May 5, 2016 West Bay Rotary Meeting
Posted by Jen Harris
on May 05, 2016
West Bay Rotary
May 5, 2016
The Knox Museum
Ann Perkins
Montpelier
Reconstruction of General Knox’s house in Thomaston
Original House built in 1794 while General Knox was serving as Secretary of War
Knox intended to make Montpelier a grand estate but died before those plans came to fruition
Original home was demolished in 1878 to make way for the railroad
DAR decided the house should be reconstructed
1930 Olmstead Brothers engaged to create a landscaping plan – never came to fruition due to lack of funds.
Over the years other effort were made but a general lack of funds has
Landscape Committee created a plan for the grounds
2013 the board approved the plan
Visited other historic gardens across the country & internationally as examples.
Spoke to noted garden experts
Why are we doing this?
The house isn’t historically accurate without the landscape – the house is nothing without the landscape
It’s a really exciting opportunity to create a new landscape – we have a blank slate to create an idealized landscape plan.
Required to create an appropriate landscape to the life and times
We have some materials from the original plan to work from
Knox was an enthusiastic gentleman farmer
Garden, design and competitive plant collection
How are we going to accomplish these lofty goals?
Included appropriate features from the original plans
Gates – will likely remain the same and add perennials based on historical reference.
Original meeting House – they’re required to maintain this as an archeological site.
Parking lots – expanded & create screening
Welcome Circle – modeled after Mt. Vernon
Walkway will be kept but rebuilt for accessibility
Will add a parade ground – event and ceremonial space. Separated from the road by a wall.
Encampment areas for re-enactors on the other side.
Upper lawn will have simple oval flower beds.
Oval gardens – reflected in historical writings & they were used by Jefferson at Monticello
Knox wanted a vegetable garden 100 yards from the house – new garden will follow Knox’s seed order
Formal but practical & surround by small fruit trees
Haha – walled ditch that allows views while keeping the animals out.
Will also include a great park – our plan includes paths that meander through the park & provide various vistas of the property.
There will also be a pond and farm fields
They were able to purchase the coal house and it now houses the museum – they will add the orchard behind it.
3 dedicated volunteers have created a revival garden
Boots on the ground event – memorial Day. Traveling Vietnam memorial wall.
Holiday open house – first weekend in December.
Q&A
Will you be able to take trees from the community?
It depends – they have to be historically accurate. Must be of the period of General Knox
Were women involved in landscape?
Abigail Adams was very adams was very interested. Women ran the farms – they weren’t able to influence their landscapes as much as their husbands
Can we look forward to livestock?
Yes if we can raise enough money to endow an appropriate staff.
Projected cost?
Lots over 10 years
Working with Medomak valley for heirloom seeds?
Yes for the vegetable garden
What are the hours of the museum?
Website
Have they started the capital campaign?
Informally –
Buckets for PAWS
Ron Paul – EREY
When a Rotarian donates $100 to the Foundation
District Conference
May 20 -22 at Sugarloaf
Annual Dinner – June 30 @ the Samoset, 6p cocktails – 7p dinner $30 per person
Next Week
Bergelin exchange student Iceland
Community Service Committee
Wednesday, 7 am - Anderson Inn