Cultural Landscape Report for the Green Hill Parcel, Frederick Law Olmsted NHS

Beagan, Christopher; Ribeiro Jones, Angelina

The Green Hill parcel at Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site comprises 5.31 acres along Warren Street at the southern extent of the park’s legislative boundary (7.21 acres). The six lots that constitute the 5.31-acre Green Hill parcel were transferred from the Brookline Conservation Land Trust to the National Park Service in 2001. The National Park Service also holds an access easement for one additional lot along Warren Street (0.15 acres) located roughly at the center of the 5.31-acre holding. This lot provides abutters, including the owners of the historic Green Hill mansion and a newer residence in the location of the property’s historic barn complex, access to their homes from Warren Street. Research on the Green Hill parcel was initiated in 2015 in response to a request for technical assistance on the care of the Green Hill parcel landscape. Initial research was targeted on identifying the construction and installation dates of key resources on the parcel, including the stone wall, spruce pole fence, and ornamental plantings. Based on this research, a summary history was developed and supplemented with an analysis of historic and existing conditions. This information was used concurrently to enhance the updated National Register of Historic Places documentation for the park. Subsequently, based on conversations with park staff and the owners of the historic Green Hill mansion, this report was expanded to include treatment recommendations for the 5.31-acre landscape. Presented within the context of the landscape’s significance, existing conditions, and use, these recommendations are intended to provide the park with a vision and schematic plans for improvements to the Green Hill parcel that will allow the landscape to more closely reflect its historic character. The historic view form Faristed’s Conservatory is the emphasis of this effort, with the ancillary goals of (1) improving ecosystem function through removal of invasive vegetation and the creation of wildlife habitat and (2) enhancing privacy for adjacent residents by screening views to and from Warren Street. While this report addresses many considerations related to these recommendations, additional design and planning work is needed prior to implementation. Research for this report was initiated by Daisy Chinburg, SCA Conservation Associate, in July 2013, with additional research and inventory by Chris Beagan, Historical Landscape Architect; Shanasia Sylman, SCA Conservation Associate; and Sasha Bachier, Hispanic Access Foundation Intern in June and July 2015. Repositories consulted include Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site Archives, Harvard University’s Frances Loeb Library Special Collections (John Charles Olmsted’s Papers, circa 1860–1920), Historic New England, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Archives, Massachusetts Historical Society (Gardner Family Papers, 1772–1915, Ms. N-1273), Massachusetts State Archives, and the Town of Brookline Massachusetts. Following meetings with park staff and neighbors, treatment recommendations were developed over the summer of 2016 by Angelina Jones, SCA Conservation Associate, and Jenna Gupta, Cultural Resources Diversity Intern, with assistance from park and Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation staff.