Gustav Stickley moves his publishing business from Syracuse to New York City and takes an apartment there; Craftsman showrooms established at 29 West 34th Street.
Homer Davenport, the Hearst newspaper cartoonist, prepares “Red Gables,” his country estate in Morris Plains, N.J., for year round occupancy; Stickley is among the first guests at the compound.
Stickley makes his second trip to California, visits Pasadena and sees the work of Charles and Henry Greene.
The Craftsman magazine changes its editorial direction to feature more articles on home products, decorative arts, architecture, gardening and do-it-yourself crafts.
Stickley's account books indicate weekly fares between New York and Morris Plains on the Lackawanna & Western line as he looks to buy property in the area.
Stickley pays $900 to Homer Davenport for 30 acres of land adjoining Red Gables in Morris Plains.
A second purchase of 58 acres is transacted for $7,000; The Jerseyman reports that Stickley has bought three parcels of land in the area – one from Davenport, one from Condict and 10 acres from “Mary Tuttle and the Garrigus farm.”
First $500 payment made to realtor Harvey Genung for larger parcels north of Whatnong Mountain and Mount Pleasant Turnpike in Morris Plains; over $10,000 expended by March 1909.
First designs for cottages at Craftsman Farms published in The Craftsman; articles follow on the club house and the house Stickley intends to build for himself; Stickley announces his plans for a farm school on the property.
Lumber, farm animals and supplies purchased from local Morristown merchants; account established with Daniel M. Merchant's Morris Plains General Store; Stickley pays Charles White, a New York employee, to manage his new agricultural properties.
Craftsman Homes published in New York, selling for $2.00; runs to three editions and sells more than 20,000 copies, according to the magazine.
Construction of three cottages begins at Craftsman Farms; landscaping and farming enterprises increase.
Construction of cottages finished; accounts with Voorhees Building Supply and Messlar Plumbing indicate major construction; further parcels of land purchased from Sister of Saint Elizabeth.
Account books indicate “packing crockery goods to Morris Plains from Syracuse.”
Gustav's wife Eda Stickley and daughters Mildred, Hazel, Marion and Ruth move from Syracuse to one of the completed cottages in Morris Plains.
Construction begins on the log house; invoices in account books indicate expenditures of over $3,000 from June 9 to July 31, 1911.
The Jerseyman reports on a dance at Craftsman Farms attended by “sixty young people” and hosted by the four Stickley daughters then living at the farms.
Log house construction nearing completion; roof and interior finishing completed in the fall.
Natalie Curtis' The New Log House at Craftsman Farms published in The Craftsman with first photographs of the Farms; Stickley family in residence on the property.
Gustav Stickley forced to declare bankruptcy in New York; papers filed indicate a second mortgage of $50,000 on 24 New Jersey properties.
George and Sylvia Weinberg (later known as Farny) purchase the entire 650-acre Craftsman Farms, including building and furnishings, for approximately $100,000. The Jerseyman reports that this is less than half of what Stickley had expended on the property.
Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills co-sponsors Stickley Day, a series of events which includes a tour of Craftsman Farms and an exhibition of Stickley family furniture from Craftsman Farms.
Township nominates Craftsman Farms for listing on the New Jersey State Register of Historic places (listed in May 1985).
Developer with contract to purchase Craftsman Farms files application for use variance to allow development of 52 townhouses.
Township applies for $1.5 million in Green Acres Loan funds to buy Craftsman Farms (awarded in September 1987 and accepted in March 1989).
Township, in conjunction with Morris County Trust for Historic Preservation, the New Jersey Historic Trust, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, commissions a feasibility study to determine appropriate uses of Craftsman Farms. The study recommended Township acquisition of Craftsman Farms and management by a nonprofit corporation.
Parsippany voters overwhelmingly approve the establishment of an Open Space Trust Fund to fund the purchase of Craftsman Farms.
Craftsman Farms Foundation is incorporated.
Township council authorizes acquisition of Craftsman Farms with Green Acres funds and Open Space Trust Funds.
