Playhouse at "Florham"

   In 1922 Ruth Twombly commissioned architect Whitney Warren to design a pool and tennis-court building that she jokingly called her "playhouse" on the grounds of "Florham", her mothers estate. The Warren designed tennis house contained one of the finest indoor courts in the country. Its ultra-fast sand surface was watered twice daily for an extra-speedy bounce. A Grecian swimming pool, fifty by twenty-five feet, was decorated with wall and ceiling murals by Robert Chanler. The building contained changing rooms, guest rooms, and a handsome pine-paneled drawing room. Ruth employed a English barmen and a Swedish Masseuse. 

An aerial view of the "Florham" estate grounds showing the Playhouse in the foreground.

 Demolished in the early 1990s to make way for the College at Florham Student Center. Click HERE to see the Playhouse still extant.  

Playhouse with indoor tennis court, swimming pool, and "card room". The playhouse also had bedrooms where Mrs. Twombly and her daughters would stay when returning to "Florham" in the winter.

Another view of the Warren and Wetmore designed playhouse that was destroyed to make way for the College at Florham Student Center.

The Playhouse designed by Warren and Wetmore at "Florham"..

The rounded entrance to the Playhouse designed by Warren and Wetmore.

A close-up view of the rounded entrance to the Playhouse designed by Warren and Wetmore.

A view of the Chinese temple bell in the foyer of the Playhouse.

A view of the interior of the Warren and Wetmore designed Playhouse.

Pine-paneled Drawing-room at the Playhouse at "Florham". 

The swimming pool in the Playhouse at "Florham".

The swimming pool in the Playhouse at "Florham". Murals by Robert Chanler.

The swimming pool in the Playhouse at "Florham".

The pool in the Playhouse at "Florham". Murals by Robert Chanler.

A view of the tennis courts at the Playhouse at "Florham".

   Click HERE to view the model farm complex "Florham Farms".