Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-07-27
LAWNS OF BURLINGTON.
Brief Mention of Some of the Hand
soonest Lawns in Town.

The lawns OF Burlington, next 10 IL
= residences and its shade cmbowerc
streets, are the most admired feature G
l.. the city, to the thousands of sight
t seers who visit us during the Summe
y months. Among all the beautiful "countr
), y cities" of New England, We venture to 81
that there Is none more remarkable TIA
, Burlington in this respect In few places
indeed, would it he possible to equal on
II lawns, for in few places are private ground
laid out IN such generous proportions, ant
with such superior natural advantages. TIT
handsomcst lawns in Burlington are nearly
Z all remarkable, also, for the taste AMI elc
Q gancc of their arrangement. Nearly all con
D form TO the gentle slope upon which the cit,
: is built, thus aifordng an opportunity fol
/ variety of effect, in smooth incline, and roll
/ ing bank, and clear-cut terrace. Above all
there is long standing local pride AMI emu.
lation in the possession and maintenance OF
grounds worthy the elegant residences OF the
; Queen City.
We propose to notice. very briefly, the
lawns of our city which seem TO us worthy
] of special mention, not only, or not mainly,
tor their superior natural advantages and
| Beauties but for the constant and judcious
, care which renders them the admiration and
ucllSHl Vi OuT OWN pCuplc anu VI OuI lnully
visitors. For it is this care and expense
which shows the public spirit and generosity
of their owners--a regard for the attractive
ness of our city, and the pleasure and pride
of our citizens, which ought to meet with
the hearticst recognition and appreciation.
Beginning with the APPLY so-called "Fifth
avenue" Of Burlington-prospcct street n
street which, undoubtedly 'has as many fine
public and private buildings in view upon
either hand, for the same distance, as any
street in New England-we notice first the
superb lawn and landscape garden of our
distinguished townsn.an, Col. lie Grand b,
Cannon. The care and skill expended upon
this vast park-for it is nothing lcss-is truly
wonderful. The wide stretch of closely
mown sward, smooth and soft as carpet
| and level as a floor dotted here and there
with artistic beds Of flowers aud beautiful
| shrubs, evergreens aud bowers, presents a
| picture whose like is seldom seen in this
country. The fine old mansion in the midst,
with its air of English massivcncss and SIM
| pie elegance, accords well with the manor
like grounds, with hedge, grove and rolling
park. For tinencss of effect and excellence
of design and of care, we do not believe that
the grounds and lawn of "Over-lake" can
be surpassed by any estate in New England.
Next in order, and IN point of beauty, are
the fine grounds OF Col Horace j. Brooks.
This beautiful sloping lawn, stretching for
more than hundred rods in front of the
large house, and dotted with shadc-trees,
evergreens and flowers, is the admiration of
all peasure-drivers. 1t is always kept in the
most excellent condition, and has the pecu-
liar elegance and neatncss of lawn which
has never seen neglect. Adjoining the |
Brooks lawn, aud undivided by any bound |
aries, are the ilnely-kept grounds of Mr.. w. |
A. Crombie and Mrs. George Francis. These |
three lawns, without dividing line, make |
one OF the most charming effects to be seen |
anywhere in the city, and fully demonstrate
the superior beauty of grounds which are |
not, as it were, selfishly shut off from each |
other by stiff and inartistic fences.
The Webb (Wheeler) place, though shut |
off from the public by an ugly hedge, has
now very large and tinely.kept lawn, espe- |
cially on the southern side, and the glimpse |
which passer-by can snatch through the
open gates, is well worth the trouble. |
Passing on to Fern Hill the old Pom
eroy place, now owned by MI. James Brown, |
we find the most romantic and picturesque |
grounds in the city. One who has
not seen Fern Hill " on every
side, can little imagine the diversified beauty |
of the grounds and since they came into the |
possession of Mr.. Brown they have been
vastly improved. The grand succession of
terraces on the north has been repaired and
swarded, and now presents an effect in land |
scapc gardening which we have never seen |
cqualled. The grounds in front of the |
house have been graded, grasscd, and already |
present the appearance OF very beautiful
lawn. The visitor cannot help beng struck |
with the unique and impressive effect of the
whole place.
Descending now, the main streets of the |
mot m O. hn IA
sloping lawn of ilr. Henry LOOMS, with its
giant shade-trees at the eastern border; the
elegant terraced lawn Of Madame Brooks, and
the fine shade grounds Of the old lloyt
place. occupied by Mrs. NJ. D., Tucker.
On the opposite side of the street in the
Hungerford lawn, finely grasscd and nicely
kept the rolling western slope, with foun.
tam, being especially noteworthy. Cross
ing now to College street, by way of Will
liams, we note the extensive and elegantly
kept lawn of ex-Mayor 10. d. Hatch, with
its fountain and winding driveway, its
shrubbery and magnificent shade trees. On
College street, the remarkably handsome
grounds of the Burton homestead first at
tract our attention. Since the Objectionable
hedge has been removed, and these grounds
have been opened to public inspection, the
greatest care and skill have been
expended upon them, and their elegance is
now The admiration of every pusser by. The
| close cut lawn is intersected with gracefully
winding paths, bordered with the most beau
tiful flower beds aud iDterspersed with ever
greens and shrubs, making u general effect
which is most admirable. The Englesby
and Kennedy places, opposite, have small
but well kept lawns and the lawn OF B.
Turk, Esq, on the west, with its fountain
aud terrace and nicely-trimmed shrubs is
one of the prettiest in town. Everybody is
familiar with the beautiful ground, around
Mr.. Edward w. Peck's mansion, upon which
foryears have been expended the care and skill
Of competent workmen, under the direction
of Mrs Peck, whose taste is everywhere to
be seen. The smooth velvet of the lawn, set
ting off the varied colors OF the many hand
some plants arranged in front of the house
the deep shaded arbors and paths of the
grounds below the terrace, and the exquisite
care expended upon every part of this charm
| ing place, combine to make it one OF the
chief delights of ride or stroll about the
city. The lawns of Col. T. S. Peck and
Hon. Torrcy Il. Wales also, though small,
are beautifully kept and delightfully."- fresh
and green throughout the season. Farther
west, we note the neatly-kcpt lawn
of DIR. l. NJ. Bingham, with its
fountain and terraces and the handsome
grounds of DIR. B. S. Nichols. On Main
street, the extensive grounds of Senator Ed.
munds's place, are very noticeable. The lawn
in front of the house, completely shaded with
massive trees, is one Of the finest in the city,
and is kept in the best condition throughout
the season. The terrace and grounds TO the
west are also beautiful. The Lawrence Barnes
place is shut of from the public by hedge,
but glimpse at the lawn in front of the
house, with its deep. shading evergreens,
shows that the handsome grounds" of the
old Van Ness mansion have not been suffer
ed to deteriorate by its present owner. On
Willard street, below, James Hickok aud
I Mrs. Wires have neat and tasteful lawns,
aud the Hayward and Wells places,