Chester in Morris County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Merchiston Farm
1911 - 1959
Photographed By Alan Edelson, July 17, 2010
1. Merchiston Farm Marker
Inscription.
Merchiston Farm. Home of Martha Brookes Hutcheson, prominent early woman landscape architect who transformed this 18th century working farm into outstanding example of natural and classic landscape design.
Home of Martha Brookes Hutcheson, prominent early woman landscape architect who transformed this 18th century working farm into outstanding example of natural and classic landscape design.
Location. 40° 43.932′ N, 74° 42.437′ W. Marker is in Chester, New Jersey, in Morris County. Marker is on Longview Road, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Chester NJ 07930, United States of America. Touch for directions.
3. Stone Terrace Near the Upper Pool as it Appeared in the 1930's
Photograph by Martha Brookes Hutcheson
"The mere thought of water and its uses, aesthetic and utilitarian, suggests impending schemes on one's mind, and many lost opportunities for its use are hard to forgive."
Martha Brookes Hutcheson Spring of the Garden
1923
Photographed By Alan Edelson, July 17, 2010
4. The Main House Around 1915
Photograph by Martha Brookes Hutcheson
"The elements to be considered in the planning of a flower garden are so many and so complex that it is a difficult task to outline the most important ones and yet it is essential that some general principles should be understood; for through their insight, owners have in their control the opportunity for much more personal and beautiful gardens than are generally found today."
Martha Brookes Hutcheson Spirit of the Garden
1923
Photographed By Alan Edelson, July 17, 2010
5. Flagstone Path Parallel to the Front of the Main House
Photograph by Martha Brookes Hutcheson
"We shall not have the beautiful and masterly gardening of Italy, France and England in the country until we become more keen in our perception of the underlying anatomy of plans upon which our fine plantings and placing of buildings are based."
Martha Brookes Hutcheson Spirit of the Garden
1923
Photographed By Alan Edelson, July 17, 2010
6. The Main House - 1911
Photograph by Martha Brookes Hutcheson
The Main House as it appeared in 1911 when William Anderson Hutcheson and Martha Brookes Hutcheson bought Honelsdale Farms. This structure was originally constructed in 1720 and was expanded in 1848 to a 5-bay center hall dwelling with Greek Revival Pilaster corner boards, entablature and columned portico.
Photographed By Alan Edelson, July 17, 2010
7. The Breezeway
The breezeway between the Main House and the Ice House (later converted to a garage) in the 1920's.
"There are parts of the house which essentially belong to the garden and parts of the garden which are as essentially parts of the house, and there is no separating them if a successful scheme of the whole is to be realized."
Martha Brookes Hutcheson Spirit of the Garden
1923
Photographed By Alan Edelson, July 17, 2010
8. Merchiston Farm
Credits. This page was last revised on December 31, 2020. It was originally submitted on July 17, 2010, by Alan Edelson of Union Twsp., New Jersey. This page has been viewed 880 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on July 17, 2010, by Alan Edelson of Union Twsp., New Jersey. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.