Comments on: Jackie Kennedy Onassis’ Time in Bernardsville & Peapack, New Jersey

By: William Philbrook

William Philbrook — Fri, 08 May 2026 14:37:55 +0000

I was a resident of Peapack , living on the road known as Matheny road during the years that Jacqueline Onassis resided there. My father was a caretaker for the estate owned by Percival Keith, which bordered the Matheny property. I was selling a car and had given the buyer directions to my house via Matheny road.. The moment he arrived at my house he looked like he had seen a ghost . He told me he had gone to the house below us, which was the home of Mrs Onassis, and was met at the door by a gentleman with a gun in his hand. After he explained to him who he was looking for, the agent directed him to our small house. Needless to say, he was quite rattled.

By: James W

James W — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 22:41:16 +0000

Just to clarify, the Betsy Chance Burden referenced in this post would have been Elizabeth Chace Gammack Burden (1911-2013), first married to Thomas Hubbard Gammack (1900-1937), then William Douglas Burden (1898-1978), and finally Grenville Temple Emmet Jr. (1909-1989) at which time the property on Stevens Lane in Bernardsville was sold to the Onassis family. Her sister Eliot Chace Brady (1906-1977) was married to James Cox Brady Jr. (1907-1971). However, the famous “Diamond Jim Brady” was James Buchanan Brady (1856-1917) and was of no relation to Brady Jr. or his father James Cox Brady (1882-1927) of Hamilton Farm. James Buchanan Brady built a large house on River Road in Hillsborough Township that burned down in 2020.

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 09:26:00 +0000

I worked at Gould’s Amoco and she came in for gas every once in a while…I also saw her throw a cellophane wrapper out the window of that green BMW as she exited the liquor store/Somerset Farms parking lot…probably about ‘79or ‘80

By: Ken

Ken — Sat, 13 Dec 2025 03:04:08 +0000

I am interested to know where the pharmacy was located that Pam Gerstl saw Jackie Kennedy. I live in Gladstone and curious where the location of the horse show that Jackie Kennedys children rode in at the St Bernard’s School Horse show.

By: David King

David King — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 20:29:22 +0000

That was before she was in Bedminster at Fox Chase Stables, but that’s Winchester, and Macaroni. I knew those horses well.

By: Jennifer Price Koss

Jennifer Price Koss — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 20:27:20 +0000

My mom used to tell us stories that when she was a kid, she would see them at local horse shows in the area.

By: Pam Trionfo Gerstl

Pam Trionfo Gerstl — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 20:25:45 +0000

I was a nurse at Matheny School/Hospital in Peapack and had to make a run to the pharmacy (which looked like it was 1950!) in Gladstone for a child’s prescription. Waiting in line behind this woman- I almost fainted when she turned around!! She said something nice to me about taking care of those special children! Beautiful woman, inside and out!

By: Jared M

Jared M — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 01:10:51 +0000

Could’ve been a nice country inn with Jackie memorabilia in the lobby. Instead some rich couple demolished it. Shame really.

By: Mr. Local History Project

Mr. Local History Project — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 22:49:38 +0000

In reply to Adrienne Brown. FCS stands for Fox Chase Stables.

By: Adrienne Brown

Adrienne Brown — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 20:27:16 +0000

Regarding comment of Thomas King January 25, 2022 at 7:44 am
What is FCS? One of the two men who owned Waterloo was cousin to my friend Elsa Cezar. His name was Percival Leach; his people were from England by way of the islands, as Jamaica, where they were Whigs judges as early as the 1700’s. Even his early efforts in the first stone house as one comes into Waterloo were beyond charming. Eventually the State of NJ had to take over, but “Brother” and Louis saved Waterloo and promoted early interest in waterways and canals so important to NJ. I just read in Mr Local History that part of the Brady estate after a fire was done for owner, …………….., by Percival Leach, in his decorator life. What is FCS?

By: Robbie Reilly

Robbie Reilly — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 10:23:35 +0000

Growing up in Green Village (Chatham Twp), I remember my parents telling us kids one time in the car when we were driving near Bernardsville and Harding, right down the road from us, that Jackie had lived around there. I always thought that couldn’t be true!

By: Carol Willadsen

Carol Willadsen — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 17:55:06 +0000

Yes, the drive to Matheny from Main St through the stone pillars and up the hill. The farm estate where we lived on the left side as you drive up. A local resident once came to our house and asked me which house Jackie rented. When I refused to tell him he threw a fit. A hot-tempered guy.

By: David King

David King — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 11:37:47 +0000

Carol, that must have been around the same time that she moved her horses out of Fox Chase where I worked because I know when she lived in Peapack I don’t remember the name of the street but behind our house was the entrance to Matheny School

By: Carol Sutton Willadsen

Carol Sutton Willadsen — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 11:33:05 +0000

Jackie also rented a small ranch house in Peapack owned by Anne Casey in the 1970s. We lived on that farm estate when my husband worked there. One day, a big black car pulled into our driveway, and a large man came to the door. It seemed Jackie had misplaced her house key. My husband had to go up to the house and let them in. We joked later that the dark-suited guys looked like Greek Mafia.

By: Mr. Local History Project

Mr. Local History Project — Sat, 24 Aug 2024 00:01:46 +0000

In reply to Adrienne Brown.

Did you also see our story about Mr. Ruschmann? https://www.mrlocalhistory.org/meadowbrook-glitter-bernardsville/