Frederick Law Olmsted          SUBJECT FILE          Private Estates          Elm Park ca. 1880Elm Park.
Notes on the Plan.

The drawing submitted presents 
a modification in some particulars 
of the original design.

The leading objects of the modifications 
are (1) to obtain a [more full 
convenient and fitting] better entrance and 
approach to the house; (2) to relieve 
a defect in the site of the house; (3) 
to give a more appropriate and harmonious 
character to the ground South of 
[the present lawn; (4) to restrict the views 
or make harmonious and pleasing features 
in the views on the grounds more conspicuous 
and others less so.]of the present lawn; (4) to screen out 
unpleasing elements in the views.of the [present lawn; (4) to [leave] restrict the 
views over the grounds within pleasing 
limits.] (5) to introduce a chapel; 
(6) to better furnish the grounds and 
give them a more refined [character.] aspect.
(1) The position of the [entrance is] [gateway is] entrance is 
so changed as to avoid the short 
turns of a carriage, [entering] approaching it [more gradually 
[?ssing]] and the [approach while from it] road from the gate 
to the house, while
more direct, is also more 
graceful. [than a] 
[Ellen Park
notes on the Plan,
and Planting Sist.
notes]

(2) In general effect the site
of the house is now undesi-
rably depressed and with
the growth of trees and shrubs in the vicinity
[above it] it will be more so.
This defect of its position
may be in same degree rebuilt
and the house gain in slate
liness and dignity by [the 
arrangement of eight terraces][an artificial]
reducing the natural surface
[a depression] of the ground
for a short distance on [the
South its] the South and Southwest
[sides] and by the introduction of the
features indicated on the plan,
[and] the introduction of which is
more fully shown by the following
profiles.
 I
Profile on the line E F
II
Profile on a line following the
curve of the lawn Terrace wall
from C to D
III
Profile in a line following the middle
of the approach road from A to B showing
excavation required.indicated in the plan

The two terraces indicated
in the plan will be most
effective [of] for the designed purpose if sustained by walls
of granite, with [a coping and]
coping's and ballustrades of reddish
sand stone elegantly designed and worked. If this suggestion
is adopted there should be piers
at the ends of [the] both [of both] walls and at
[the several] intermediate points
[mar?lid] of the upper one. Those piers will
be suitably surmounted by
vases and statues.vases should [may] be wrought
in the same sand stone with
the ballustrade , or may be of
[of] porcelain, terra cotta or bronze. -
[If stat] If statues are used they
will best be sturdy figures
of bronze. If a marble they
will need boxing in winter
and in summer will be too
[remarkably conspicuous] prominent.
[If stone work is and vases
or statues are used they should
be of elegant design and
excellent workmanship and
if this if there should be thought too]

If the arrangements thus suggested
are thought to be too expensive,
it will be better to
avoid walls and stone work
altogether and form the terraces
[with banks with slo]
with turfed slopes, which
will in a measure [answer?] the
main purpose in view but less
effectively.
[Elm Park
Notes on the Plan -
The drawing indicates the plan]60
[Elm Park,
Notes on the Plan.
The plan of the grounds as now laid out is [are]
proposed to be [improved] modified in several
particulars, and the drawing
submitted presents the plan 
as modified.
The leading objects in view are
[are] (1) [t]To obtain a more fitting and
convenient entrance and approach
to the house; 2 to retain aspects [of its] in the site of the house,
 [2 To] 3d, to obtain a more appropriate
and harmonious [and beautiful] character in the
ground to the South of the present lawn. 4th
[to limit] to restrict the views over the grounds
within pleasing limits, 5th to introduce a chapel
[6 and 6th to open] 6th to better furnish the grounds and
give them a richer and more refined aspect.]

tions of Pines and Cedars will
[hide] screen out of the view
of the lawn the present sometimes [mud banks
and other un-sightly and incongruous] unpleasing
back ground.]
3 the proper imprint of the
marshy land south of the present lawn
[low ground between the house
and the locality last indicated]
requires a substantial tide gate
at the natural drainage outlet on the boundary
and the best practicable under
drainage. This having been provided
the whole surface is to be smoothly
graded and cultivated and [finally]
laid down to turf. [and so as as an extension
of the lawn.] It should finally appear as a
park like extension of the lawn.4 a [garden] summer house, arbor and
trellis to be [around?] with
vine foliage is indicated East
of the locality last referred to. This
with [a plenty? of Pines and Cedars] the plantations indicated
[? views over]
will screen out the adjoining [tidal
water and marsh] marshy ground
which at low water is unpleasing.
The Cemetery further to the
[5 The chapel is [placed] so placed
that it can be approached by a carriage
or by a short and direct walk from
[the house. It will serve in this position serve immediately
to keep the cemetery out of
view and will yet as the trees grow
will have will be partly secluded
by them forms among them.][Elm Park
Notes upon the Plan,
and Planting Sist.?
notes. With the present arrangements
the base of the house
appears undesirably depressed
and with the growth of foliage
about it this]

[Eastward?] is to be obscured
by the plantations along the
border of the property as
indicated.

[Positions for vases or larger
flower pots of porcelain, [or]
terra cotta or marble are indicated
at H.H. They should stand
on pedestals of 18 inches diameter][the plan shows two terraces which are]
[The terraces are] The two terraces shown on the plan are to be sustained
and defined by walls which
above the surface of the ground 
on the lawn side are to be
of cut stone and surmounted
by a coping. There are to
be pairs at the terminations
of both terrace walls and
at the several [?dial] points indicated
in the upper wall.
[Each of these pairs will be 
a suitable position for the
pedestal of a statue or vase.]
These pairs will be suitably surmounted
by statues or vases.]

5th the chapel is [a] so placed
that as the trees grow about it
[it ? its ?] it will be
somewhat secluded, yet
will be accessible by a 
carriage [and] as well as by a short
[direct] walk from the house.
The steep bank below it is
to be set with [stone] rocks and [planted]
so planted and managed as to
appear [as] a natural ledge
half overgrown with low
foliage.

[(1) The entrance is placed at
the corner of the grounds and
the approach given [much]
greater [direct] directness at
the same time more grace.
(1) the position of the entrance is so changed
as to avoid two short turns
of a carriage now generally necessary
and the approach
while [made] now direct is
also more graceful and
easier.]

(6) all desirable changes in the
present plantations north and
west of the house are to be directed
in the ground, it being
impracticable to specify [thus?]
verbally or upon the map.
Additions to the plantations
proposed are indicated in a
[special?] planting map to which
reference is made in the 
following.
Planting Sist.
[*FLO notes
no date
ELM PARK (private place*]
Description of modification of plan.
X

[* TR
Apr 21*I]