Comments on: The Gilded Age: Natirar Estate in Peapack/Far Hills, New Jersey

By: Mr. Local HIstory Project

Mr. Local HIstory Project — Thu, 06 Jul 2023 17:18:46 +0000

In reply to B.P.. Always glad to correct. Thanks. Kate Macy and her husband Walter Graeme Ladd are both buried in Woodlawn Cemetery Bronx, New York. Their stones can be seen on findagrave.com . But if you send us a selfie of you and the graves via our Contact Us page, we might just have to add that to the story :)

By: B.P.

B.P. — Thu, 06 Jul 2023 16:45:44 +0000

As I write this I’m sitting at the bench that surrounds the simple and elegant memorial where Kate and Walter are buried in Woodlawn Cemetery and wanted to know who they were.

Your excellent article provided a fine summary. Good work.

You can exclude the following from my comment— one minor typo you have Kate’s death listed correctly as 1945 in one section and 1947 in another.
Also I’d attach a picture of their resting spot but see no way to do that in this form.

By: Kemosabe

Kemosabe — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 18:55:53 +0000

I believe Sunnyside was located just to the NW of the current main house. The Barn structures in your photo look very similar to remaining structures just North of the current Natirar park parking lot

By: John Murdock

John Murdock — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 04:09:05 +0000

Thanks to Somerset County for preserving this beautiful acreage and honoring Kate Macy Ladd’s kind-hearted philanthropy. My family (Roy & Kathleen Murdock with 4 children, myself included) lived in the Maple Cottage from the early ’50s until all us kids had married and moved elsewhere, so Mom & Dad sold to the Sheptock family in 1975. It was a wonderful place to enjoy what, in retrospect, was the post-war “golden age” of the USA in the Somerset Hills.

By: Mary Sheptock

Mary Sheptock — Fri, 21 Aug 2020 20:44:02 +0000

Thank you for this history. My family, The Sheptock family actually lived in Maple Cottage until moving to Florida in 1984. So glad there are photos of it. Brings back so many childhood memories

By: Karen Masaitis

Karen Masaitis — Wed, 08 Jul 2020 17:32:11 +0000

My Dad was a chauffeur in the late 20’s early 30’s and my Mom came from Ireland and worked in the house, that is how my Mom and Dad met and married. My two brothers I believe lived on the estate until my parents moved to Bernardsville.

By: Mary Jane Walsh

Mary Jane Walsh — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 13:25:41 +0000

Thank you for the detailed information on Natirar, its history and the new luxury home project. The county park is one of my favorite walking paths.

I am interested in any tours that become available after the pandemic. I’m already on your mailing list.

By: Mr. Local History

Mr. Local History — Thu, 18 Jun 2020 12:23:46 +0000

Mr.Local history wrote: Regarding the SCPC involvement, I followed up on this with the head of Somerset County Parks Commission, Geoffrey D. Soriano, resident of Bridgewater. The 90 acres has NOTHING to do with the park system. The 90 acres under development is leased to the developer for 100 years by Somerset County. Little is known what happens in 100 years when the lease expires but there are legal precedents set on what typically happens (can Google it) . Peapack will reap property tax so that’s good. Otherwise, we have one of the best parks in the state in our backyard. I encourage EVERYONE to visit it. Hope this helps understand the history.

By: Patty Herold

Patty Herold — Wed, 20 May 2020 17:12:01 +0000

Thank you for the history lesson. I grew up in Peapack/Gladstone/Far Hills in the 50s & 60s. I used to exercize Gay Koven Klipstein’s horses….used to ride across the KML property, go over to to Walter Matheny & Blairsden & then as close to Lake Road in Far Hills. It was a charming place to be a child. I miss Ravine Lake Road!