’s favorite. The couple were married for an impressive 56 years.

Have you been baking this holiday season? Hopefully our modern conveniences have made it a bit easier than it would have been in the 19th century. Tell us what your favorite treat to make is in our comment section!

There's been a lot of chatter about a rare, upcoming celestial occurrence. Next week, Saturn & Jupiter will appear so closely in the night sky that people will be able to view them with their naked eye! As they cross paths on the 21st, it will appear as if they have formed one large star in the sky, often referred to as the "Christmas Star." Here, a spyglass or telescope in the Ringwood Manor collection, dating from the late 18th century, and made by the Charles Lincoln Compa...ny of London. It is 38 inches long but opens further to a full 47 inches. While it may not give as good a view as modern telescopes, its mahogany case with brass and carved gesso details arguably make it more beautiful. Once owned by Edward Ringwood Hewitt, the piece can be found sitting in Peter Cooper's bedroom near a window, perfect for staring at the heavens surrounding Ringwood Manor. See more

It’s our last weekend of outdoor tours before the winter season! And while our Grounds & Gardens tour and Historic Cemetery tours are mostly full, there’s still room on our Highlights Around the House tours both Saturday & Sunday afternoon (2:30pm both days)! Join our tour guide staff and learn about all the historic objects and gardens in the immediate vicinity of the Manor house while enjoying the crisp autumn air and gorgeous scenery. Advanced registration is required, so click the link below to reserve your spot today!

Want to learn about some of the historic objects around the Manor, but don't have the time for the full Grounds & Garden Tour? Or have you always wondered about those large pieces on the front and back lawns of Ringwood Manor? This shorter version of the Grounds & Garden tour only takes 1 hour and will take visitors around the immediate vicinity of the outside of Ringwood Manor, discussing the historic objects on the front lawn, the architecture of the Manor, and the Italian ...sunken garden behind the building. It's a great way to enjoy the beautiful autumn weather and fall foliage, while also learning about the history of Ringwood Manor! We still have available spaces for this weekend, so click below to register. Can't make it this weekend? Don't worry- the Highlights Around the House tour is being offered every weekend through November 1st! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/highlights-around-the-house-re See more

Yesterday was Sarah Cooper Hewitt's birthday (October 13, 1859)! As anyone who has visited the historic carriage barn exhibit at Ringwood Manor can tell you, "Miss Sally" had a love of all things equestrian, including a substantial collection of horse-drawn carriages. But did you know she also owned a rather impressive car during her lifetime? Here you will see a drawing and photograph of her 1906 Renault Town Car. As always, the vehicle was custom built for Sally. The body o...f the vehicle was designed by a the Muhlbacher firm, a French company located along the Champs-Élysées in Paris. The body was then put on a Renault chassis. There is conflicting information as to exactly how much the car cost in 1906- some documents denote $10,000 while others list the figure as high as $18,000. That would be upwards of a quarter of a million dollars in 2020! Sally also took the vehicle with her back and forth across the ocean when traveling to Europe. A brass plaque mounted to the dashboard of the vehicle lists both her New York City address along with the address of Hotel du Rhin in Paris, which she frequented during her travels. Only the best for Miss Sally Hewitt! The vehicle is currently in private ownership. Drawing courtesy of the Cooper Hewitt museum.

The last painting we would like to bring your attention to as part of our series this week is by artist Martin Johnson Heade and is entitled, "Ringwood Meadow" painted in 1859. Heade (1819-1904) not only painted landscapes but also still lifes of birds and flowers. His friendship with other Hudson River artists led to his interest in painting landscapes. This autumnal scene is thought to be of the field in front of Ringwood Manor before the Hewitt family flooded the Ringwood ...River to create Sally's Pond. This certainly could be the case as you will note there are several cows depicted in the scene and the family did allow their heard to graze in that area. Whether it was a scene of Ringwood or not, the trees and landscape certainly remind us of the surrounding property at this time of year! Tomorrow is shaping up to be a beautiful fall day, perfect to watch today's artists create masterpieces like the ones we have showcased all week! You'll be able to purchase your favorite after this weekend is over through the Ringwood Manor Association of the Arts online sale! And ARTISTS: Don't forget to register for the Ringwood Manor Association of the Arts Plein Air Paint Out tomorrow! It's not too late! Visit their website for the details: http://ringwoodmanorarts.org/plein-air-paint-out-october-2/

We are continuing to spotlight some of the wonderful landscape paintings in Ringwood manor's collection to promote Ringwood Manor Association of the Arts 's Plein Air Paint Out this Saturday! And we never get tired of looking at these beautiful autumnal paintings from Ringwood Manor's collection! Today's work is "Little Falls" by William C.A. Frerichs (1829-1905). And yes, that's Little Falls on the Passaic River in Little Falls, NJ! Most people are quite surprised to learn that's what this piece depicts as most of the original landscape was changed since this painting was completed in c. 1865. The artist likely had no idea that the site he was capturing would change its appearance so dramatically over the next 150 years!

Today's painting from Ringwood Manor's collection that we are showcasing is John Frederick Kensett's "Constitution Island." Kensett (1816-1872) was one of the founders of the The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York and was considered part of the second wave of Hudson River School artists and was known for painting less dramatic topography and landscapes in cooler colors, giving his paintings a more tranquil quality. This scene of the Hudson River and Constitution Island, located across from West Point, certainly showcases these qualities, showing subdued autumnal colors than some of the earlier paintings we shared this week. There's still time to register for the Ringwood Manor Association of the Arts Plein Ait Paint Out this Saturday! Click this link to participate http://ringwoodmanorarts.org/plein-air-paint-out-october-2/

The second painting we are highlighting this week- leading up to the Ringwood Manor Association of the Arts's Plein Air Paint Out on Saturday- is this beautiful one: a landscape created by artist Martha Wood Belcher and entitled "The Abram S. Hewitt Estate" dated 1868. Yes, that's right- this painting is showing the Ringwood Manor estate and it's magnificent property. The Manor is barely seen in the center of the painting, hidden behind a row of elm trees that lined the front of the building, while Hope Mountain rises directly behind it. Martha Wood Belcher (1844-1930) eventually studied art and painting at (you guessed it) The Cooper Union in New York City. Her artwork captured the stunning fall landscape around the property from a summit to the east of the home.

