Allison Hill in Harrisburg in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Breeze Hill

Photographed by William Pfingsten, March 30, 2008

1. Breeze Hill Marker

Inscription. Quietly nestled at the corner of 21st Street and Bellevue Road is a true historic landmark: the home of the internationally recognized founder of the American Civic Association and modern-day American Rose Society, J. Horace McFarland (1859-1948). It was here on the original 2.4-acre "pie-shaped" lot that one of the most widely known gardens in America was established. The energies of McFarland in bringing national attention to Harrisburg's City Beautiful plan, in advancing the cause of scenic preservation and in working to establish the National Park System, was nurtured and renewed from this place, his home and his land. It was here that McFarland developed what would become one of the world's test gardens for the cultivation of new rose varieties, extensively photographed through early color glass plate processing and published with other seed catalogues and gardening books at his nearby Mount Pleasant Press at Mulberry and Crescent Streets. McFarland bought the property in 1909 from Louis Haehnlen whose father, Jacob, had built the Italianate-styled house in 1876 with surrounding vineyard from which the "Belle Vue Winery"

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

would evolve. McFarland lived here, at Breeze Hill until his death after which his daughter Helen, who resided here until her passing in 1980, subdivided much of the original tract for the construction of three homes in the late 1950's. Breeze Hill, however, nobly stands today in its original form as a monument to McFarland's legacy in the creation of adjacent Bellevue Park and to the contribution which Harrisburg made as a leader in the Progressive Movement in the United States of the early 20th Century.
Top Photo
This 1910 view of Breeze Hill reveals that the house has changed little.
Bottom Photo
A view of one of McFarland's Breeze Hill orchards looking south-eastward toward Hillside Road.

Erected by The Harrisburg History Project Commissioned by Mayor Stephen R. Reed.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Architecture • Environment • Horticulture & Forestry • Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania, The Harrisburg History Project series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1909.

Location. 40° 16.038′ N, 76° 51.36′ W.

Photographed by William Pfingsten, March 30, 2008

2. Breeze Hill

Marker is in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in Dauphin County. It is in Allison Hill. It is at the intersection of 21st Street and Bellevue Road, on the right when traveling south on 21st Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2101 Bellevue Rd, Harrisburg PA 17104, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South-Central Pennsylvania, specifically in Pennsylvania Dutch Country,

and in the Susquehanna Valley.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Bellevue Park (approx. 0.2 miles away); Bishop McDevitt High School (approx. ¼ mile away); Moment of Mercy (approx. 0.3 miles away); Camp McClellan (approx. 0.3 miles away); The National Civil War Museum (approx. 0.3 miles away); Mansion at Reservoir Park (approx. 0.4 miles away);

Photographed by William Pfingsten, March 30, 2008

3. Breeze Hill

Reservoir Park (approx. half a mile away); Explore the Capital Area Greenbelt (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Harrisburg.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Other markers related to J. Horace McFarland

Photographed by John K. Robinson, January 8, 2010

4. Breeze Hill

Credits. This page was last revised on June 24, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 4, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 4,357 times since then and 240 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 4, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 4. submitted on January 8, 2010, by John K. Robinson of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.