Harkness Memorial State Park
Encyclopedia
Harkness Memorial State Park (230 acres) is a public park and botanical garden
located in Waterford, Connecticut
, on the Long Island Sound
.
The park was formerly Eolia, the estate of Edward Harkness, heir to a fortune initiated by his father's substantial investments in John D. Rockefeller
's Standard Oil
, who purchased the mansion in 1907. From 1918 to 1929, extensive improvements were made by landscape designer Beatrix Jones Farrand. Eolia was left to Connecticut
in 1950 and became part of the State Park
system in 1952.
As Eolia—Harkness Estate, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1986. The 220 acre (0.8903092 km²) district that was listed included 15 contributing buildings and two other contributing structures.
The park contains a 42-room mansion, with a surrounding area containing an Italian, Oriental, and Cutting Gardens, and greenhouse
s.
During the 1990s, an extensive restoration of the Harkness Estate and grounds occurred, supported by the State of Connecticut. The lead restoration architect for this project was British
architect Roger Clarke (architect) of Canton, Connecticut
, with contributions by British architect Peter Clarke
and consultant on historic gardens Rob Camp Fuoco. At the start of the restoration, the "bones" of the gardens and rudimentary shrubs and perennials were looked at and installed. During the following ten years, a dedicated group of volunteers, the Friends of Harkness, and competent park supervisors and staff have refined the gardens and brought them forward to their current beauty and historic relevance.
Botanical garden
A botanical garden The terms botanic and botanical, and garden or gardens are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word botanic is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is a well-tended area displaying a wide range of plants labelled with their botanical names...
located in Waterford, Connecticut
Waterford, Connecticut
Waterford is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. It is named after Waterford, Ireland. The population was 19,152 at the 2000 census. The town center is listed as a census-designated place .-Geography:...
, on the Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the United States between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound. On its western end the sound is bounded by the Bronx...
.
The park was formerly Eolia, the estate of Edward Harkness, heir to a fortune initiated by his father's substantial investments in John D. Rockefeller
John D. Rockefeller
John Davison Rockefeller was an American oil industrialist, investor, and philanthropist. He was the founder of the Standard Oil Company, which dominated the oil industry and was the first great U.S. business trust. Rockefeller revolutionized the petroleum industry and defined the structure of...
's Standard Oil
Standard Oil
Standard Oil was a predominant American integrated oil producing, transporting, refining, and marketing company. Established in 1870 as a corporation in Ohio, it was the largest oil refiner in the world and operated as a major company trust and was one of the world's first and largest multinational...
, who purchased the mansion in 1907. From 1918 to 1929, extensive improvements were made by landscape designer Beatrix Jones Farrand. Eolia was left to Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
in 1950 and became part of the State Park
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
system in 1952.
As Eolia—Harkness Estate, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1986. The 220 acre (0.8903092 km²) district that was listed included 15 contributing buildings and two other contributing structures.
The park contains a 42-room mansion, with a surrounding area containing an Italian, Oriental, and Cutting Gardens, and greenhouse
Greenhouse
A greenhouse is a building in which plants are grown. These structures range in size from small sheds to very large buildings...
s.
During the 1990s, an extensive restoration of the Harkness Estate and grounds occurred, supported by the State of Connecticut. The lead restoration architect for this project was British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
architect Roger Clarke (architect) of Canton, Connecticut
Canton, Connecticut
Canton is a rural town, incorporated in 1806, in Hartford County, Connecticut. The population was 8,840 at the 2000 census, and has grown to 10,292 as of the 2010 census. It is bordered by Granby on the north, Simsbury on the east, Avon and Burlington on the south, New Hartford on the west, and...
, with contributions by British architect Peter Clarke
Peter Clarke
Peter Clarke may refer to:Peter J. Clarke Born 1946, Owns and operates Clarke Gallery, Newburyport, Ma. www.clarkegallery.com*Peter Clarke , child welfare activist in Wales...
and consultant on historic gardens Rob Camp Fuoco. At the start of the restoration, the "bones" of the gardens and rudimentary shrubs and perennials were looked at and installed. During the following ten years, a dedicated group of volunteers, the Friends of Harkness, and competent park supervisors and staff have refined the gardens and brought them forward to their current beauty and historic relevance.