United States of America -- Ohio -- Hamilton County -- Cincinnati
Scope and Contents:
The folders include work sheets, copies of landscape plans, newspaper and periodical articles, additional visual images, and planting lists.
General:
"River High" represents one of Cincinnati's most characteristic architectural types: the large house set on a wooded hill-top and oriented toward a view of the Ohio River Valley. Built in 1912, the house combines English Georgian and American Colonial Revival with influences of the Arts and Crafts style. "River High" is perceived at first as a long, substantial, dark red brick mass with the original slate roof, lying athwart a shallow bowl of lawn, with the drive winding down to the entrance and sweeping back to the road. The architects' intent was to block the view until the house had been penetrated; when the riverscape appears at the end of the central hallway. The house consists of three main blocks. The lower porch on the left opens onto the reconstructed formal garden that extends the axis of the house eastward. The lower porch leads out onto the lawn that descends gradually through a formal parterre with a pool and fountain. Symmetrical plantings frame this lower lawn. In 2005 the front arrival courtyard was transformed and is now centered with the formal front entrance in keeping with the symmetrical Georgian style of the house. The new design features a fountain with waterfall and a sculpture of two great blue herons as well as seasonal display beds for annuals, a serpentine retaining wall, landscape lighting, and a unique bench sculpture. Completing the picture are custom-designed wrought iron gates, 19th-century Italian urns, and ornamental and shade trees.
Person(s) associated with the property and garden include: George H. Warrington (former owner, 1912-1951); Rosemary Sawyer Richardson (former owner, 1951-1989); Albert Davis Taylor (landscape architect, 1917); Eleanor H. Christie (landscape architect, ca. 1917-1951?); Dalton W. Battin (landscape architect, 1980); Stu Hoffman, Natorp Landscape Organization, Inc. (landscape designer, 1987); Steele & Whittaker Landscapes, Inc. (landscape architects, 1991); Vivian Llambi & Associates Inc. (landscape architects, 1996); and John A. Bentley (landscape architect, 2005).
Related Materials:
River High related holdings consist of 2 folders (51 35 mm. slides; 5 photographic prints)
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.
