Object Details
- Varying Form
- The Clearing, formerly known as.
- General
- During the Revolutionary era, the area was part of a farm. An estate, once known as The Clearing, was created on the site in 1889 by John Hornor Wisner. He built the present Colonial revival residence, which now serves as the administrative and educational center for the Arboretum. Mr. Wisner plotted the original gardens and Mrs. Wisner planted the first daffodils. Each April the daffodil display, enlarged from earlier times, is a major Arboretum attraction. In 1916, the new owners, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Reeves, hired a New York landscape architect to develop an overall design for the property. Mrs. Reeves was also a member of the Summit Garden Club. The Reeves family increased the daffodil plantings and, around 1925, started the rose garden. The Charles L. Reed family became the last private owners in the 1960s, adding the herb garden and creating the woodland trails.
- The property became a public institution, the Reeves-Reed Arboretum, in 1974, when Summit citizens acted to protect the 12.5 acres of woodlands, glacial contours and dells, rolling lawns, and inspired gardens from encroaching development.
- Persons associated with the garden include John and Isabelle Wisner (former owners, 1888-1918); Richard E. Reeves and Susie Graham Reeves (former owners, 1918-1968); Charles L. Reeves, Jr. and Ann Reeves Reed (former owners, 1968-1974); Calvert Vaux (landscape architect); Ellen Shipman (landscape architect); Carl F. Pilat (landscape architect, 1925); Babb, Cook & Willard (New York City, architect); Wodell & Cottrell (garden designers).
- Former owner
- Wisner, John
- Wisner, Isabelle
- Reeves, Richard E.
- Reeves, Susie Graham
- Reed, Charles L., Jr
- Reed, Ann Reeves
- Landscape architect
- Vaux, Calvert, 1824-1895
- Shipman, Ellen Biddle, 1869-1950
- Pilat, Carl F.
- Provenance
- Poinier, Lois W.
- Adams, Molly, 1918-2003
- Weller, Eleanor C.
- Architect
- Babb, Cook & Willard
- Garden designer
- Wodell & Cottrell
- Provenance
- The Summit Garden Club
- Collection Creator
- Adams, Molly, 1918-2003
- Place
- Reeves-Reed Arboretum (Summit, New Jersey)
- United States of America -- New Jersey -- Union -- Summit
- Topic
- Gardens -- New Jersey -- Summit
- Former owner
- Wisner, John
- Wisner, Isabelle
- Reeves, Richard E.
- Reeves, Susie Graham
- Reed, Charles L., Jr
- Reed, Ann Reeves
- Landscape architect
- Vaux, Calvert, 1824-1895
- Shipman, Ellen Biddle, 1869-1950
- Pilat, Carl F.
- Provenance
- Poinier, Lois W.
- Adams, Molly, 1918-2003
- Weller, Eleanor C.
- Architect
- Babb, Cook & Willard
- Garden designer
- Wodell & Cottrell
- Provenance
- The Summit Garden Club
- See more items in
- Maida Babson Adams American garden collection.
- Maida Babson Adams American garden collection. / Series 1: Garden Images / New Jersey
- Custodial History
- The Summit Garden Club donated lantern slides in 2015.
- Archival Repository
- Archives of American Gardens
- Identifier
- AAG.ADM, File NJ052
- Type
- Archival materials
- Collection Citation
- Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, Maida Babson Adams American garden collection.
- 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.
- Scope and Contents
- The folder includes worksheets, maps and other information.
- 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.
- Record ID
- ebl-1562717420525-1562717421318-2
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