RUMSON – The cottage that once housed the superintendent who tended the vast Rohallion estate is on the market for $2,195,000 million.
The caretaker’s home at 2 N. Rohallion Drive, with its gambrel roof, massive boiler in the basement and adjacent dairy house, was once part of the 64-acre turn-of-the-century estate designed by McKim, Mead & White. The estate has since been subdivided several times, and today the center hall colonial is on 1.5 acres.
It was rescued from neglect by former owners who recognized its good bones “It was in shambles,” said Robert Baxter, the present owner. “The people that restored it did so in late 1958 or ‘59. Before that, it was not cared for.”
Since then it has been developed into a four-bedroom, three-bath house, re-sided with cedar shakes like the original, and landscaped with a pool and decking. The back of the house has become the front, for easier access to the road. The freestanding dairy house, where milk and eggs were kept cool within 18” thick masonry walls, has been re-built and re-imagined, as a home office and rec room.
“It’s not at all like your cookie-cutter McMansions so prevalent today,” said Nicholas McCabe, who grew up next to the property, and now, as a real estate agent, finds himself showing it to future buyers whom he hopes will keep it intact as a link to the days of Rumson’s great estates. “You can feel this is an older home that has been loved and maintained,” he said.
Hidden from view at the end of a cul-de-sac, the property has been a stop on local home and garden tours and the address for some memorable tent parties. Locals recall the Baxter’s Gypsy party, with belly dancers and fortunetellers, and the campy Gilligan’s Island theme-party, a nod to the actress Natalie Schafer.
Schafer played “Lovey” Howell, the millionaire’s wife, on Gilligan’s Island, and was a guest at the cottage when it was owned by the Schafer family, prior to the Baxters.
“It was a very happy place,” said Baxter. “Everyone, when we bought the place, inevitably said, ‘Oh, I was at a party there.’ ”
Now that son Andrew is grown and his days on Wall Street are over, Baxter and wife Diane will move to a house they’ve built in Vermont for their retirement. He said he has hopes the house with the Rumson roots will continue to be treasured. “I hope another family comes in here and they love it and they have kids and they have lots of parties,” he said.
Over the past 18 years in Rumson, when he and his wife drove around town and saw big, beautiful trees being cut down for new houses, they made a point to plant a new tree on their property in response.
“Sequoia, copper beech, tulip trees – wonderful hardwood trees that will be magnificent for 300 years,” said Baxter. “That is the same thing I hope for the building.”
– Christina Johnson
The caretaker’s home at 2 N. Rohallion Drive, with its gambrel roof, massive boiler in the basement and adjacent dairy house, was once part of the 64-acre turn-of-the-century estate designed by McKim, Mead & White. The estate has since been subdivided several times, and today the center hall colonial is on 1.5 acres.
It was rescued from neglect by former owners who recognized its good bones “It was in shambles,” said Robert Baxter, the present owner. “The people that restored it did so in late 1958 or ‘59. Before that, it was not cared for.”
Since then it has been developed into a four-bedroom, three-bath house, re-sided with cedar shakes like the original, and landscaped with a pool and decking. The back of the house has become the front, for easier access to the road. The freestanding dairy house, where milk and eggs were kept cool within 18” thick masonry walls, has been re-built and re-imagined, as a home office and rec room.
“It’s not at all like your cookie-cutter McMansions so prevalent today,” said Nicholas McCabe, who grew up next to the property, and now, as a real estate agent, finds himself showing it to future buyers whom he hopes will keep it intact as a link to the days of Rumson’s great estates. “You can feel this is an older home that has been loved and maintained,” he said.
Hidden from view at the end of a cul-de-sac, the property has been a stop on local home and garden tours and the address for some memorable tent parties. Locals recall the Baxter’s Gypsy party, with belly dancers and fortunetellers, and the campy Gilligan’s Island theme-party, a nod to the actress Natalie Schafer.
Schafer played “Lovey” Howell, the millionaire’s wife, on Gilligan’s Island, and was a guest at the cottage when it was owned by the Schafer family, prior to the Baxters.
“It was a very happy place,” said Baxter. “Everyone, when we bought the place, inevitably said, ‘Oh, I was at a party there.’ ”
Now that son Andrew is grown and his days on Wall Street are over, Baxter and wife Diane will move to a house they’ve built in Vermont for their retirement. He said he has hopes the house with the Rumson roots will continue to be treasured. “I hope another family comes in here and they love it and they have kids and they have lots of parties,” he said.
Over the past 18 years in Rumson, when he and his wife drove around town and saw big, beautiful trees being cut down for new houses, they made a point to plant a new tree on their property in response.
“Sequoia, copper beech, tulip trees – wonderful hardwood trees that will be magnificent for 300 years,” said Baxter. “That is the same thing I hope for the building.”
– Christina Johnson
