Milford Township in Pike County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Finger Bowl
This outdoor dining pool was the inspired idea of Cornelia Bryce Pinchot, wife of Governor Pinchot.
Cornelia worked closely with New York architect William Lawrence Bottomley in the early 1930's to design an intimate social setting for discussing the topics of the time. Politicians, authors and conservationists joined the family around the rim of the pool. Its Italian influence, the canopy and wisteria and grape vines, and the movement of floating food contributed to stimulating conversation.
Naomi Nover, a guest of the Pinchot's, described a luncheon served here July 4, 1942. "The food was brought out by the butlers and placed on trays on thick balsa wood rafts. All the food floated. There were several floating rafts on the water going from person to person with the food. One was filled with delicious slices of beef, beautifully garnished. Another raft had a tray filled with vegetables - peas, carrots, potatoes, asparagus, lima beans, tomatoes - exquisitely arranged in groups. Another was filled with cut-up fruit - orange sections, grapefruit, grapes, kumquats, pears, apples, cherries, with a center mound of whipped cream."
Erected by Grey Towers National Historic Site.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Entertainment. A significant historical date for this entry is July 4, 1942.
Location. 41° 19.699′ N, 74° 49.13′ W. Marker is in Milford Township, Pennsylvania, in Pike County. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 151 Grey Towers Drive, Milford PA 18337, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Letter Box (a few steps from this marker); Historic Swimming Pool and Terrace (within shouting distance of this marker); The Bait Box (within shouting distance of this marker); "Grey Towers" (within shouting distance of this marker); Eastern Arborvitae (within shouting distance of this marker); Gifford Pinchot (approx. 0.3 miles away); Milford (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Jervis Gordon Grist Mill (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Milford Township.
Also see . . . Grey Towers Heritage Association. (Submitted on September 22, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on September 23, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 20, 2014, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 445 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 23, 2023, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 20, 2014, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 5, 6, 7. submitted on September 22, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.