Brunswick And Delbarton: How Close?

Delbarton School and Brunswick School are separated by a considerable distance, with Delbarton located in Morristown, New Jersey, and Brunswick situated in Greenwich, Connecticut. Delbarton is an independent, all-boys Catholic college-preparatory school with a strong academic reputation, drawing students from 12 counties and offering a range of transportation options to its campus. Brunswick, founded in 1902, is also an independent college-preparatory school for boys, with approximately 1,020 students from pre-kindergarten to grade 12. While the distance between the two schools is significant, the exact mileage depends on the specific routes and modes of transportation used to travel between them.

Travel options between the two schools

Brunswick School in Greenwich, Connecticut, and Delbarton School in Morristown, New Jersey, are approximately 35 miles apart. Here are some travel options to get between the two schools:

• By Car: The drive from Brunswick School to Delbarton School takes about 1 hour via I-95 S and I-287 S, or via Merritt Pkwy and Hutchinson River Pkwy.
• By Train: There is no direct train from Greenwich, CT, to Morristown, NJ, however, a train and bus combination is possible. The total journey time is around 2 hours and 30 minutes. From Greenwich, take the train towards Grand Central Station, New York. From there, take the bus towards Morristown, NJ.
• By Bus: There is no direct bus from Greenwich, CT, to Morristown, NJ. A bus and train combination is possible, but the journey time can be upwards of 4 hours.
• By Plane: This is not a practical option for travelling between the two schools, as the flight time between the closest airports (White Plains, HPN to Morristown, MMU) is very short (30 minutes), but the time taken to get to and from the airports and the waiting time at the airports will likely make this a much longer journey than travelling by car or train.

The history of Delbarton School

Delbarton School is a private Catholic college-preparatory school for boys in grades 7 to 12. It is located in Morristown, New Jersey, and is directed by the Benedictine monks of St. Mary's Abbey. The school's history is closely tied to the abbey and the surrounding area.

The Morristown area, where Delbarton is located, is steeped in history. During the winter of 1779-1780, the Continental Army made its winter quarters in Jockey Hollow, now part of the Morristown National Historical Park, adjacent to the current St. Mary's Abbey/Delbarton campus.

In the late 19th century, Martin Luther Kountze, a son of German immigrants, established Kountze Brothers, a Wall Street banking firm in New York City. He and his wife, Annie Ward Parsons, a descendant of patrician New York families, had four children: Barclay Ward, William Delancey, Helen Livingston, and Annie Ward. Following the example of other prominent New York families, they established a large estate in northern New Jersey in the 1880s. Over time, Kountze amassed 4,000 acres of land, which included what is now the St. Mary's Abbey, Delbarton School, Morristown National Historical Park, and Lewis Morris County Park. The estate was named "Delbarton," borrowing one syllable from the names of each of his first three children (DELancey, BARclay, and LivingsTON).

In 1918, Luther Kountze passed away, and his heirs attempted to sell the Delbarton estate. In 1925, the monks of Saint Mary's Abbey, then located in Newark, purchased approximately 400 acres of the estate, including the mansion and farm. After a year and a half of work adapting the property, the first group of Benedictine monks and theological students took up residence in what became known as "Old Main."

In 1939, Delbarton School was established as a residential school for boys in grades 6 to 8, with Father Augustine Wirth serving as the first headmaster. Under the leadership of Father Stephen Findlay, who succeeded Father Augustine in 1942, high school grades were added, and the first high school commencement took place in 1948. Enrollment gradually increased, and by the late 1950s, the school had over 300 students, with the majority being day students.

Delbarton School has continued to expand its facilities and programs over the years. The school's motto, "Succisa Virescit" ("cut down, it grows back stronger"), was adopted after the Kountze carriage house was destroyed in a fire in 1947. The construction of new academic buildings, athletic centers, and fine arts facilities has marked the school's development.

Today, Delbarton School offers a rigorous academic program with a wide range of courses and extracurricular activities. It fosters a culture of service and encourages students to pursue excellence and develop leadership skills. The school has a diverse student body, with young men from various towns and counties in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

Delbarton's history is also marked by allegations of sexual abuse by monks and lawsuits filed by former students. Despite these controversies, the school has produced notable alumni in various fields, including sports, business, and entertainment.

