The Grey Towers Legacy Information and Calendar of Events

Volume 14, Issue 1 USDA Forest Service 2012 needs are met, people will then think The Pinchots and The Greatest about the environment. Good: How One Family Improved Amos Pinchot spent the majority of his adult life fighting for people he Social Justice and Civil Rights in thought were bullied by “Big Business” and government. In 1915, he headed America an organization called the Little Civil The Pinchot family has for rights for Native Americans; Liberties Bureau, a group of lawyers a long-standing goal provided free college education to who offered pro bono defense of cases of conservation, men and women; supported the arts; that protected basic civil liberties such civil rights, and founded and supported civil rights as free speech, free press, peaceful social justice. organizations; campaigned tirelessly assembly, liberty of conscience, and Gifford Pinchot for the rights of workers, women, freedom from search and seizure. The was not just a and children; and much more. Few Little Civil Liberties Bureau eventually conservationist wealthy families of the nineteenth became the American Civil Liberties and a forester— century can point with pride to such Union. Amos served on its Board until he was a trust dedicated efforts on behalf of the less his death. buster, fearless fortunate. Cornelia Pinchot: explorer, and a Gifford Pinchot The U.S. Forest Service and its Cornelia, Gifford proponent of public partners continue to explore this Pinchot’s electric power. He family’s efforts to improve the basic wife, was a fought the corruption in which the rich human rights that we enjoy today. suffragette and powerful dominated the agenda of Grey Towers National Historic Site, who helped government. Pinchot’s ancestral home in Milford, get women Pinchot is known for reforming PA, continues to deliver public the right how forests in the United States programs and interpretive tours to to vote. were managed and developed and thousands of visitors annually. She worked for advocating the conservation of tirelessly for These Pinchot family members public good, Cornelia Pinchot the Nation’s forest reserves through continue to inspire us and our visitors: planned use and renewal. He called helping to put an it “the art of producing from the Amos Pinchot: end to child labor, forest whatever it can yield for the At the risk of taking a stand against low pay and service of man.” We also know it as alienating poor working conditions for women, “the greatest good for the greatest himself from and pursuing fair and just treatment number in the long run.” As governor his family of minorities in our country. She of Pennsylvania, Pinchot concentrated and his niche joined committees, started trade union on popular reforms: improving the in society, leagues, and walked picket lines with government economy, enforcing Gifford working women who were demanding Prohibition, regulating public utilities, Pinchot’s equal pay for equal work. She was a providing relief for the unemployed, younger brother founding member of the Committee and constructing paved roads to “get Amos fought 100, which was dedicated to justice and the farmers out of the mud.” vehemently for basic equality for African American citizens, human and civil Amos Pinchot and helped increase the National This altruism is rooted in generations rights. We can Association for the Advancement of that came before, during, and after learn from Amos’ perspective that as a Colored People (NAACP) legal defense Gifford’s time. His ancestors and society, we must help people first meet and education fund by $120,000 relatives fought slavery; campaigned their basic human needs. Once those within the first 7 years. Today we (Continued on page 2) Page 2 2012 Grey Towers Legacy The Pinchots and the Greatest Good (continued) can revisit Cornelia’s viewpoint Cooper organized the privately funded Amos Richards Eno: that women—as a strong block of United States Indian Commission, Gifford’s maternal constituents—can bring about change dedicated to protecting and elevating grandfather was in a society. Native Americans in the United a successful Antoinette Pinchot States and eliminating warfare in the businessman and Johnstone: Like western territories. His altruism was philanthropist her brothers felt throughout the generations, as from Simsbury, Gifford evidenced in a letter he wrote to the CT. He was and Amos, governor of New York in 1867: “A good a founding Antoinette human intelligence feels bound to use benefactor of all its powers to accomplish the greatest the Simsbury Free (Nettie) was Amos Richards Eno raised in an good for the greatest number of people.” Library, among Hmmmm….sounds familiar! other philanthropic gestures. Amos atmosphere rd surrounded by James Pinchot: built the Fifth Avenue Hotel at 23 the arts, natural According to Street in New York City, known in beauty, and Gifford Pinchot, the 19th century as “Eno’s Folly” AntoinettePinchot since it was considered too far uptown humanitarian Johnstone it was his father causes. In 1892, James whose to be successful. He founded the she married Sir “…foresight and Second National Bank of New York, Alan Johnstone, a British Diplomat. She tenacity were headquartered at the hotel, which was known to direct her energies toward responsible…for was