United States of America -- Maine -- Hancock -- Northeast Harbor
Scope and Contents:
The folder includes worksheets and information about the history of the site.
General:
The first action taken by the owners of the one and one-third acres property was to replace the 19th century four-story shingle style cottage used as a reading room by the original owners, the Wheelwright family, with a modern multi-level house. The property is on a rocky cliff on Mount Desert Island facing the Atlantic Ocean with a 270 degree view. The differing levels and buildings are connected with native stone or wooden steps and wooden and native stone slab bridges over a wet weather stream. There is a shade garden nestled between buildings, a poppy-filled terrace shaded by tall evergreens that has two huge saucers, one a birdbath filled with water and the other a container garden filled with succulents. On the path that descends to the ocean there is a teak pergola with pink climbing roses and outdoor seating. There are two cutting gardens, a colorful one at the foundation of the house and the other filled with shade tolerant perennials under old growth fir trees. Further down the path there is a rock garden known as the hidden garden, with pots of grasses, herbs and succulents.
Most of the original native trees were preserved despite the new construction on the site, and were supplemented with other native specimens. Weather resistant turned concrete containers that are made in Maine and other planted containers are placed throughout on the stone steps and stone terrace as well as on the house's deck and bridge to the guest house/garage. Native grasses and mosses also fit into this garden's design.
Persons associated with the garden include Mary C. Wheelwright (former owner, -1919); E. Jeffries and H.H. McClennan (former owners, 1919- ); Henry C. Rivers (former owner, 1960's); Gerald L. Miller (former owner, 1971- ); Alex and Sally Tyson Valenzuela Bock (former owners, 1982-1995); Karen Kettlety (landscape architect, 2000- ); Christopher J. Dindal of Morgan Wheelock, Inc. (landscape architect, 2005- ); Dennis Bracale (landscape architect, 2007- )
Related Materials:
Western Way related holdings consist of 1 folder (31 digital images)
Collection Restrictions:
Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America collection.
Sponsor:
A project to describe images in this finding aid received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.