This Saturday is the Ringwood Manor Association of the Arts's Plein Air Paint Out! So we thought it would be a great time to highlight some of the beautiful artwork in the Manor's collection! First up: this beautiful painting by Jasper Francis Cropsey entitled "Sunset with Sailboat on Greenwood Lake" dated 1876. The scenic autumnal views of the northern NJ and lower NY state area were captured by this talented artist during the mid and late-19th century. Cropsey (1823-1900) w...as a member of the Hudson River School of artists during his lifetime. He and his wife eventually lived in a home in Warwick, NY until 1884, hence why so many of his pieces depict this area. The Manor is fortunate enough to have several of his beautiful works that the Hewitt family collected. The rich red, yellow, and orange trees shown in the painting should soon be making an appearance in this area very soon- come visit and see them in person this weekend! See more

On this day, in 1780, Surveyor General Robert Erskine passed away at his Ringwood home. Robert Erskine first met with George Washington between July 11th and July 13th, 1777 at Pompton, NJ. Shortly thereafter, Washington wrote a letter to the Continental Congress (July 19th, 1777) asking for permission to appoint a "good Geographer to Survey the Roads and take Sketches of the Country where the Army is the Act...." Washington received permission from Congress on July 27th and... immediately wrote to Robert Erskine on July 28th, 1777 noting that he had been given said approval to appoint a "Geographer to accompany the Army," and noting that he had recommended Erskine for the position. Robert Erskine responded to the request on August 1st, 1777 in the letter seen below (courtesy of the The Library of Congress). The beginning reads: "May it please Your Excellency Your favour of the 28th ult, concerning the office of Geographer, I had the honour to receive yesterday at Pompton. The distinction you confer upon me, I beg leave to acknowledge with graditude [sic]; and shall be happy to render every service in my power to your Excellency, and to the cause in which the rights of humanity are so deeply interested: on these accounts it is necessary to be explicit; both by laying before you my ideas of the whole subject at once, and likewise by setting forth how much time and attention I can immediately bestow on the proposed department." Erskine maintained his position as Surveyor General and Geographer until his untimely death on this day at age 45. Accounts from the period note he caught "a severe cold" which progressively became worse. Washington was said to have attended Erskine's funeral and burial at Ringwood, having planted a tree which once stood next to the existing tabletop grave.

It's Thursday, which means it's time for a #ThrowbackThursday picture! Below is an image of the historic Italian sunken garden behind Ringwood Manor. This image actually was made into a postcard, dated and postmarked on September 7th, 1907. The postcard was mailed my May Roome to a Mrs. Keister of Nyack, NY. You'll note the message along the right side of the card reads: "Ringwood Manor, NJ. View of Mrs. Hewitt's lawn. Taken by Frank Laird."

Calling all artists! The Ringwood Manor Association of the Arts will be holding its Plein Air Paint Out on Saturday, October 10th! Ringwood Manor and its sprawling grounds provide inspiration to artists practicing in all mediums. This event celebrates artists who create masterpieces on the grounds of the estate. Artists are encouraged to pre-register by October 9th, and submitted paintings must be created using plein air techniques between October 1st and October 10th. Entries will be judged and prizes awarded for first, second, and third place. All the details and online registration can be found by visiting Ringwood Manor Association of the Arts's website: http://ringwoodmanorarts.org/plein-air-paint-out-october-2/

Did you know that Ringwood Manor had a working farm on the property? The farm provided much of the needed food for the property and its owners and many employees. The area, located south of the Manor- across Sally's Field and past the historic cemetery- had numerous structures that housed the cows, working horses, chickens, goats, and oxen. Additionally, there were homes for the farm hands that were employed to care for these animals and work the land. This property was event...ually inherited by Erskine Hewitt's nephew, Norvin Green. Norvin, in turn, donated the property to The Cooper Union. In order to make the property useful, Cooper Union had many of the farm and barn structures renovated for use by students for summer semesters at the property. Here, you can see images from 1940 showing what once was a barn for working horses be converted into a space that was used by Cooper Union as classrooms and gathering spaces. Appropriately dubbed, Cooper Hall, the building was utilized by the university until the mid-1970s. The structure still stands today and is used similarly by Green Residential Community Home. Want to know more about the working farm and the employees that kept it running? Register for our "Running the Estate" tours and learn all about the exterior structures, how they supported the estate and its occupants, and the numerous employees they kept it up! Click this link to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/running-the-estate-a-walking-t

The dates and times for Ringwood Manor's October outdoor walking tours have been posted! The fall is one of the most beautiful times to come and visit the Manor, so why not take a tour and learn a little history, too?! With four different themed history tours, there is something of interest for everyone. Of note: we have changed our registration process and are now using the Eventbrite platform to handle our registration process. The link for each tour can be found within their individual event pages on Facebook OR you can find the link on our website: http://www.ringwoodmanor.org/grounds-tours.html Please remember, anyone interested in attending must pre-register for the tour you are interested in taking at least 24 hours before the date & time of the tour and abide by our COVID guidelines.