Hope You All had a MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

Today’s Photo of the Week article is going back in time to February 25, 2005.  I made a special visit back then to Villa Madonna BECAUSE it had just snowed and I wanted to photo shoot my way into the mansion and its beautiful surroundings along its entrance drive. FYI, At that time, I was working on making, several shadow boxes to showcase some of Allamuchy Township’s beautiful Open Space settings, one of those settings being the beautiful mansion we now refer to as Rutherfurd Hall. Back then it was Villa Madonna and it was owned by the nuns.  (NOTE: The other two shadow boxes were (1) A Snow Scene from Panther Valley Scenic Overlook and (2) A Sunrise at Allamuchy Pond).

Anyway, at present, I thought that visit would make for an interesting article, First of all, the original entrance is no longer in use and while the original pillars are still there, they are pretty much out of sight. Secondly, the original entrance had a real “charm” if you will, as you entered the grand estate from the main road.

My game plan is to refer to a couple of song titles which will, introduce and hopefully set the tone for today’s Photo of the Week article! Let’s see how well this works!

FIRST – ‘WHITE CHRISTMAS’ by Bing Crosby.  Thought this would be an interesting introduction, yesterday’s Christmas was kind of white and I did mention Christmas above! The photos I took are a snow scene theme taken back on February 25, 2005.  If you drop that back two months, you would have a White Christmas at Villa Madonna! OK, I know it is a stretch! 

SECOND – ‘Walk a Mile in My Shoes’ by Joe South.  I liken the concept of your photo tour into Villa Madonna as walking in my shoes and seeing what I saw! Bottom line, the goal of my story is to remind you that there was another entrance and there are still the historic pillars in place. The photos will give you an idea of what guests back then would see as they entered the then Allamuchy Farms and later Villa Madonna.

By the way, when you visit Rutherfurd Hall, the shadow box of the original entrance is on display on the second floor.

Enjoy Your Open Space

Charlie Fineran    

Director Open Space  

Allamuchy Township Environmental Commission – Chairman    

Allamuchy Historical Society – President