Christmas at Drumthwacket

Back in the early 1990's when I was working for The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation a group of co-workers asked me if they wanted me to join them for a Wednesday afternoon holiday tour of Drumthwacket, the Governor's mansion located on Route 206 in Princeton, NJ. Every year different gardening clubs from around the state decorate the ground floor public rooms. There is a competition to be chosen. It is a great honor. Outside in a large tent, New Jersey's First Lady, Lucinda Florio greeted us at the end of the tour. When his successor, Christine Todd Whitman was elected, I figured her husband would not continue the tradition.

This year Ellen asked Janie and I if we wanted to go for the public tour, now held on Saturdays in December. We both said yes, and Janie made the reservations. Over the decades the tours have grown in popularity. We were given a time slot to enter. The biggest challenge was parking behind the mansion. I remember on the first tour they had us parking on the front lawn, but since then they want us to use the tight parking lot in the back. After the State Trooper crosses your name off the list, volunteers with walkie talkies direct the cars. It felt like controlled chaos as we all arrived and left at the same time, just as the prior and next groups were leaving and arriving. Somehow we made it through.

The gardening clubs ranged from Allentown and West Trenton to Keyport and Long Valley. Each was given a room (or space) to decorate and show off the talents of their club members. We wanted to take pictures, but were only allowed to photograph the library -- a particularly favorite room of mine. Janie, a librarian, and I admired the collection of children's books by New Jersey authors. I've noted in the past everyone claims a success, such as both New Jersey and Ohio claim to be the home of Thomas Edison, I did wonder what the criteria was to be considered for the collection: birth, amount of time lived here, attended college in the Garden State? It was a charming collection in what could be considered a dark and stuffy room.

His Jersey authors children's books collection

His version of the Oval Office is the rounded
room closest to the camera

My favorite room was the governor's office. I was not allowed to take pictures in this wooden room. When you face the mansion, it is the room to the far right. His massive wood desk sits in a rounded set of windows giving it an oval office feel, but with stained wood instead of white painted wood, and not nearly as spacious. The windows overlook the side yard, which likely has many deer, foxes, birds, and other wildlife roaming throughout the day. I asked if Governor Murphy uses this space much for ceremonial signings. The docent said he has only used it a couple of times. What a waste of a photo op!

As we exited Drumthwacket I was glad the tradition of having the governor's wife shake hands is a thing of the past as Tammy Murphy recently announced she is running against Andy Kim for US Senate. Mrs. Murphy has no other political experience, whereas Andy Kim has been in Congress since January 1, 2019. I met him 18 months ago and was impressed.