United States of America -- New York -- Orange County -- Balmville
Scope and Contents:
The folder includes worksheets, historical images and additional documentation.
General:
Echo Lawn is located on a 6 acre parcel of land which was originally part of a 40 acre estate. The property has at its center an Italianate walled garden established in 1911 set within a wider naturalistic setting of the original landscaping of 1850-1860. This is set within a wider naturalistic landscaping of the original garden of 1850-1860. The National Register of Historic Places registration form completed for Echo Lawn, suggests that Echo Lawn's first period of design was influenced by landscape architect Andrew Jackson Downing and the architects Calvert Vaux and Frederick Clark Withers in their design of neighboring properties (Downing and Vaux at Algonac about 1851; Withers at Mornigside 1859). The 1911 design of the walled garden was developed by the artists Reynolds and Gifford Beal, brothers of the property owner at that time, Thaddeus Beal.
The original structure of the Italianate garden remains, defined by outer walls of fieldstone with cut bluestone topping. The terrace of flagstone and herringbone brick features a Neoclassical cast concrete balustrade from which a divided stone staircase circles around a small fountain as it leads down into the sunken walled garden with a large fountain at its center.
Historical accounts of the garden describe the walled garden as a less formal Italian garden with softer border plantings in contrast to the present hedges which frame the quadrants created by the garden's brick paths. Climbing roses and honeysuckle grew on the west wall, climbing hydrangea on the north wall, lilacs at the terrace, and ferns were planted at the center fountain.
To the north of the walled garden is a large lawn with views through specimen shade trees including locust, walnut, and maple to a peripheral border of native trees. This area originally featured a grape arbor and an allée of cherry trees which led to vegetable gardens and a pond. To the east of the walled garden, presently lawn with a low stone retaining wall and steps leading to the north lawn, was a pergola and rose arbor, beyond which a stream was dammed to form a pond featuring a moon bridge and a small island. To the south of the walled garden, now a lawn bordered by native trees, were fruit orchards and distant views of the hills beyond the Hudson River.
Echo Lawn was used as a filming location in the silent film, The Scales of Justice, released in 1914 by the Famous Players Film Company.
Persons associated with the garden include: George A. Elliott (former owner, ca. 1860-1880); Frank Gerard (builder, ca. 1850-1860); Mrs. Minnie Knowlton (former owner, 1880-1905); Thaddeus Beal (former owner, beginning 1905); Gifford Beal and (Alonzo) Reynolds Beal (garden designers, ca. 1911); and John and Mary Beal (former owners, to 1957).
Related Materials:
Echo Lawn related holdings consist of 1 folder (20 digital images)
Other materials documenting this property are located at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Collection Restrictions:
Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America collection.
Sponsor:
A project to describe images in this finding aid received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.
United States of America -- Connecticut -- Litchfield County -- Cornwall -- Cornwall Hollow
Scope and Contents:
The folder includes worksheets, photocopies of an article, and a write-up of the family's history with the property.
General:
Property records for the large parcel of land in which Henry's Hill is located date back to the late 18th century, and the land was used for farming and foresting into the twentieth century. The current owners inherited the house and about eleven acres and set about redesigning the house and installing gardens. The main garden at Henry's Hill is bordered by old low stone walls planted with 8-foot deep borders of perennials and shrubs, with two foot wide maintenance paths inside the walls, designed by Tiziana Hardy. A formal garden comprised of two varieties of boxwood, winter gem and green velvet, container plantings, blocks of stone, and gravel paths was established north of the house. A water garden comprised of three ponds surrounded by compatible plantings lies to the northeast outside the walls. An island bed of ornamental grasses lies east of the house.
Another 300 acres were set aside in 1984 through a conservation easement that protects 40 acres of farmland, more than 200 acres of forest, and an aquifer underlying the Hollenbeck River and watershed from further development. Nearly a mile of the Appalachian Trail transverses the easement property.
In the 1920s during the ownership of Dr. and Mrs. Lieb flower gardens designed by the Elm City Nursery Company, Woodmont Nursery Inc., Landscape Engineers of New Haven, Connecticut, replaced old pastures. The property was no longer farmed and was used as a summer and week-end estate. The subsequent owner, Laurens Hammond, invented the Hammond organ; his widow Roxana Scoville Hammond was responsible for the conservation and protection plan. Some of the agricultural land attached to Henry's Hill has been repurposed as a beef cattle business by the next generation of the owners' family.
Tim Prentice, who renovated the house circa 2000, is a local architect and kinetic sculptor responsible for maintaining the historic character of many houses in the area of Cornwall Hollow.
Persons associated with the garden include Thaddeus Ford and descendants (formers owners, 1782-1860); Heman Harrison (former owner, 1860-1897); M.E. Harrison (former owner, 1897-1906); E. Baldwin (former owner, 1906-1920); Dr. & Mrs. Charles Lieb (former owners, 1920-1957); Laurens & Roxana Scoville Hammond (former owners, 1957-2000); Tiziana Hardy, (landscape designer, 2001); Tim Prentice (redesign of house, 2000-2001); Mary Daalhuyzen (Head gardener, 2001-2008).
Related Materials:
Henry's Hill related holdings consist of 1 folder (18 35 mm. slides (photographs))
Collection Restrictions:
Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Topic:
Gardens -- Connecticut -- Cornwall Hollow Search this
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America collection.
Sponsor:
A project to describe images in this finding aid received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.
United States of America -- California -- Los Angeles County -- Pasadena
The Blossoms (Pasadena, California)
General:
001: Winter Scene at The Blossom Residence on South Orange Grove Ave., Pasadena, Cal. Postcard circa 1901-1915.
002: "The Blossoms" Orange Grove Ave., Pasadena, Cal. Postcard circa 1901-1915.
Collection Restrictions:
Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, Richard Marchand historical postcard collection.
Sponsor:
A project to describe images in this finding aid in this collection received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.