The Water Witch Clubhouse

         The Water Witch Clubhouse and Casino has been called one of the most breathtaking locations in New Jersey.
         Located in the center of historic Monmouth Hills, it is used by residents for meetings and social functions, and
         offered to the public on a very limited basis during the warm weather months.  The Clubhouse is self-sustaining
         thanks to revenue from these events, and is maintained by Hill members.

         The Water Witch Clubhouse Casino is a Shingle Style building with elements of the Colonial Revival Style, as
         well as an American Craftsman Style interior.  This building, on the National Register of Historic Places,
         represents a unique American building style that flourished between 1876 and 1910.  Casinos served as gathering
         places for games and entertainment for the wealthy leisure class.  (It had nothing to do with today's gambling
         casinos.)  Few, if any, examples of this turn of the century resort architecture remain.

         The Casino was built in 1905 following a design contest won by New York architect Frederick P. Hill.  Hill spent
         17 years of his illustrious career as the right-hand man to Charles Follen McKim, of the renowned firm Mead,
         McKim and White.  It was McKim who introduced Hill to the most respected artists and artisans of the period,
         both in the U.S. and in the world.  Some examples of Hill's work during this period were Pennsylvania Station
         in New York City, the Boston Public Library, the Library at Columbia and the Rhode Island Capital Building
         in Providence.  Hill built his own cottage on the Hill in 1901 and summered here until 1919.  He designed
         several other cottages in the neighborhood as well.

         The Water Witch Club's Casino is the sole surviving casino in private hands that still serves its original purpose.
         A long porch across the front overlooks a lawn with sweeping water views of Staten Island across New York
         City to the Far Rockaways.  Almost the entirety of Sandy Hook Gateway National Park is in full view.  The
         interior consists of a large 1.5 story assembly hall, with exposed wooden beams, large peanut stone fireplace
         with inglenook and a stage.  The rustic wooden building lends itself to any style of party decoration.

         The Clubhouse also has a dining room, billiard room and lounge.  An addition was made to the building in 1911
         by the New York architect Lyman Ford.  He summered here for 45 years, building his own cottage and several
         others.  From 1893 to 1907, Ford was affiliated with the important New York firm of Carrere and Hastings as
         their head draughtsman.  Among the projects he worked on were the New York Public Library and the House
         and Senate Buildings in Washington, D.C.  With the exceptions of the prep kitchens, little has been done to alter
         the original charm of this exceptional building.

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