New-York tribune., 1907-01-06
What E. III. Barney Has
Done and Will Do for
Springfield. Mass.

enrtngheid, Mass, Jan. 4-When It was an
beoueath his entire estate. estimated at over
,r,llIon dollars, to this city for public improve
,,ents there universal expression of sur
rrise on the part of the citizens Of Springfield
hut rather comfortable Il expected it" attitude
For Ny Barney has dreamed and worked for
wears for a Springfield which should be one OF
the most beautiful cities in the country The
welfare Of this municipality is the thing nearest
his heart. and ne has been prodigal of time la
hor. thought and money in its behalf. His atti-
+ude toward il he expressed several years ago in
letter TO of the local papers In which he
said: II thank the Supreme Power above that my
active life has been spent IN your city and that
have had the privilege of assisting you in my
humble way in beautifying the same. / ask only
one thing in return. When l pass to the future
life let my remains rest in this beautiful city
tbe bank of the Connecticut"
His humble assistance" has already resulted
in the addition of more than hundred and
seventy-fve acres to Forest Park, of the
most picturesque parks in the country, and in a
playground the river front 1t Is IN his rela-
zion to this park that Mr.. Barney is most widely
known in this city, and the gift has been humor-
ousiy called by some citizens "Barneys front
vard" 1t is in these acres that he has given his
and whims have been unrestrained. For Mr.. Bar
news personality is original above everything
else and he never does things like any one else.
II was in 1882 that he purchased about one
hundred and ten acres of land in the southern
part of the city overlooking the Connecticut
River and built a handsome home. which he
called Pecowsic Villa, a site called Laurel
HILL commanding the most picturesque view in
the Connecticut Valley. He then discovered that
q part Of his land over into the neighboring
town of Long Meadow and he successfully petit
toned the State Legislature TO change the bouu-
dary line so that he could wander over his en-
tire estate and not take one step outside his be-
loved Springfield. Among Mr.. Barney's choicest
possessions is the pen with which the Governor
signed the bill
He intended to bequeath this estate to his son.
George Murray, but the young man met his death
by drowning in 1889 In mis- twenty-sixth year,
and the father decided to turn II all over to the
city at once memorial TO his son. He re-
served, however, the right to occupy the house
and care for the grounds during his lifetime
Since then he has extended the grounds to over
one hundred and seventy -fve acres, and he is
constantly introducing there new ideas In land
.cape gardening and horticultural display. The
death of his son was a blow from which Mr.. Bar
new has never wholly recovered, and even now
he can scarcely speak of his bereavement: but
sn outward manifestation of his grief is seen
IN the granite and marble mausoleum on one OF
the most commanding heights on his estate
There rest ne bodies Of his son and Of his wife'
who died few years ago. And there' tco MI
Barney himself viii lie.
"BARNEY'S FRONT YARD"
Forest Park is Springfeld's great breathing
ground. and a trip there always includes Visit
to "Barneys front yard" There he shows his
fa- mr.
expert horticultur.st. He has planted there rare
shrubs and trees from Europe Egypt, China,
Japan and India, and there Re has planned ana
maintained lily ponds containing nearly all va
rieties Of lilies known. TEEIs, TOO, &c rn2ln-
tains a lotus POND. Mr.. BeTnays nature Is
restless. untring one. and Re changes MS lawns
and flower gardens frequently hio tas,e runs rs
strongly 20 :aAthetnatica! arrangement .I u.
flower bees acd shrubs. ans ons Is constantly
Startled by cen.inS suddenly On a stone deer OF
other piece or stG.u2.E. NS>r his porte cocheis
stands winsef AeraGfy, sIr1 little covered
seats cot the tiiiy parts of cis grounds
One OF his wf:n.s is % hare no paths TO his
house, for he TE6s'::e:Ts tna- thus the puphc
or his visitors Adr'@ that they can pass unre-
strainedly acrcas h'e lawn, and 1t is in keeping
with his idea OF hospitality.
To a certain extent ,dr. Barney loves display
and he INDUCES in st in various ways In ms
viii it is provided that q certain sum De SET
eside.for annual fireworks. and he is develop
ing the highest portion of his grounds as place
for setting them of At one time the tower or or
dome his house was decorated In dazzling GIT
which could be for g. long distance and was
always remarked by persons coming upon the
treins from the south and by those on the
river. He no longer has a gilt tower, but his
piazzas and tower equipped with electric
lights. and he has illumination there when
ever the occasion warrants. He also makes
practice Of firing salute every time steamer
filed with picnickers or clambakers goes down
the river and persons off for river Jolllhcation
would feel II the dav had not started right IL
they did not hear the three shots from MT bar-
neys cannon. This cannon. by the way is MI
Barney's own invention. giving three statutes AT
once.
When Mr. Barney completes Improvements
now under way there will be in his dooryAlu
an elaborate bronze fountain, the highest part
being twenty feet from the ground The CEN
tral figure will be statue of Liberty. with a
shield in one hand and a torch In the other.
There will be two basins. and figures represent
Ing lions, dolphins. ETC.. Will be on the peoes
tai Of the lower basin. The upper and larger
basin will be ornamented with vines and figures
symbolic OF aquatic life. In the centre or the
larger basin viii rise a pedestal supporting four
small figures, above which Will rise the figure
Of Liberty. His porte cochere he IS turning into
the public will be able TO get view of the pct-
nresque beauties OF the Connecticut rms VIC"
Is one OF Mr. Barney's particular hobbies
When the residence is thrown open 10 s lns
public its walls will be decorated with enlarged
photographs of the Forest Park, wnlch are
being rapidly taken for Mr.. Barney AND up
stairs wifi be found original studio. the pict-
ures for which Mr.. Barney is preparing with
his hands They consist Of photographs
OF trees of fame or particular beauty or rarity.
framed in their wood. Mr.. Barney is TAX
ing the pictures and is doing the framing.
A NOVEL OFFER.
The citizens We're somewhat dismayed six
months ago. when Mr.. Barney announced that
ne would give large toward a new City
Hal, provided IL was built with a 3J0-foot
tower that could be seen for miles around. His
1ea was that the view from the tower would