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April 19, 2006

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Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Possibly More Historic Loutrel Briggs Gardens Located in Pelham?

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There is new evidence that several additional Loutrel Briggs gardens may exist in Pelham. Regular readers of the Historic Pelham Blog may recall that I recently have identified two gardens in Pelham that were designed by the renowned landscape architect Loutrel Winslow Briggs (1893 – 1977). Briggs is widely noted as among the “Pioneers of American Landscape Design” who literally shaped our history. See Birnbaum, Charles A. & Karson, Robin, eds., Pioneers of American Landscape Design, pp. 35-37 (The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 2000).

Briggs gardens are known to exist at 20 Beech Tree Lane in the Village of Pelham Manor and 180 Pelhamdale Avenue in the Village of Pelham. See:

Thursday, October 20, 2005: Historic Loutrel Briggs Garden "Discovered" in Pelham Manor

Monday, December 19, 2005: Second Loutrel Briggs Garden "Discovered" in Pelham

The nation's expert on Loutrel Briggs and his landscape designs is James Cothran. Mr. Cothran has provided me with an index of projects undertaken by Loutrel Briggs during his lifetime. That list contains references to projects performed for a number of homeowners in Pelham, NY. Surprisingly, the list also indicates that Briggs prepared a "General Plan of Grounds" for Prospect Hill School in December 1932, shortly after the school opened. According to the list, Briggs performed the following projects for Pelham homeowners:

"Mr. Lockwood Barr
Pelham Manor, NY
Sept. 1928
Planting Plan of Garden (T)"

"Mrs. R. E. Coulson
Pelham Manor, NY
May 5, 1924
Planting Plan of Flower Garden (T)"

"Davis Laing Esq.
Pelham Manor, NY
July 31, 1929
Construction Plan of Garden (T)"

"David Laing Esq.
Pelham Manor, NY
Aug. 19, 1929
Lattice Screen Detail (T)"

"Prospect Hill School
Hudson St.
Pelham, NY
Dec. 1932
General Plan of Grounds (T)"

"Mrs. Holton Scott
Pelham, NY
November 1, 1926
Planting Plan of Garden (T)"

"Mr. Homer Sullivan
Pelham Wood [sic]
Westchester Co., NY
No Date
Residence (P)"

I have been able to determine the locations of the Coulson and Scott homes, but have not yet been able to determine the locations of the Laing and Sullivan residences. I will provide additional information on the gardens in a few days.

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posted by Blake A. Bell @ 5:03 AM Comment

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Historic Pelham Blog Archive April 19, 2006

Historic Pelham Blog Archive
April 19, 2006