Bedminster -- Spook Farm

Object Details

General: In the possession of the Hyde family from 1929 to 2006, this south-facing, two-tiered garden incorporated a design by Umberto Innocenti and Ferruccio Vitale from the early 1930s, when Innocenti worked for the firm Vitale & Geiffert. The garden featured boxwood hedges, formal flower beds, and a small pond with a central fountain sculpture of a boy and dolphin, made by an Italian stonemason. Fieldstone walls with gargoyles divided the upper and lower gardens, while low fieldstone walls encircled the lower garden, overlooking fields and woods beyond. Between 1954 and 1992 the farm was the site of an art gallery operated by former owner and sculptor Condict F. Hyde.; Persons and firms associated with the garden include: Umberto Innocenti (landscape architect, ca. 1930); Ferruccio Vitale (landscape architect, ca. 1930); Vitale & Geiffert (landscape architects, ca. 1930); Mrs. Leslie Hyde (former owner, 1929-?); and Hugh M. and Condict F. Hyde (former owners, before 2006).

Place: Spook Farm (Bedminster, New Jersey); United States of America -- New Jersey -- Somerset County -- Bedminster

See more items in: Maida Babson Adams American garden collection.; Maida Babson Adams American garden collection. / Series 1: Garden Images / New Jersey

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.

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.

Related Materials: Spook Farm related holdings consist of 1 folder (9 35 mm. slides)