From the Director: Restoring Our Historic Garden Structures
From the May/June 2022 George Eastman Museum bulletin
Gardens were crucial to George Eastman’s estate, used for relaxation, entertaining, and as a backdrop for promotional photography to market Eastman Kodak products. Today they are integral to our visitors’ experience, popular for weddings and for event photography, and enjoyed by the community.
its restoration is complete.
Landscape architect Alling Stephen DeForest provided the overall landscape design for the Terrace Garden and the Rock Garden and
collaborated with architect J. Foster Warner, who designed their pergola and grape arbor, respectively. Eastman later commissioned architect Claude Bragdon to design the West Garden and its loggia. The structure in each garden plays a key role in its aesthetic and in the experience of those in the garden.
These structures are exposed to Rochester’s winters, increasingly frequent freezes and thaws, and ample precipitation. The result over time has been severe deterioration.
In 2014, Bero Architecture conducted a condition survey on the pergola, grape arbor, and loggia and identified the work needed to restore these structures and better protect them in the future. Wood rot has taken a heavy toll on the beams, rafters, and lattices on the pergola and grape arbor and, critically, has compromised the ability of the wood columns to support the grape arbor. The ceiling of the loggia must be replaced because of a loss of cohesion caused by the wide range of outdoor temperatures.
In 2019, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation awarded the George Eastman Museum a grant of $600,000 to support the restoration of our historic garden structures and improve accessibility to the gardens. The project will address urgent and necessary repairs to these structures so that museum visitors, community members, and future generations may enjoy them.
Accessibility is essential to providing a welcoming experience for all visitors. The project includes improved access to all three gardens. The regrading and resetting of brick walkways will enhance equal access to the
Schuyler C. Townson Terrace Garden and the Rock Garden. All accessibility alterations will be sensitive to historic preservation and well integrated into each garden so that, wherever possible, those with limited mobility will be able to take the same pathways as other visitors. Parity of access is always our objective.
The restoration of the Terrace Garden pergola and improvements to its walkways have just been completed. The ancient wisteria vines have been returned to their upright positions along the pergola. Replanting of the
garden beds has begun, with the invaluable participation of our volunteers. This summer, the plantings will not be mature, but the garden will be beautiful.
We are grateful to an anonymous individual who contributed $50,000 to support restoration of the pergola. We also thank several individuals who have generously donated to this project.
Although we have completed work on the Terrace Garden, we still have a $100,000 deficit. The Eastman Museum cannot proceed with work on the Rock Garden and the West Garden until we have received contributions to eliminate this funding shortfall.
We are particularly eager to start work on the Rock Garden, where the need for repairs and new structural elements is most imperative. Until restoration is complete, we must close the Rock Garden to the public due to the current condition of its grape arbor and brick walkways.
With gratitude to everyone who has supported the progress that our museum has made in restoring areas of the historic mansion and gardens, we hope that you will visit us soon to enjoy the replanted Terrace Garden and its beautifully restored pergola.
Your charitable gift will help make progress possible. For more information, please contact Bridget Harvey, Assistant Director of Development, at bharvey@eastman.org or (585) 327–4882.
Bruce Barnes, Ph.D.
Ron and Donna Fielding Director
May/June 2022 Bulletin
