Mary, tell us a little about your and Mario’s background and what led you here.

I grew up in Connecticut and Mario on Long Island, but our story really began at Tufts University where we met. We became close friends, started dating our senior year, and married soon after graduation. We began our life together in upstate New York—corporate jobs during the week, and on weekends, long drives through the Finger Lakes and other pretty towns. It was during those years that we cultivated a love for the small-town feeling, the charm of little places, and the history that surrounded them.

Later, while raising our three children in New Jersey, we made a hobby of visiting bed and breakfasts across New England, the Hudson Valley, and coastal Maine. With each stay, the dream of owning an inn quietly grew in the background.

A pivotal chapter came when Mario’s work took us to Milan for two years. Immersed in European hospitality—warm, authentic, and family-centered—we experienced the kind of welcome that truly felt like coming home. It changed our perspective and inspired us to imagine a different lifestyle.

When the Woolverton came up for sale, everything aligned. Our children were older, we had taken innkeeping courses, and the house across the street opened up—allowing us to live just steps away. It felt like the perfect convergence of timing, place, and purpose, and a chance to create the kind of genuine hospitality we had always cherished. Today, being here feels like an honor. We’ve created a place where history, hospitality, and heart come together—and where every guest becomes part of the story still unfolding.

What was the inspiration behind Northridge, which has become such an integral part of the Inn?

When we purchased the Woolverton, weddings were hosted under a tent with catering brought in from outside. While it worked, we saw an opportunity to create something more personal and lasting—an intimate space for small weddings and gatherings that could truly belong to the Inn.

On the property stood the remains of an old barn, most of it collapsed but with its central frame still intact. We envisioned restoring it, blending original materials with thoughtful design to honor its history while making it functional for today.

Over the course of five years, that vision became Northridge—a warm, elegant space where the character of the past meets modern comfort. The grand opening of the Northridge restaurant in the fall of 2024 marked not just the completion of a project, but the beginning of a new chapter. Today, it is not only a setting for celebrations, but also a place where love stories unfold, memories are created, and the spirit of the Woolverton is carried forward in every gathering.

Where did the name Northridge come from?

When we began exploring the history of the property, we realized how little of its story was truly known. The innkeeper at the time reached out to local historians, and soon boxes of old documents and photographs began to surface, piecing together a timeline of past owners.

While the Woolverton family had owned the estate the longest—and lent their name to the inn—we discovered that in the early 1900s, another family called the property “Northridge.” The name came from the ridge just above the river, visible when you look up from below.

Choosing Northridge for our event space felt like a natural way to honor that piece of history—rooted in the land itself—while carrying its spirit forward into a new era of celebrations, gatherings, and memories made here.

The Woolverton holds such rich history. Can you share a story or two that still lingers within its walls?

One of the most enchanting chapters in the inn’s story comes from the mid-1940s, when Julia Child was married here. Her wedding had originally been planned for Pennsylvania, but a last-minute issue with the marriage license brought the ceremony across the river into New Jersey. Knowing the owners at the time, she was welcomed for a private ceremony within these walls. Afterward, Julia and her guests crossed back over for a reception at The Black Bass—a serendipitous moment in the early life of a woman who would one day become a culinary legend.

The Woolverton family themselves also left a lasting legacy. Reverend Maurice Woolverton, pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Stockton, was part of that history, and today both a parlor and a guest room honor the name of Primrose Woolverton. Even Woolverton Road carries their mark—a fitting detail, especially with sheep still grazing the pastures, echoing the “wool” in Woolverton.

These stories—woven from history, heritage, and happenstance—continue to shape the inn today, adding layers of character and romance to every stay.

At its heart, what do the Woolverton Inn and Northridge mean to you?

For us, the Woolverton and Northridge are more than an inn and event space—they’re a gift we’re able to share with the community, with travelers, locals, and guests seeking a place to celebrate or simply escape. They are meant to be sanctuaries where people feel welcome and comfortable, where they can slow down, breathe deeply, and truly enjoy the beauty of nature that surrounds us.

We feel fortunate every day to be stewards of this land and its history. Restoring the barn and bringing Northridge to life has been especially meaningful—our way of giving something back to the community while creating space for new memories and milestones.

At their heart, the Woolverton and Northridge are about connection: to nature, to history, and to one another. It’s deeply fulfilling to know that when people come here, they not only enjoy themselves, but leave feeling restored, refreshed, and at home.