The History of Lord Stirling
In 1967, the Federal Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge was established, and the Park Commission purchased a major segment of contiguous future parkland in Somerset County. The Passaic River Great Swamp parklands, also known as the Passaic River Area Park, became Lord Stirling Park.The park was named with assistance from the Basking Ridge Historical Society (now the Historical Society of Somerset Hills) in honor of William Alexander, Lord Stirling, a Revolutionary War patriot who served with distinction under General George Washington and whose estate was located on a portion of the tract.
Born in New York City in 1725, William Alexander traveled to England in 1756 and pursued the lapsed Scottish title once held by the Alexander family. Upon his return to America, Alexander assumed the title, the Earl of Stirling.
In 1762, Stirling began construction of his estate. With the outbreak of the American Revolution, he was first to volunteer in the Somerset County militia and given the rank of colonel. He was promoted twice to brigadier general and then major general. Stirling entertained many dignitaries at his estate, including Generals Knox, Greene, and Lafayette, along with Elias Boudinot, president of the First Continental Congress. He died in 1783.
In the early 1900’s the property was a cattle farm owned by Dr. Charles Frederick Baker, an x-ray specialist who practiced in Newark. He sold the farm to John Jacob Astor VI in the early 1940’s. The Astors built the barn and raised dairy cattle. Mr. Astor shipped orange blossom branches from Florida to provide the cow stalls a fragrant aroma. The 429-acre Astor property was purchased by the Somerset County Park Commission on December 21, 1967 to fulfill the Park Commission Master Plan designating that a riding stable be built in the northern part of Somerset County. Lord Stirling Stable opened in the spring of 1969 with 30 horses. Today, the equestrian center owns twice that number of horses, along with many ponies.
