Frederick Law Olmsted Subject File Private Estates Miscellany 1865-87 & UDX Estates B 1str 1865 F.L.O. to C. V. San Francisco, March 12, 1865 My dear Vaux:— I am getting on with my cemetery, which will be of a very elaborate and complicated pattern. Miller is employed in staking it out. I have also made a preliminary reconnoisance of a large piece of ground held by the college of California, which I propose to lay out upon the Llewellyn plan. It is an accursed country with no trees and no turf, and its a hard job to make sure of any beauty. I have given plans for improvement of a country seat and I will try to send you copies, so you can see how I do it. X Henry Clay Moses - Exeter N. H. 1867(?) said to have been laid out by a landscape gardener, believed to be F.L.O. Sr. Mr. Wood (of O.B. Architr Dept) [*X Hamlin? B 1sts.*] Washington, Nov. 6, 1882. F. L. O. Sr., to J. C. O. Dear John; I have received yours of -. [*sic*] I am glad you had the pleasant evening at the Schlessingers. I called on Harney to report to him the general satisfaction with the house and he was pleased. I sent your plan at once to Sturgis saying that so far as he was concerned I approved it, that is to say that the wall and grades of the sweep were all right. I did not like what appeared to be your intention in the grade of the space between the veranda and the wall but did not give it much attention and I saw that it could be easily made right. The wall, however, appears to me essential. I have never pictured the place to myself without it, and when I try to it don't look right. It seems to me a strong well-defined architectural limit to the sweep, if necessary and if it is vetoed, I should say let the work stop at once, till it can be restudied. I don't think that I should take the same lines without the wall as with it. As however, you have been dealing independently of my understanding with Mr. Hamlin and Mr. Driscoll, I suppose I had better back out and let you manage it. Mr. Hamlin told me that he would build the wall if I advised. I did advise it and have never advised or countenanced anything else. I can't say that I think it will be a creditable job without the wall, though perhaps by a restudy it may be made so. If it rested with me, I should stop the work till a new plan is made, in conjunction with Mr. Sturgis. In fact, I don't think I should ever have advised the sweep without a wall and if Mr. Hamlin had made it a condition to dispense with it I don't see but I should advise him to abandon it. If you are quite sure it will come out creditably, however, go ahead. You must of course get Sturgis to revise his plan to which as last in view, the wall seems to me essential. You can address me till you have further at the Morton House. There are embarrassments here and I can't yet judge how long I may have to stay but hope to get home by Saturday night, Affectionately, F.L.O. [*Is this the same place as that of Chas W. Hubbard (late client) From Miss Bullard*] IX Boston Aug 10 1883. J. C. Olmsted Esq My dear Sir Your form of the 30th was directed to Weston, instead of to Auburndale or Boston, & I only got it the morning of the day you went to my house, & when I went home in the afternoon, I was told you had been there. I had grade staking set from the house to the road, & I do not know of anything that surveyors could do more for me. It appears to me that all I neednow is a little good advice as to where the house road should join the main road. Since you were there I have had the humps of gravel removed, & it may be more easy to locate the roadway. When I find we cannot go further without advice I will write to you Yrs truly Charles T. Hubbard [*HVH guess - might be father of Charles W. Hubbard - later client*] 1 4 June '85 H. H. Richardson Esq Architect The plan of Mr Paine's place requires that there should be [large filling both] [a large] a large embankments on the north and the South sides of the house. [We?] The plan which I have proposed for the outlines and details of these embankments may be subject to modification and I presume if Mr. Paine has directed that it should not be proceeded upon until his return, it is with a view to some possible modification1 uncertain. But a large [the] embankment in [both] each side [is absolutely] [necessary] is indispensable, and I should think that at least all of the material obtained in excavating cellars &c will be required for it. To take it further away than is necessary will [simply] add to the cost of the work and I strongly advise against it Martin Bremmer Esq 22 Feby 1886 My Dear Sir For thickening and spreading out the base of your border plantations I suggest the following small trees and shrubs. Acer striatum Amelanchier botriapium Aralia spinosa Celtis occidentalis Cercis canadensis (4) Eleagnus argentea Halesia tetraptera Kohlreuteria paniculata Ptelia trifoliataMy Dear Sir For thickening spreading and 2 Sophora Japonica Rhus typhina In the dry " glabra rocky " copallina ground (1) " aromatica Virgilia lutea Magnolia glauca (1) Azalea nicosa (3) Berberis vulgaris (4) " " purpurea Prinos verticillata (2) Rubus adorata (2) Rubus — var. Rhamnus catharticus (1)(6) Clethra alnifolia3 (3) Cornus Florida (5) Cornus of all other sorts available. (1) (5) Genista tinctoria (2) (4) Ligustrum vulgari (1) (4) Myrica cuifera (1) (4) Comptonia aspenifolia (5) Magnolia glauca (4) Hippophox rhamnoides (1) Forsythia suspensa (5) Salix laurifolia (4) Viburnum lantana (1) (4) Spireas of all sorts (3) Crataegus Crusgalli 4 Any of these may be set at any point and will in a few years merge naturally enough with the native growth. They are not unlikely to be found in any nursery though perhaps in no one will all be found at one time. I will indicate below where some will best be obtained. --------- (1) These marked thus are comparatively low and may be scattered along the face, spreading the base of this thicket.5 (2) Will be the best where you want low underwood in the shade to deepen the screen. (3) these were last year advertized at lower rates than they can be obtained hereabouts by Thomas Meehan, Philadelphia (4) I had last fall a private offer for these (small plants) at low rates from B. M. Watson of Plymouth - I will order them for you if you wish. (5) Offered by F. L. Temple, Cambridge. (6) Offered by J. M. Manning of Reading in large quantity 6 You intended I think to import some additional smooth leaved evergreens. I judge that you have Watner's Catalogue. I suggest that in addition to Rhododendrons and Kalmia Latifolia, you get some Kalmia Augustifolia and myrtilifolia, a few [diverse?] Rhodindrons, Andromeda floribunda and Catesbei and Azalea Amoena. Also that you get from Watner plants of Rhodora Canadensis which is likely to grow well in your low ground (with peat) a few of each of his brambles (Rubus fruticosa) and a lot of Sweet briar and St John's Wort for which his prices are low. I will give the order if you prefer to such limit of outlay as you may fix.ImportantEstate ?X? Newport May 23d/87 Wolcott Gibbs from Mrs Bustard Dear Olmsted. When you come down here next week come straight to my house. You shall have a drawing table & come & go just as you like, both as much or as little as you please to be perfectly at home. My house is at the corner of Gibbs Avenue & Catherine St or if you will let me know in good reason on which day & by which train youwill arrive I will [???d] down for June. I go up to Cambridge tomorrow 24th for my last week of college [?] I return here on Friday evening 27th inst. After that I have no engagements I shall remain at home Yours always Wolcott Gibbs Fred Law Olmsted Esq X letter of Dec. 26, 1889 to Mr. Roberts (filed V 1/2 Lake Wauconda) refers to desire of a Mr. Patterson to have FLO design his estate in Colorado FLO dubious. Mrs. O. Sr Aug 12/20 X Estates Mrs. O. says Mr. Jo. White was a very good client He would say to archt & FLO "You fellows, go ahead and do it."