Edgerton Park

Edgerton
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Wall, gate and gatehouse in 2010
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Location	75 Cliff Street, New Haven, Connecticut
Coordinates	41°20′4″N 72°54′51″W
Area	20 acres (8.1 ha)
Built	1909
Architect	Robert Storer Stephenson
Architectural style	Tudor Revival, Country Place Era landscape
NRHP reference No.	88001469[1]
Added to NRHP	September 19, 1988

Edgerton Park, also known as the Frederick F. Brewster Estate, is a 20-acre (8.1 ha) public park on Whitney Avenue, straddling the New Haven–Hamden town line in Connecticut.

It is site of the demolished Victorian home of Eli Whitney II, known as "Ivy Nook". In 1909, it became the estate of industrialist Frederick F. Brewster, with a new Tudor-style mansion constructed named Edgerton for its location on the edge of town.^[2] The mansion was demolished in 1964, pursuant to Brewster's wishes, after the death of his wife, and the property was donated to the city. The present landscape was designed by Robert Storer Stephenson in 1909.^{[3]: 4, 6}

The property was listed as historic district on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.^[1] In 1988, the district included seven contributing buildings, eight other contributing structures, and one contributing object.^[1]

Features

The 22-acre park features the original wall, greenhouses, carriage house, gatehouse, and bridge from the Brewster estate.^[4] There is also a large fountain and community gardens. The Sarah T. Crosby Conservatory in the Community Greenhouses features a rain forest exhibit, a dry landscape with desert plants, and orchids.

The Elm Shakespeare Company has been offering outdoor summer performances in Edgerton Park since 1995.^[5]

Edgerton Park Conservancy

Edgerton Park Conservancy is a non-profit, volunteer organization dedicated to the needs of Edgerton Park.^[6] It works to restore and maintain the buildings and grounds, and offers education programs for schools and the community in the conservatory.^[7] The conservancy works in partnership with the city of New Haven, which owns the property.

G.R.O.W.E.R.S., a horticultural program for handicapped adults, offers plants for sale in the greenhouse.^[8]

Gallery

• 
  1909 Conservatory
• 
  1909 Carriage House
• 
  1991 Brewster Fountain
• 
  Edgerton Park with Brewster Fountain
• 
  Edgerton Park greenhouse in January 2017

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in New Haven, Connecticut
• National Register of Historic Places listings in New Haven County, Connecticut

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
2. "About the Park and its Scope". Edgerton Park Conservancy. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
3. Janice L. Elliott and Marian Staye (March 10, 1988). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Edgerton". National Park Service. and Accompanying 17 photos from 1988, and 2 of mansion in 1960 and 1964 (captions on page 10 of text document)
4. "Edgerton Park: New Haven's English Manor Garden". New Haven Urbanism. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
5. "Official site". Elm Shakespeare Company. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
6. "Get Involved". Edgerton Park Conservancy. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
7. "Randall Beach: Every day at Edgerton Park is a gift". New Haven Register. August 29, 2015. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
8. "Official site". GROWERS. Retrieved November 9, 2016.

External links

• Edgerton Park Conservancy