hit by scandal when Amos’ son promoting social causes. During bringing Forestry embezzled millions of dollars and then World War I, Antoinette organized and to this continent. fled to Canada to avoid prosecution. managed the large American hospital That being true, Amos personally repaid the millions that were stolen to the depositors. He near Paris. While living in Holland, he was and is James Pinchot she was instrumental in bringing relief fairly entitled to be owned the land that is now occupied to British soldiers who escaped from called the Father of by the iconic Flatiron Building and the German prisons. Forestry in America.” It was James who swampy hunting grounds now known encouraged Gifford to pursue a career in as Madison Square Park, where the Peter Cooper: Peter, official rules of baseball were developed Cornelia Pinchot’s forestry when no such profession existed in America. He also endowed the Yale because he allowed baseball teams to great-grandfather, practice there. was an American School of Forestry and dedicated a industrialist, portion of his Grey Towers estate to Want to learn more about these inventor, and establish the Milford Forest Experiment fascinating family members? If so, ask philanthropist. Station, the first of its kind in the us about the walking tours of both Because he United States. Milford and New York City, the lecture/ believed that James participated in the financing and film series, and the publication “The men and women founding of the National Academy of Pinchots of Grey Towers: One Family, deserved a free Design and the American Museum One House, One Legacy.” education, he created Peter Cooper of Natural History. He was also the Cooper Union for instrumental in bringing the Statue of the Advancement of Science and Art in Liberty to America. He held positions “A good human intelligence 1859 in New York City. Cooper Union with the National Geographic Society, feels bound to use all its provided a location for local citizens Washington Academy of Sciences, and to participate in social and political the Society of American Foresters. He powers to accomplish the debates and hear free lectures on science was founder of the first association in and government. It also served as the America for providing model tenements greatest good for the greatest place where some of our country’s for the poor, a project in which he number of people.” most important organizations, such remained actively involved until his as the Red Cross and NAACP, were death in 1908. —Peter Cooper organized. Page 3 2012 Grey Towers Legacy Cornellia’s Moat Adds Architectural Cleverness Here are some commonly asked questions about the moat: to the Landscape How wide is the moat? When Cornelia Pinchot was redesigning The curved moat is 17 feet wide. the Grey Towers landscape after she How much water does it hold? and her husband Gifford inherited 35,000 gallons. the property, she wanted to increase the amount of flat terrain that was What happens to the fish and frogs next to the mansion. From 1927 to in winter? 1931, Cornelia worked with landscape They overwinter in the moat without architect Chester Aldrich to design an any problems. A larger threat is the extension of the East Terrace and the great blue heron that stops by for half-moat that sits about 14 feet breakfast throughout the spring and below it. Blooming forsythia in the moat dramatizes summer! the view of the mansion. The resulting wall helped dramatize How is the moat cleaned? the view of the mansion as visitors Every spring the Forest Service staff approached from below by visually The sculptures were purchased from catches the fish in nets and places them heightening the house from that angle, Mr. Aldrich, although he originally in temporary water tanks so the moat an effect that is still visible today. The offered them as a gift “as a slight token can be drained and cleaned. More than moat is a clever play on the French of [his] thankfulness for Milford 2 tons of beech leaves and nuts are chateau style of the home. hospitality.” The moat is a wonderful removed each year and stored for use as compost. Cornelia covered the new curved stone place for visitors to reflect, be inspired, wall in cascading branches of forsythia and imagine what life was like at Grey planted in pockets in the wall. She then Towers almost a century ago. added several varieties of water lilies and goldfish to the moat and planted a hemlock hedge east of the moat to enclose this new garden feature. Today the moat is a favorite spot for all Grey Towers’ visitors, especially on a warm summer day when one can sit along the stone walls and enjoy the lush plant life, goldfish, frogs, and the pair Water lilies in the moat are enjoyed by visitors Local artists gain inspiration from such Grey of 350-pound lead turkey sculptures. and frogs. Towers landscape features as the moat. New Guide to Trees of Grey Towers Available in 2012