Craftsman Farms is placed on National Register of Historic Places and nominated for National Historic Landmark status (granted December 1990 and plaque presented October 1991).
Township takes possession of Craftsman Farms by eminent domain.
Farms opens to visitors with all-day seminars, evening event for Charter Members and Sunday open house.
Foundation and Township sign Operating Agreement.
New Jersey Historic Trust Announces $100,000 Matching grant for Phase One renovation work, pursuant to the Historic Preservation Bond Program.
Foundation organizes first major catalogued exhibition, Gustav Stickley – His Craft.
Restoration begins in Phase One project (roof).
New Jersey Historic Trust announces second $100,000 matching grant for Phase Two renovation work.
Foundation organizes second major catalogued exhibition, Innovation and Derivation: The Contribution of L. & J.G. Stickley to the Arts and Crafts Movement.
National Trust awards the Foundation, the Township and the New Jersey Historic Trust a National Preservation Honor Award.
Restoration begins in Phase Two project (handicapped bathroom and interior work).
Craftsman Farms appears on Antiques Roadshow. Restoration crews remove white paint in Main House. Foundation installs 18 reproduction lanterns in the living and dining rooms and two exterior lamps, funded by “Adopt a Lantern” campaign. Foundation begins use of the name The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms. Foundation acquires four acres of original Craftsman Farms property, including the dairy, silo, chicken coop, stable and milk house. The Foundation now manages all but one of the extant original Craftsman Farms buildings. Foundation successfully bids on the two original dining room corner cabinets, consigned by Barbra Streisand for auction at Christie’s, with funds raised through “I’m in Craftsman Farms’ Corner” campaign for $60,000 and $65,000.
Farms opens seasonally five days a week, with expanded hours. The White House Millennium Council and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, in a public-private partnership, designate Craftsman Farms as an Official Project of Save America’s Treasures. Craftsman Farms gets first web presence (www.Parsippany.net/craftsmanfarms.html). Foundation restores garden retaining wall, dedicated to former Executive Director Nancy Strathearn, and steps in front of Main House and examines grounds to find original pathways.
Foundation registers new web domain www.stickleymuseum.org Foundation launches “Adopt a Window” campaign to restore windows in the Main House. Foundation launches annual Craftsman Classic Golf Outing.
Foundation completes important aspects of Phase IIb restoration, including installation of HVAC system and reinstallation of windows between living room and porch. The Foundation’s Board has its first national member, recognizing its national scope.
In a special ceremony, Foundation unveils restored Girls’ Bedroom/Paul Fiore Room, the first fully restored room in the Main House. Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills renews operating agreement and signs 17-year lease for the Main House with Foundation. Foundation commences Phase III restoration, consisting of stabilization of wooden elements, including logs, rafters, chinking, windows, doors and structural supports; installation of new electrical systems; and preservation and restoration of first floor decorative finishes, including brown finish to walls and floors, green finish to woodwork and olive green paint to the ceilings. New Jersey Monthly includes a visit to Craftsman Farms as one of “52 Things Every New Jerseyan Must Do” (in between visiting Grover Cleveland’s birthplace and renting On the Waterfront). Foundation sells four acres of Craftsman Farms, which it acquired in 1999 to the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills, for $1.105 million, funded in part by a $828,750 grant from Morris County. Township then leases that property to the Foundation along with the existing property (Main House, cottages, annex and office apartment) and extends existing lease and operating agreement until 2031 with Foundation having an option to extend for an additional 25 years. Net proceeds, after payment of acquisition financing, used for restoration and establishment of an endowment fund. Foundation unveils the refurbished North Cottage. Work commences on adaptive reuse of annex building, built after Stickley left, for use as lecture and activity hall and library. Foundation unveils conceptual plans for visitors’ center. Boy Scout volunteers establish nature trails. State chapter of American Institute of Architects lists Craftsman Farms as one of New Jersey’s 150 Best Buildings and Places.
Foundation launches Craftsman Farms blog.
Restoration of the master bedroom commences. Foundation opens Craftsman Farms buildings to visitors year-round.
Master bedroom restoration is complete.
