The Hiram Cook house has been part of the Verona landscape since 1884, overlooking Verona Lake and Park. The Carpenter Gothic-style residence has recently been renovated by Lenny Shriber of Prudential Real Estate and the Verona Historical Society will host a special open house there on Saturday, May 12, from 2 to 5 p.m. Robert Williams, president of the Historical Society, will be on hand to give tours and there will be historical displays.
The renovated home retains its original ornate plaster ceilings on the first floor and features four bedrooms, two and a half baths, and a new kitchen, among other amenities. On display will be artifacts and photographs that are a part of this home’s rich history.
Captain Hiram Cook served in the Civil War as captain of Company D, 5th New Jersey volunteers. Family lore has it that one day he got the idea to develop his lakefront property into a “Picnic and Pleasure Grounds.” He named the park Eden Wild after his daughter Edie, and she is the namesake for Verona Park’s Eden Wild Children’s Garden.
The Cook Homestead is located at 14 Manor Road in Verona. For more information, e-mail the Verona Historical Society or call 973-857-1968.
