Between the years of 1916 and 1918 an Italian Renaissance Palazzo-Style mansion was erected in the heart of Morristown. This estate was the vision of Theodore Vail, the President of The American Telephone and Telegraph Company & “chief architect” of the bell system.
The iconic Vail Mansion was designed to house his collection of art and family inventions on the first floor with the second floor reserved as the living quarters. The bronze front doors were a work of art. They featured panels from the Revolutionary War, George and Martha Washington, Alexander Hamilton, the 1st Presbyterian Church of Parsippany, Alexander Graham Bell, Alfred Vail and SFB Morse.
Sadly, Vail died soon after construction finished and never lived in his architectural masterpiece. In 1922 Morristown acquired the property and used the building as municipal offices for 75 years. In the early 2000’s Roseland Properties & Woodmont Properties came together to transform The Vail Mansion into a mixed-use property while ensuring the integrity and history imperative to Morristown and this property remained. Today 36 Luxury Condo Residences inhabit the Mansion, along with the Jockey Hollow Bar & Kitchen.
Check out this short video of the properties history & restoration process!
Morristown is the home of TeamPAR, Inc. Over the past two decades, Morristown has experienced a true renaissance with the emergence of a transit village and the local population has embraced the current popular “in town” living trend. The Vail Mansion offers an elegant and upscale opportunity to experience this, especially for the elite over 55 clientele.
Morristown is rich with history. It is wonderful to see this important man’s legacy restored. Theodore Vail was an innovator and to see his mansion repurposed, embracing current trends is an innovation in itself, or at least smart business and from a historical standpoint something I truly admire.
Anybody wish to join me for a drink or dinner at the Jockey Hollow Bar & Kitchen? Let me know!
All the best,
Karen-
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