Duke Farms, and Family Time!

Sunday was family day!  We went to church, then headed out to Duke Farms with Jim's sister Penny, our nephew Billy and his wife Karen and Karen's Mother Barbara and sister Sharon. 

From the Duke Farms website:(dukefarms.org)

J.B. Duke transformed more than 2,000 acres of farmland and wood lots into an extraordinary landscape.  He excavated nine lakes, constructed some 45 buildings, and built nearly 2 1/2 miles of stone walls and more than 18 miles of roadway. He also installed 35 fountains and populated his property with countless pieces of sculpture.  Much of the landscape J.B. Duke created between 1893 and 1925 is still clearly evident at Duke Farms, a testament to his ingenuity, resourcefulness and determination, as well as his bold vision and tremendous resources.

J. B. Duke  was born in 1856 in Durham County, North Carolina.  Together with his sons, they built a family tobacco business, which to make a long story short, became the American Tobacco Company.  However, the family wealth was not solely dependent on tobacco. The Dukes had invested in the textile industry and also directed their attention to another new development, hydroelectric power- a move that led to the founding of the Duke Power Company in 1905.Throughout the years of growth and prosperity, the two Duke brothers Ben and J.B. worked together in business and philanthropy.  Their sister, Mary Duke was an early partner in family endeavors and also encouraged the family's support of Trinity College, a regional institution in North Carolina affiliated with the Methodist church.  Washington Duke had helped Trinity College relocate to Durham, and Ben had been a member of the school's Board of Trustees.  The college was re-chartered as Duke University in honor of Washington Duke and his family.  The family also contributed to hospitals, orphanages and the Methodist church.

On November 22, 1912, J.B and Nanaline Duke's first and only child Doris was born into one of the wealthiest families in America.  J. B. Duke died in 1925 at the start of Doris' teenage years.  Doris grew up in many places, but spent most of her time in New York, where she received private tutoring.  Doris Duke died in 1993 at the age of 80.

In it's early years, Duke Farms became the Central Park of Somerset County (New Jersey).  Scores of daily visitors enjoyed walking and driving through the park.  After J. B. died, his daughter Doris inherited the property.  Associating Duke Farms with fond memories of her father, Doris Duke made few major changes to the property.  Her principal work at Duke Farms included the creation of indoor display gardens and the purchase and restoration of the western farms and farmstead structures.  Doris Duke was a lifelong environmentalist with a keen interest in conservation.  When she died, she left the majority of her estate to the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and expressed her wish that Duke Farms be used to drive positive change on a a number of key issues regarding the stewardship of the natural environment.Today, the property serves as a regional center for environmental stewardship.

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The grounds were impressive but the Orchid Range which houses an amazing orchid collection was one of our favorite places to visit! There is no way one can cover all there is to see in one visit, so our hope is to return someday to continue where we left off!

After visiting Duke Farms, we all headed to Bound Brook for a BBQ at Jim's brothers house.  Rob and Rita out did themselves providing more food than necessary; topped off with chocolate brownie sundaes!  And of course, the conversation was "interesting" and the time spent together was priceless...... as Walt Disney said....."Family is everything"...........


A sampling of some of the beautiful orchids in the Orchid Range:  (Please, if you decide to share these photos, please give credit to the photographers!  Thank you!)