Als Ik Kan: The Story of Craftsman Farms

In the quiet hills of Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey, lies the epicenter of the American Arts and Crafts movement.

To most people, the name “Stickley” is synonymous with high-end furniture—sturdy oak chairs with leather seats and clean lines. But for designer Gustav Stickley, furniture was just one part of a larger philosophy. He believed that a home should be simple, functional, and in harmony with nature.

His masterpiece wasn’t a chair; it was his own home, known as Craftsman Farms. Built in 1911 as the centerpiece of a utopian “farm school” for boys, the log house stands today as a National Historic Landmark and a testament to Stickley’s personal motto: Als Ik Kan (“To the best of my ability”).

The Man Behind the Mission

Born in Wisconsin in 1858, Gustav Stickley was a stonemason by trade before entering the furniture business. After visiting Europe in the 1890s, he was inspired by the English Arts and Crafts movement—a reaction against the cluttered, mass-produced ornamentation of the Victorian era.

Stickley brought this “new furniture” to America, championing simple lines, exposed joinery, and natural materials. To spread his gospel, he launched The Craftsman magazine in 1901, which promoted everything from home design to social reform.

Building Utopia in New Jersey

In 1908, Stickley began buying land in Morris County, eventually amassing 650 acres. His vision was to build a farm school where young boys could learn practical crafts and farming.

• The Log House (1911): Originally designed as the school’s clubhouse (featuring a kitchen, dining hall, and gathering space), Stickley ultimately adapted it to serve as his family’s private residence when the school concept proved too expensive.
• The Construction: The main house is built from American chestnut logs hewn from the property itself. The seams are chinked with mortar, and the foundation is made of local fieldstone.
• The Details: The roof is covered in green terracotta tiles (originally intended to be synthetic, but changed for durability). The windows are diamond-paned casements, designed to let in maximum natural light.

A House of Mottoes

The interior of the Log House is famous for its massive stone hearths. Stickley believed the fireplace was the heart of the home, and he inscribed copper hoods above them with mottoes that reflected his philosophy:

• “The lyf so short, the craft so long to lerne.”
• “By hammer and hand do all things stand.”
• “A world of strife shut out, a world of love shut in.”

Though rustic in appearance, the home was technologically advanced for 1911, featuring electricity, indoor plumbing, and even a dishwasher.

The Rise and Fall

Stickley’s ambition eventually outpaced his finances. In 1913, he opened the 12-story Craftsman Building in Manhattan, complete with a rooftop restaurant that served vegetables grown at Craftsman Farms.

The expansion was too much, too fast. In 1915, Stickley declared bankruptcy. In 1917, he was forced to sell his beloved Craftsman Farms to the Farny family for a fraction of its value.

Preservation Victory

In 1989, the property faced a new threat: a plan to build 52 townhouses on the site. In a dramatic victory for preservationists, the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills seized the property through eminent domain to save it.

Today, the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms preserves the Log House and 30 acres of the original estate. It is one of the most significant landmarks of the American Arts and Crafts movement, drawing visitors from around the world to see the home where Stickley’s ideals were put into practice.

If You Visit

• Location: 2352 Route 10 West, Morris Plains, NJ 07950.
• Tours: Guided tours of the Log House are available Thursday through Sunday.
• The Collections: The museum houses a vast collection of original Stickley furniture, metalwork, and textiles, many of which are displayed exactly as they would have been in 1911.

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For More Information

• The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms (www.stickleymuseum.org)