Mark A. Else
Executive Director, Wyckoff-Garretson Chair


Mark A. Else earned a Bachelor of Music with a major in composition and a minor in conducting. His postgraduate study in composition was at William & Mary College and NYU. Following his service in the Navy during the Korean War 1956, he was uncertain about his career goals. He moved from the Midwest to New York where he directed and produced films. Years later he and his wife Greta moved to New Jersey where he founded his own video business.

In the spring of 1976 Jim Moise, one of the founding members of The Meadows Foundation invited Mark and Greta to the Van Wickle House. Jim spoke eloquently about saving the Van Wickle House, and convinced the couple to join. They have been active in the organization ever since 1977.

Both Greta and Mark have served as officers through the years. Mark has held a leadership role in virtually every office, and some, several terms. He began as chairman of the Art & Books event for held for five years during the late 1980s and early 1990s and was chairman of the Community Fair Committee. He was chair of the Bylaws Committee and responsible for the most recent rewrite approved in November 2004.

Proudly he lists the following committees: Van Wickle House, Wyckoff-Garretson, Hageman Farm and Tulipwood. He was President from 1994-1998 and 2001-2002 and Executive Director since 2002.

His most recent efforts are focused since 1998 on the Wyckoff-Garretson House restoration project. He is responsible for writing grants totaling $647,993 from Somerset County Historic Preservation Program and the New Jersey Historic Trust. Additionally he wrote grants to the Franklin Township Historic Preservation Committee for Hageman House, Tulipwood and the Van Liew-Suydam House totaling, $245,595. Three other separate grants were approved for, $15,000 from the New Jersey Cultural Trust for the Tulipwood porch, $15,000 from the Franklin Township Historic Trust $15,000 for the Hageman Farm House porches and $40,000 for a new septic system at the Wyckoff-Garretson site.

Mark is responsible for general operating grants from the New Jersey Historic Commission for the years 2001 through 2005 totaling $113,775. Finally, a mini grant from the New Jersey Historic Commission to prepare the designation to the New Jersey and National List of Register Places. These grants, total a hefty $1,080,363 combined

The more he has researched, the more intensely interested he is in the history and heritage of the Dutch who lived in The Meadows houses. He feels the Dutch contributions have been overlooked for too long. He plans to develop programs that focus on this unique history and heritage.

Mark’s outstanding list of volunteer contributions continues as he is a charter member of the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission and has served 22 years, four as President. His interests in history lead the SCC&HC to develop the Somerset County Historic Preservation program. He was instrumental in creating a nonprofit endowment fund for the support Somerset County Cultural and Heritage efforts. This is a membership organization known as the Friends of Somerset County Culture & Heritage, Inc. Mark currently serves as Chairman of the board.

Not surprisingly, Mark is an honored recipient of professional awards as a producer/director:. He has earned a Blue Ribbon form the American Film Festival; a Chris Award from Columbus Film Festival and two gold awards from the Houston Film Festival. He also holds awards from JVC; JASPER, and a very special GOLD TELLY from the Cincinnati Film & Video Festival.

Suffice it to say this driven overachiever brings enormous skill and energy to The Meadows Foundation.