The history of Brunswick School

Brunswick School is a private, college-preparatory day school for boys in Greenwich, Connecticut, United States. The school was founded in 1902 by George B. Carmichael, with the aim of educating the "whole boy", helping boys and young men from diverse backgrounds to acquire the personal, intellectual, and physical training to grow into responsible adults. The school's academic programs are designed to challenge each student to fulfil their potential and develop the creative and independent qualities necessary for intellectual maturity and self-confidence.

The school consists of two main campuses. The Upper School campus is located on 100 Maher Avenue in Greenwich, while the Upper School English and History annex is situated on North Maple Avenue, a short walk from the main campus, occupying the former Preschool campus. The North Maple facility also houses the Brunswick Career Centre, which prepares recent alumni for the workforce. The Edwards Campus, named after former headmaster Duncan Edwards II, is located about 15 minutes away from the Maher Avenue campus on King Street. The Edwards Campus comprises the Middle School, Lower School, Preschool School facilities, along with various athletic facilities, including field houses, a basketball court, and a boat house.

Brunswick School's sister school is the nearby Greenwich Academy, with which it shares a historical connection. The founder of Brunswick School, George Carmichael, had previously taught at Greenwich Academy when it was a co-educational secondary school. After the founding of Brunswick, Greenwich Academy began admitting only girls and directed boys to apply to Brunswick School. Today, the two schools continue their collaboration, sharing classes and allowing students to choose courses from a combined catalogue, with the exception of mathematics and ninth-grade English.

The school has a rich history spanning over a century, with a focus on providing a well-rounded education and fostering the development of strong character in its students.

The academic year at Delbarton School

Delbarton School is an independent, all-boys, Roman Catholic learning community guided by the Benedictine monks of St. Mary's Abbey. The school is located in Morristown, NJ, and serves students from 120 towns and 12 counties in New Jersey, as well as from Pennsylvania and New York.

The school year typically begins in late August or early September and ends in June. The first day of school for the 2024-25 school year is August 29, with underclass exams and the last day of school falling on June 5, 2024. The school calendar includes breaks for Thanksgiving and a closure for Juneteenth.

Delbarton School offers a rigorous academic curriculum with a focus on college preparation. To graduate, students must complete various credit requirements in English, Mathematics, Theology, History, Science, Foreign Language, Fine and Performing Arts, Physical Education, Health, and Computer Science. The school offers a range of Advanced Placement (AP) courses, including Art History, Biology, Calculus, Chemistry, Computer Science, English Language and Composition, European History, French Language and Culture, and many others.

In addition to its academic offerings, Delbarton School emphasises the development of leadership skills and community service. Students are expected to participate in various community service projects annually, with older students acting as coordinators or developing their own projects. The school also offers a variety of extracurricular activities, including athletic teams, performing arts groups, and clubs such as the Coding Club, Digital Media Club, and Fashion and Design Club.

Delbarton School's transportation options include bus services, train station shuttles, and carpool arrangements to accommodate students commuting from outside the school bussing zone. The school aims to make the daily commute as convenient as possible for its diverse student body.

The sports teams at Brunswick School

The Brunswick School, known as the Brunswick Bruins, has a strong tradition of athletic success and has earned regional and national recognition in several sports. The school fields teams in 17 interscholastic sports, and the majority of the coaches also teach on campus.

In Middle School, all students participate in competitive sports, with intramural options for fifth and sixth graders, and interscholastic sports in seventh and eighth grade. The school's philosophy is that every boy should play in every contest, and so multiple teams are fielded for some sports.

The Bruins have teams for soccer, track and field, yoga, and ultimate frisbee. They have also enjoyed success in golf, baseball, lacrosse, and crew. The Bruins have reached the finals of the Prep Nationals three times in its three-year history, and Brunswick's golf team won the FAA Tournament in 2024.

The Bruins have also seen success in rowing, with two scullers earning bids to the USRowing Youth National Championships in 2024.

Frequently asked questions