Every other spring, designers and home-decor enthusiasts from New Jersey and New York make a pilgrimage to the Mansion in May Designer Showhouse and Gardens. This year, the popular event, which attracts more than 22,000 visitors and hundreds of volunteers, happens at Wildfair, in the heart of Chester Township. Mansion in May is the signature fundraiser for the Women’s Association for Morristown Medical Center.
Once a sprawling farm and mill, Wildfair is rich in history that dates back to 1804. In 1934, Elizabeth and Harry Bowly Hollins III of New York acquired the property and hired the Philadelphia firm of Willing, Sims & Talbutt to modify the original stone farmhouse to create a rambling retreat. In the mid-1990s, a subsequent owner retained architect Hiland Hall Turner and Eberle Builders to design and construct further additions, creating the bucolic country estate that stands today.
The elaborate design event involves 38 accomplished interior designers, 13 top landscape designers, and 650 volunteers working more than 15,000 hours. Since 1974, Mansion in May has hosted 20 venues and amassed nearly $14 million, significantly enriching the programs and infrastructure of Morristown Medical Center. Proceeds from Wildfair will support the new Proton Therapy Center at Morristown Medical Center, changing the landscape of cancer care.
“Mansion in May always attracts prestigious interior designers,” says Kathy Ross, the event’s co-chair. “We are looking forward to opening the doors to Wildfair on May 1 and revealing the exquisitely designed spaces from this year’s talented and dedicated professionals.”
Visit mansioninmay.org for tickets, which are $50 in April and $55 in May. Ticket holders are invited to visit the mansion and landscaped gardens, shop in the boutiques, and enjoy a gourmet boxed lunch on the grounds in the café. Mansion hours are 10 am to 4 pm, seven days a week throughout May. (Last entry to the mansion is at 3 pm.) On-site parking is not available. A free shuttle is provided from off-site parking at 80 West Main Street in Mendham.
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