SOUTHERN ARISTOCRATIC GARDENS: POWER, PRIVILEGE, and PARTERRES by JANET LEE COLEMAN (Under the Direction of Joseph Disponzio) A
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
SOUTHERN ARISTOCRATIC GARDENS: POWER, PRIVILEGE, AND PARTERRES by JANET LEE COLEMAN (Under the Direction of Joseph Disponzio) ABSTRACT This thesis examines the design of antebellum gardens and their social and cultural implications. Its focus is Glenn Mary Plantation located in Hancock County, Georgia. Glenn Mary was the home of Mr. Theophilus J. Smith, a successful businessman, statesman, and planter. It was selected because it is an archetypical example of the aristocratic southern planter class home during a significant period in American history– the antebellum South. The purpose of this thesis is to provide guidelines to aide in the reconstruction of the formal garden at Glenn Mary Plantation. The history of formal gardens, Hancock County, antebellum planter class, their gardens, Glenn Mary Plantation and the Smith family are examined in this thesis, resulting in guidelines to aide in the reconstruction of the formal garden at Glenn Mary Plantation. INDEX WORDS: Antebellum Gardens, Hancock County, Georgia, Historic Garden Reconstruction, Glenn Mary Plantation, Theophilus J. Smith, Planter Class, Southern Aristocracy. SOUTHERN ARISTOCRATIC GARDENS: POWER, PRIVILEGE, AND PARTERRES by JANET LEE COLEMAN B.S.N., The University of Arkansas, 1999 A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of The University of Georgia in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree MASTER OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE ATHENS, GEORGIA 2005 © 2005 Janet Lee Coleman All Rights Reserved. SOUTHERN ARISTOCRATIC GARDENS: POWER, PRIVILEGE, AND PARTERRES by JANET LEE COLEMAN Major Professor: Joseph Disponzio Committee: James Cothran Tim Smalley John Waters Electronic Version Approved: Maureen Grasso Dean of the Graduate School The University of Georgia December 2005 DEDICATION To my husband Bryant, my sister Robin, and in memory of my mother, Lill. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am grateful to Professor Joseph Disponzio for agreeing to take on this project with me, as major professor and for all his patient assistance. I would also like to thank my reading committee: Professor James Cothran for introducing the topic of historic gardens to me; Professor Tim Smalley for sharing my passion for historic gardens, and for showing me the great gardens of England, Scotland, and Wales; and Professor John Waters for his expert knowledge in the field of historic preservation. I also want to acknowledge the staff at the Cherokee Garden Library, especially my friend Staci Catron Sullivan for her assistance during my research, and Dale Couch at the Georgia State Archives for his insight and interest into my thesis subject. I want to particularly thank Marilyn Meyers, the current curator of Glenn Mary Plantation for providing me with this wonderful research subject. Last, to my husband Bryant-- I made it this far only because of you. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEGMENTS ..................................................................................................................v LIST OF FIGURES ....................................................................................................................... ix INTRODUCTION WHY ANTEBELLUM GARDENS?..............................................................................1 Process .........................................................................................................................2 Assumptions and Definitions .......................................................................................3 Organization.................................................................................................................5 CHAPTER 1 HISTORICAL INFLUENCES........................................................................................6 Material Culture in Europe ..........................................................................................6 Designers & Publications.............................................................................................9 2 ANTEBELLUM GARDENS........................................................................................18 Power & Wealth.........................................................................................................18 Sense of Order............................................................................................................19 Science & Art.............................................................................................................20 Gardening as an Art ...................................................................................................21 Outdoor Living Space................................................................................................22 Publications................................................................................................................23 Antebellum Plant Sources..........................................................................................26 vi Influences on Antebellum Garden Design .................................................................29 Architecture................................................................................................................29 Circulation Patterns....................................................................................................30 Antebellum Landscape...............................................................................................31 Gardens ......................................................................................................................31 Three Georgia Examples............................................................................................32 Bonar Hall..................................................................................................................33 Kolb-Pou-Newton Place ............................................................................................35 Westover Plantation ...................................................................................................36 3 HANCOCK COUNTY, GEORGIA..............................................................................62 Land Distribution.......................................................................................................63 4 GLENN MARY, GLENN COVE.................................................................................69 Theophilus Jackson Smith and Family ......................................................................70 Glenn Mary House History........................................................................................74 Glenn Mary Landscape History.................................................................................77 The Formal Garden ....................................................................................................77 Outside the Garden ....................................................................................................79 5 INVENTORY, ANALYSIS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION ............97 Cultural Landscapes...................................................................................................97 Treatment Definitions ................................................................................................99 Recommendations......................................................................................................99 Architecture..............................................................................................................101 Topography and Views.............................................................................................101 vii Circulation................................................................................................................102 Secondary Circulation..............................................................................................104 Enclosures and Fences .............................................................................................105 Formal Garden .........................................................................................................106 Management and Maintenance ................................................................................108 Challenges................................................................................................................109 Conclusion ...............................................................................................................110 BIBLIOGRAPHY........................................................................................................................126 APPENDICES .............................................................................................................................133 A HANCOCK COUNTY POPULATION 1800 – 2000................................................133 B 1859 – 60 FRUITLAND NURSERY CATALOGUE ...............................................134 C FRUITLAND NURSERY ORDER BOOK...............................................................136 D SMITH FAMILY CEMETARY INSCRIPTIONS .....................................................138 E MULE RAISING AD.................................................................................................139 F ARCHAELOGICAL STUDY REPORT OF GLENN MARY...................................140 G INTERVIEW WITH INEZ NICHOLLS....................................................................156 H SMITH FAMILY LETTERS......................................................................................157 viii LIST OF FIGURES Page Figure 1.1: Parterre du Midi