New-York tribune., 1903-05-03
At TRANQUILITY FARM.
Home of Mrs. RutherfHrd Before
She Remarked.

Hackettstown, y. J., May 1t has been
long time since the villagers Of Tranquility and
Auauuchy have had such personal interest n
ca BILE news as for the last two or three weeks.
Not a line concerning the recent wedding Of Mrs.
Lewis NJ Rutherfurd and William K Wander
biIt has escaped them IL seemed almost thar
one of their own daughters was marrying the
railroad magnate. for Tranquility was Mrs.
Rutherfurd's American home and tne country
folks were very fond of her
She came to Tranquility the bride of Lewis NJ
Rutherfurd. jr. the eldest son Of the famous
astronomer. soon after their marriage in London
on June 16 1890 Although they lived much OF
the time in England and France. they were ire
quentIy at the mansion on Tranquility Fa-I'
and gave several famous deer hunts on 1he
great preserve which covers several miles u
rough mountain range
After the death of her husband in Devos F-dtz
early in January. 1901. she brought MS n'aJ
across the Atlantic. He was buried in the
quaint old churchyard at Tranqulity' almost
within sight of the Rutherford country place
Mrs Rutherfurd left Tranquility wldo" IN
deep mourning. and the villagers mOurned with
her Lately they have been hoping for her re-
turn They were sure of il when they heard
she had purchased a farm a mile down the
Danv1lIe road from AIlamuchy. and that she
was going build summer home therr-
more beautiful place is not to be found IN TINS
region. 1t is a rock studded farm commanding
a view of the green valley of the Pequest, the
Kittatinny Mountains and the Delaware Water
Gap bounding one side and the rough nils OF
the Schooley's Mountain region the other The
country folks now fear that having married Ar.
Vanderbilt, she will give up her plans for
summer home at AlIamuchy-
Tranquility Farm is within easy driving dis
tance of Hackettstown over an excellent road,
for the building OF most of which Warren
County and the Rutherfurds divided the ex-
pense. The estate has been in the possession OF
the family since 1872 According TO the popular
story, the head of the family grew tired Of the
continual wartime excitement which was stlr-
ring New-York, and betOoz himself into New
Jersey in search Of a place of quiet and rest
He came to Warren County and wandered
through the hills. finally coming to one from
which ne could look down on the valley of the
Pequest then laid out in partially cleared farms.
This is indeed tranquility" he is said TO
have exclaimed. and straightway purchased A
farm half hillside. half meadow. He erected q
house on the site of the present mansion ard
lived in it when he not in New-YOrk. Other
members of the family have added 70 the estate
from time to time until now 1t contains not less
than four thousand acres.
Farming on a large scale is carried under
different superintendents. and from Allamuchy
as far as one can see is nothing but drab COL
ored houses and barns with red roofs. the sign
of Tranquility Farm. The Rutherfurds go in
for raising bIooded stock and have many prize
winners Their kennels are we'll known and the
pride of the keepers.
OF late their purchases have extended toward
Hackettstown, and they have bought most Of
Wire Town, or Warrenville. This Is the de-
serted village of the region. Fifty years ago IL
was a busy manufacturing place, with three
hundred or four hundred inhabitants. 1t has
been slowly tumbIng down. until to-day there
are scarcely half a dozen houses in the village
which are fit 20 live in.
AIlamuchy Pond has also been acquired by
the Rutherfurds. Seventy-fve years ago there
was no sign of a lake in this depression IL ths