Alfred Ringling Manor, Oak Ridge New Jersey

History of Alfred Ringling Manor

Alfred T. Ringling was one of seven brothers out of the small town of Baraboo, Wisconsin who in their lifetime organized and performed in the greatest tented amusement enterprise in the world. Ringling's palatial estate at Oak Ridge, New Jersey was built around 1913 and completed in 1916 and, in addition to being Alfred T.'s residence, became the winter headquarters for the R. T. Richards Circus.

The Ringling Brothers Circus, organized in 1884 grew to the largest circus in the world four years later; surpassing in magnitude even the Barnum and Bailey Circus. In 1907 the Ringlings bought out the Barnum and Bailey Circus and operated under the name Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus until its final show on May 21^st, 2017.

Alfred T. Ringling decided to make his residence in an isolated region of Morris County, New Jersey where he purchased some 600 acres and erected a $500,000 mansion.

Ringling lived here until his death in the fall of 1919. During his residence in the manor many famous circus performers, entertainers, and other notable visitors were attracted to Ringling Manor.

Alfred's son, Richard, only 21 years old at the time, was outfitted by his father in 1917 with a motorized circus. While the circus, named R. T. Richards Circus, lasted only two seasons and was a dismal failure, it was a pioneering effort in an attempt to travel overland by automobile and truck. Formerly mobilized by train, the Richards Circus was a recognized gamble from the beginning. During its short term operation, however, the circus probably wintered at Ringling Manor. Further evidence suggests that the Manor may have served as the northeastern base of the Ringling enterprise. This is substantiated by the obituary of Alfred T. Ringling in the New York Times which read, "The estate is winter quarters for a large part of the circus equipment and animals."

Building and Property Description

The Alfred Ringling Estate is divided by Berkshire Valley Road. The estate consists of the mansion, a boathouse, a powerhouse, a carriage house, a water tower, and a barn. All structures are of the same material and style indicating the date of construction sometime prior to World War I.

The Ringling Mansion is a large classical revival-style building faced with cobblestones. The sub-structure is reinforced concrete with walls two feet thick. The formal entrance to the mansion has a projecting massive portico supported by four large columns. The interior originally had 26 rooms on three floors, but was renovated to accommodate occupants. The first floor had a kitchen, a pantry, dining room, ballroom, bar, a conservatory, and a music room. The second floor had two sundecks, eight bedrooms and a number of bathrooms. The third floor half a ballroom, card rooms, and a stage. The facilities were in the basement which also had a wine cellar. While the interior has been somewhat altered sections still reflect the eclectic tastes of the well-traveled Ringling and the sometimes gaudy tastes of this circus owner.

The boathouse opens into Lake Swanannoa which was created by Alfred Ringling using a smaller pond. The boathouse also reflects a classical revival style and is similar in construction to the mansion, although much smaller in size. The powerhouse and carriage house also resemble the mansion in style, if not in size and elegance. The powerhouse is 50 feet by 30 feet and 20 feet high. The carriage house is 80 feet by 30 feet and 30 feet high. The tower, which is behind the carriage house on a knoll, is a circular cobblestone-faced concrete structure 81 feet high and 61 feet in circumference at the base with a domed circular roof.

The barn is a one-story cobblestone faced structure 61 feet long and 25 feet wide.

A few years after Ringlings death in 1919 the Estate was sold and subdivided into smaller parcels of land.

The manor was adopted as a country club for a short time, but the Great Depression forced that operation out of business.

In 1933 the Manor was used briefly by Max Schmeling and his managers as a training camp for the Baer-Schmeling heavyweight championship fight.

In the 1970's the Manor house was occupied by the Capuchin Fathers OFM (a religious group). The other buildings, save the barn which was used for manufacturing gliders, are vacant.

The house was for sale in 2018.

Photographs of Alfred Ringling Manor