Did you know Hillsborough was once a retreat for big name celebrities? In the 1900s one of the biggest names in America was James Diamond Jim Brady. Diamond Jim was know for his wealth and for his outlandish spending. He was also know for doing everything in excess. For example, his dinner was usually, two or three dozens oysters, six crabs, and two bowls of green turtle soup. Then is sumptuous procession came six or seven lobsters, two canvasback ducks, a double portion of terrapin, sirloin steak, vegetables, and for dessert a platter of French pastries. Brady would even include two pounds of chocolate candy to finish off the meal. Diamond Jim wanted to get a farm house so he choose the South Branch section of Hillsborough. He picked a former NJ Senators home famously known as Ellesdale Manor. It quickly became known as Bradys Farm, where the cows were milked into buckets of gold. He entertained numerous celebrities of the day at his home. Brady died in his sleep on April 13, 1917, of a heart attack.Brady had never married, and after his death his estate was distributed to many institutions. When his body was examined, doctors discovered that his stomach was six times the size of that of an average person! The property eventually became the South Branch Hotel and is now a private residence. Photo 1: Diamond Jim Brady Photo 2: Postcard of the South Branch Hotel Photo 3: Downtown South Branch in 1900s Photo 4: South Branch Blacksmith Shop, owned by Peter Case
Posted on: Thu, 16 Oct 2014 12:30:00 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015