Stamford -- Marion Castle

Object Details

Varying Form: Also known as Terre Bonne.
General: Postcard circa 1915-1930.; This 1.7-acre garden site was established in 1915. The grounds of Marion Castle, the home constructed by motion picture pioneer Frank J. Marion, originally included five acres, but the portion located directly on Long Island Sound has since been subdivided. The original garden design by Wadley & Smythe was typical of a grand house and included allées, perennial borders, an orchard, a vegetable garden, and a tennis court. A terrace running the width of the property below the house was laid out as a parterre of flower beds. Unfortunately, only some of the trees, walls, and paths still exist. The property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Persons associated with the garden include: Frank J. and Florence H. Marion (former owners, 1915-1963); David and Martha Cogan (former owners, 1963-1978); Gordon Micunis and Jay Kobrin (former owners, 1978-1998); Joseph Howland Hunt (architect, 1915); Hunt & Hunt (architects, 1915); and Wadley & Smythe (landscape architects, 1915).

Former owner: Marion, Frank J.; Marion, Florence H.; Cogan, David; Cogan, Martha; Micunis, Gordon; Kobrin, Jay
Architect: Hunt, Joseph Howland; Hunt & Hunt
Landscape architect: Wadley & Smythe
Collection Collector: Marchand, Richard

Place: United States of America -- Connecticut -- Fairfield County -- Stamford; Marion Castle (Stamford, Connecticut)

Topic: Gardens -- Connecticut -- Stamford; Mansions; Flower gardening; Flower beds; Walled gardens; Garden walks; Ornamental shrubs

Former owner: Marion, Frank J.; Marion, Florence H.; Cogan, David; Cogan, Martha; Micunis, Gordon; Kobrin, Jay
Architect: Hunt, Joseph Howland; Hunt & Hunt
Landscape architect: Wadley & Smythe

See more items in: Richard Marchand historical postcard collection (35mm slides); Richard Marchand historical postcard collection (35mm slides) / Connecticut

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

Collection Citation: Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, Richard Marchand historical postcard 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.

Bibliography: Garden has been featured in De Witt H. Fessenden, "Three Connecticut Country Houses," The Architectural Record, Vol. XL, No. 5 (November 1916), pp. 403-418. Garden has been featured in Marion Castle: History Preserved (Stamford: Stamford Historical Society, 1985).

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.