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Pauline Martindale Pope Day was a genteel woman of
remarkable character and unwavering resilience. Born on September
11, 1875, in New York, Pauline overcame significant hardships with
strength and grace. Childhood measles left her deaf, and in 1907,
she tragically lost part of a leg in a train boarding accident at
the Millburn Station in New Jersey. Yet these challenges did not
diminish her spirit, and she went on to lead a rich and fulfilling
life alongside her beloved husband and six children.
On June 1, 1898, Pauline married Joseph P. Day in
New York City. At the time of her marriage, her husband earned
only $50 a week, but soon after he entered the real-estate
business. Less than a decade later, the Days were millionaires.
In 1906, even though the now wealthy couple
maintained a city residence in Gramercy Park, they purchased a
country estate in the fledgling upscale suburban community of Short
Hills, New Jersey. “Pleasant Days,” their name for the property,
would one day become Greenwood Gardens.
A devoted wife and a loving mother, Pauline was
known for organizing joyful family picnics in the wooded areas of
her country estate, complete with corn roasts and homemade treats.
She played games with her children and, on occasion, personally
drove them in horse and buggy to Short Hills Country Day
School. Notably, one of her daughters was presented at
Buckingham Palace to King George V and Queen Mary during a European
trip in 1926–27.
Pauline also found purpose at Pleasant Days. There
were extensive vegetable gardens on the property, and she sold the
excess produce weekly at Newark’s Central Market. She also kept
over 100 chickens, selling their eggs to local grocers.
After battling an illness, she passed away on July
29, 1932, at 56 years of age. Her legacy of resilience, devotion,
and warmth continues to endure at Greenwood Gardens, and we are
honored to highlight her life for Women’s History Month.
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