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AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



June, 19 1 o 



HE magnificent country estate of the late George Crocker is now for sale. "Darlington" is situated in the charming 

 hill country of Northern New Jersey, comprises about eleven hundred acres and offers a rare combination of 

 mountain, wood and stream, with broad expanse of fertile field and artistic residential park. On the north and 

 east lies the well-known Havemeyer Estate; beyond it, the village of Suf^ern, and a little farther on. Tuxedo. 

 Good roads radiate in all directions and the property is easily accessible by motor or by the Erie Main Line (Ramsey 

 station, 3 miles; Suffern, 5 miles) ^ While nature has been very lavish here, the late owner spared neither expense nor time in 

 improving and beautifying the surroundings, crowning the whole by the erection of one of the most noteworthy private residences 

 in America. The residence is modeled largely after a famous English manor house of the Elizabethan period, and was completed 

 in 1908. The material is Harvard brick with trimmings of Indiana limestone. It stands on a lofty ridge overlooking a large 

 part of the estate and commands an outlook for miles in all directions, including the picturesque Ramapo valley and mountains. 



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THE interiors are remarkable for beauty and splendid proportions. 

 The riciily carved woodwork is cliiefly of English oak, Circassian 

 walnut and California redwood. Caen stone and marbles are also 

 used in profusion, and decorations are the work of artists of high repute. 

 The Entrance Hall with its monumental open staircase is a fitting intro- 

 duction to the stately interior, but the most impressive feature of the entire 

 house is the magnificent Great Hall, twostories in height with oak-carved 

 gallery and walls of Caen stone. The fittings of this great room are un- 

 usually striking and suitable, including a large built-in pipe organ, extra- 

 ordinary rugs, hangings and furniture. Here and in other rooms are 

 numberless arttreasures in bronze, silver, porcelain, wood, ivory and needle- 

 work. There are paintings by great masters, tapestries and embroideries 

 with histories and of great value. There is a remarkable collection of 

 Chinese porcelains, some of which are displayed in electrically lighted, 

 built-in cabinets. Throughout the house are many pieces of genuine an- 

 tique furniture, a"? well as costly reproductions. Grouped about the Great 

 Hall are Dining Room, Breakfast Room, Library, Drawing Room, Office, 

 etc., each superb in appointments and decorations. 



^ On the second floor, surrounding the gallery that overlooks the Great 

 Hall, are Master's and guest chambers, generally furnished and decorated 

 in perfect English style and each with large bath room connection. Above 

 these are more and equally attractive guest chambers and 

 other rooms. An electric elevator supplies access to 

 all floors. The construction throughout is practically 

 fireproof. 



THE grounds about the mansion are spacious and highly ornate. Illus- 

 trations give but faint suggestion of the beautiful terrace front with 

 its grassy slopes, broad stone stairways leading to the mirror pool, 

 or of the extensive vine covered pergolas and pavillions, and the no less 

 beautiful entrance front about which are grouped a wealth of evergreens, 

 box trees, Japanese maples, flowering plants and shrubs. On this front of 

 the house and on the nearby wooded slopes and drives are many thousands 

 of rhododendrons. Beyond the lawns are the extensive formal gardens with 

 large fountain pool, then the green-houses of extraordinary size and com- 

 pleteness, filled with choice flowers and rare fruiting vines and trees. An 

 abundance of pure water from an artificial mountain lake fa part of the es- 

 tate) has been piped to every desirable part of the grounds and into every 

 building, with ample pressure and equipment for fire protection. The lake 

 is a well-stocked trout preserve. In addition to the residence and green- 

 hojses are the following buildings, all in good condition : Old residence 

 and green-houses, gardener's cottage, superintendent's cottage, carpenter's 

 cottage, garage, assistant gardener's cottage, four, double houses for em- 

 ployes, dairy cottage, lodge house, two small houses on mountain lands, 

 chicken house, ice houses, coach, cow and hay barns, silo and grist mill, 

 bull barn, watchman's cottage, blacksmith shop, carpenter shop, granary 

 laundry and waterworks. Included in this offering is a choice herd of about 

 70 head of Jersey cattle, carriages, horses, chickens, a com- 

 plete equipment of up-to-date implements, tools, stone 

 crusher, etc , as well as the entire contents of the mansion 

 and outbuildings, with minor reservations. 



Ample facilities will be afforded for conveyance between the railroad station and the estate on due notice 



For further information, apply to 



