Grosse Pointe -- FitzSimons Garden

Object Details

General: This two-thirds of an acre garden site was established in 1929 and was originally designed by Ellen Biddle Shipman. Over 70 years later, the garden (often called the Allington Garden after its original owners), still retains many of her original design elements, as well as some early plants and other material. The rear garden, surrounded by brick walls, creates an outdoor room characteristic of Shipman's designs. The central feature is a pair of perennial borders on either side of a brick walk, framed with a boxwood hedge. The current owners are actively restoring the garden and utilize plant material that was commonly used by Shipman in other gardens she designed for the same plant zone and climate. Persons associated with the garden include: Ellen Biddle Shipman (landscape architect, 1930); Barry Burton (landscape restoration advisor, 1997-1998); Mr. and Mrs. Courtenay D. Allington (former owners, 1929-1939); Mr. and Mrs. William R. Clark (former owners, 1939-1951); and Mr. and Mrs. Hal H. Smith, Jr. (former owners, 1951-1986).

Landscape architect: Shipman, Ellen Biddle, 1869-1950
Former owner: Allington, Courtenay D.; Allington, Courtenay D., Mrs.; Clark, William R.; Clark, William R., Mrs.; Smith, Hal H., Jr.; Smith, Hal H., Jr., Mrs.
Creator: FitzSimons, Marjorie Schnull Kitchen
Collection Landscape architect: Shipman, Ellen Biddle, 1869-1950

Place: FitzSimons Garden (Grosse Pointe, Michigan); United States of America -- Michigan -- Wayne County -- Grosse Pointe

Landscape architect: Shipman, Ellen Biddle, 1869-1950
Former owner: Allington, Courtenay D.; Allington, Courtenay D., Mrs.; Clark, William R.; Clark, William R., Mrs.; Smith, Hal H., Jr.; Smith, Hal H., Jr., Mrs.
Creator: FitzSimons, Marjorie Schnull Kitchen

See more items in: Ellen Shipman Garden Photography Collection; Ellen Shipman Garden Photography Collection / Gardens / Michigan

Sponsor: Cataloging of the Ellen Shipman Garden Photography Collection was made possible with support from the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative Pool, administered by the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum.

Collection Citation: Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, Ellen Shipman garden photography 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: [email protected].

Bibliography: Garden is mentioned (as the Allington Garden) in Judith B. Tankard, The Gardens of Ellen Biddle Shipman (Sagaponeck, NY: Sagapress, Inc., 1996), p. 193.

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: [email protected].

Related Materials: Cornell University, Ellen Shipman Papers, Ithaca, New York.