by Erin FeithResearch Assistant
April 22024

On December 101903twelve millionaireswhose combined wealth surpassed $68,000,000met on Wall Street and laid the plans for a highly exclusive club in Morris County. The Whippany River Club’s first governing body boasted some of society’s biggest namessuch as Benjamin Nicollan iron/coal/steel magnate (President); Charles F. Cutlerpresident of the NY & NJ Telephone Co. (Vice president); and bankers Norman Henderson (secretary) and F.O. Spedden (treasurer). With an emphasis on leisure pursuitssportsand societyit catered to the county’s elite and reflected the opulence of the Gilded Age.

Soon after the formation of the clubits founders identified fellow millionaire Eugene S. Higgins’s Morristown property as an ideal location. An avid sportsmanHiggins had previously constructed a polo field complete with grandstand as well as a half-mile tracka sports stableand courts for tennisracquetball and croquet.  As he spent most of his time abroadHiggins leased the grounds to the cluband work began to outfit it for well-to-do members. To facilitate transitit was arranged for the DelawareLackawanna & Western to stop at the main gateand by 1905a road coach known as “the Magnet,” brought wealthy members from Bernardsville to the grounds.

With their $50 a year duesclub members were treated to a variety of events and activities:  polo matchessteeplechasetrap shootinghandballand horseback riding. The grounds were also the site of social gatheringssuch as their well-attended dog shows and flower exhibitions. A lavish clubhousereplete with a verandaballroomand private dressing roomsalso attracted club members. Indeedthis space became the scene of many dancesconcerts and wedding receptions.

Despite its wealthy patronsthe Whippany River Club experienced financial troubles nearly from its inception and was sometimes in the red by almost $3,000. Such issues were only exacerbated by a devastating fire that swept the grounds in 1910destroying the clubhousestables and courts. The Club rebuilt on a smaller scale but ultimately shuttered during the Great Depression. A product of the Gilded Agethe Whippany River Club shone as an example of a period of unmatched luxury.

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