Local History: Who was Edward S. Pettigrew?

The portrait of Edward S. Pettigrew that was donated to the Millburn-Short Hills Historical Society many years ago now hangs in the museum at the Short Hills train station. But who was Edward S. Pettigrew?

Pettigrew (1867-1951) moved to 19 Hillside Ave. in Short Hills when he retired from his position as vice president of the H.G. Goodman Shoe Company in Ohio. According to a biography of Pettigrew that appeared in the May 1997 St. Stephen's newsletter, Pettigrew "married Permelia Goodwillie in December 1929 and devoted his time thereafter to his family and to philanthropic activities. Permelia died in 1945 (and) two stepsons survived Mr. Pettigrew."

Evidence of Edward Pettigrew's affection for and generosity to his community appears throughout Millburn-Short Hills. As can be seen in one of the photos attached here, Pettigrew's name appears on a plaque on the stone columns that guard the entrance to the St. Stephen's Cemetery on Millburn Avenue. It serves to remind passersby he donated the cemetery gates, fences, complete landscaping of the church grounds and cemetery. In addition, Pettigrew contributed to beautification projects at Millburn's Baptist Church, Christ Church, the Springfield Presbyterian Church, municipal parking lots and numerous public areas in Millburn.

A 1952 Item article about the disposition of the Hillside Avenue property after Pettigrew's death notes:

"The property has for some time been the only sizable acreage remaining in the developed section of town, and has been intensively sought by builders for subdivision. It is expected that construction of the road and new homes will be undertaken in the Spring.

The property consists of almost fourteen acres, together with an eleven room house, maintained as the home of the family of Mr. Pettigrew. A four-room apartment over a three-car garage to the rear of the curving driveway completes the only buildings on the entire property at this time. The grounds are a magnificent expression of the love of the owner for things of exceptional beauty in trees and plants and shrubs and flowers.

From the time Mr. Pettigrew acquired the original parcel to which he continuously added acreage over a period of thirty- seven years, paths have been made in the woodland and thousands of bulbs have been planted. Carloads of rhododendrons were brought to the property from the Carolinas and planted by more than a dozen men at a time. The property abounds with pink and white Dogwood, all kinds of ferns, Holly trees, Hemlocks, Evergreens, Aremen, Mountain Laurel; yellow white, purple, pink and red Azaleas; blue and white Iris, English Lily Bells ; Trillium, and many others which have made this a place of beauty for years."

Pettigrew was also an original life member of the Millburn Free Public Library. Among the other items dispersed from the Pettigrew estate was the portrait of him seen here, which hung in the library for a number of years. The portrait had been given to the family of Saverio Gallitelli, who worked for Mr. Pettigrew, and the Gallitelli family kindly donated the portrait to the residents of Millburn through the historical society.

The artist was Carlton Glidden, whose 1937 obituary noted the ..."artist, playwright and author...went to Europe to study painting (and) attained success as a portrait painter." It was further noted, "For some time he maintained a studio in London and among his sitters was former King Alfonso of Spain." The obituary obviously also helps the historical society narrow the date of the painting, as it clearly could not be any newer than 1937.

Mr. Pettigrew's portrait, the files on the family and his extensive collection of glass plate negatives (see Pettigrew and his Packard from one of the glass plates) can be seen at the historical society museum Tuesdays at 1-3 p.m., Wednesdays at 3:30-5:30 p.m., Thursdays at 5:30-7:30 p.m. and the first Sunday of the month at 2-4 p.m.