New Haven -- Community Gardens at Edgerton Park

Object Details

General: As a stipulation of Frederick Brewster's will, the grounds, designed by Robert Storer Stephenson in the English tradition, were given to the City of New Haven for a park. In 1972, The Edgerton Garden Center (now Edgerton Park Conservancy, Inc.) was incorporated for horticultural education. The center has expanded to include the community greenhouses, community gardens, the Sarah T. Crosby Conservatory, a cooperative program with the New Haven Rehabilitation Center, and restoration and maintenance activities in the Park. The community garden at Edgerton Park was started in 1982 on the site of the former Brewster Estate kitchen and cutting gardens. Approximately 74 plots 15 x 25 feet are leased annually. Divided by bark mulch paths, they are laid out around a large circle of grass, enclosed by yew hedges, which forms a focal point for the area. Water and a compost area are available on site.; Persons and firms associated with the garden include: Eli Whitney (former owner); Eli Whitney, II. (former owner, ? - 1855); Stephan Whitney (former owner, 1855 - ?); Carolyn Whitney Soydam Crane Baldwin (former owner, ? - 1905); Mr. and Mrs. Frederick F. Brewster (former owner, 1906 - 1965); City of New Haven (owner, 1965 - present); and Stephenson and Wheeler (architects, 1909).

Former owner: Whitney, Eli, 1765-1825; Whitney, Stephan; Suydam, Carolyn; Brewster, Frederick F.; Whitney, Eli, II.
Architect: Stephenson, Robert Storer
Creator: Stephenson and Wheeler--architects.
Provenance: Garden Club of New Haven
Collection Creator: Garden Club of America

Place: Community Gardens at Edgerton Park (New Haven, Connecticut).; United States of America -- Connecticut -- New Haven County -- New Haven

Former owner: Whitney, Eli, 1765-1825; Whitney, Stephan; Suydam, Carolyn; Brewster, Frederick F.; Whitney, Eli, II.
Architect: Stephenson, Robert Storer
Creator: Stephenson and Wheeler--architects.
Provenance: Garden Club of New Haven

See more items in: The Garden Club of America collection; The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Gardens / Connecticut

Sponsor: A project to describe images in this finding aid received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.

Custodial History: The Garden Club of New Haven facilitated the submission of this garden's documentation.

Collection Citation: Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America 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: Community Gardens at Edgerton Park related holdings consist of 1 folder (24 35 mm. slides)