A new guide that introduces visitors to Ask to borrow a copy of the tree guide at more than 30 prominent members of the ticket counter while you are visiting the Grey Towers’ tree community will Grey Towers and be inspired by the same be available in 2012. Use the illustrated tranquil landscape that encouraged the booklet on a self-guided stroll through the Pinchot family to accomplish all that they landscape or during one of our guided tree did for our Nation! walks. It is filled with interesting facts and tidbits about the 30 trees, what products they provide, and what threatens them today, among other information. Visitors who enjoy the new Guide to Trees of Grey Towers will understand and appreciate why Gifford Pinchot said, “By George, I’d like to come back 100 years from now and see my trees.” Page 4 2012 Grey Towers Legacy

Festival of Wood Promotes “Goods From the Woods” CONSERVATION August 4–5, 2012 EDUCATION AT GREY The Festival of Wood helps us recognize the many ways we use wood TOWERS OFFERS UNIQUE in our everyday lives and how sustainably managed forests can provide that wood today while ensuring forests for the future. FOREST PROGRAMS, PROMOTES NATURAL The Festival of Wood will be held August 4–5 in 2012. This popular festival has gained a reputation for helping thousands of people make the connection between RESOURCE STEWARDSHIP a sustainable marketplace and sustainable management of forests. Since 2004, we have successfully expanded the festival’s activities, programs, and events to help celebrate our natural and cultural heritage of wood. Most events are free! Highlights of the 2012 Festival: Unique wood crafts and art will be exhibited, sold, and demonstrated. These include wood furniture, pipe boxes, Shaker boxes, sawdust folk art, wooden snowflakes, wooden bowls, wood turning, fretwork, and hand-carved sculpture, among others. The crafts component of the festival, which is cosponsored by the Pocono Arts Council, illustrates how wood is used to create beautiful objects that we use in our everyday lives. Teachers: Are you looking for a way to... Children’s activities will include games • Link the past with the present and and toys that contain wood and wood make it relevant to the future? products. Children can build bluebird • Bring history, civics, and forest nest boxes (from wood, of course!) and ecology alive? learn about habitat conservation. Live amphibians and reptiles will visit. • Illustrate the connections between the disciplines that your students Free music with wooden instruments study in school? will be provided each day. • Provide your students with an Educational exhibits and handouts will opportunity to earn extra credit? be provided by a variety of organizations and agencies. Topics will include Our conservation education programs provide these opportunities by focusing reintroducing the American chestnut, on… the next generation of landowners, tree identification, U.S. Forest Service wood • Why it is important to care for our technology initiatives, and reducing your Local craftsman Ed Yountz demonstrates forests. carbon footprint. wood turning on a lathe. • The belief that the natural resources All three floors of the historic mansion on our public lands should benefit are open for visitors both days. There will all citizens. be a $5 fee. • Conservation history and our The Festival of Wood is a collaborative individual responsibilities as citizens and stewards of the land. project of the U.S. Forest Service at Grey Towers; Grey Towers Heritage In addition, a visit to Grey Towers Association; Pocono Arts Council; and National Historic Site will introduce your many, many community partners. students to the Pinchot family legacy and the contributions they made to social, Applications for food vendors, wood economic, and political reforms at the crafters, and educational exhibitors can local, State, and Federal levels as well as be downloaded from our Web site at Bill Dauer (right), a U.S. Forest Service their support of the arts and education. www.fs.fed.us/gt. Festival programs and employee from Durham, NH, explains the www.fs.fed.us/gt site maps will also be available on the intarsia wood craft technique to a festival Visit our Web site at Web site. visitor. to learn more about specific programs for students, or call us at 570–296–9630. Page 5 2012 Grey Towers Legacy

of the American Museum of Natural the grounds. You can also walk around Frequently History in New York City. James had a the grounds, see the historic gardens, or strong conservation ethic and vision for the take a hike on our Forestry Trail. We show Asked Questions: Nation, and both parents encouraged their free visitor films throughout the day. We son Gifford to pursue forestry as a career. also plan a number of public programs What is Grey Towers? Amos Pinchot, Gifford’s brother, was his throughout the visitor season. Grey Towers Grey Towers is a 44-room French political confidante and advisor, a lawyer hosts school programs, conferences, and chateauesque mansion that was built who helped found the American Civil leadership development programs. in 1886 by James Pinchot. Today it is Liberties Union. Their sister Antoinette administered by the U.S. Forest Service married a British diplomat and focused Can I have my wedding or take and serves as an education and leadership her energies on social causes in Europe, wedding photos at Grey Towers? development center for natural resources. including running the American hospital in As nice as the landscape is, it is not within It was donated to the public in 1963 by France during WWI. the scope of our mission to host weddings Dr. Gifford Bryce Pinchot to carry on or other private social functions. There are a the legacy of his father, Gifford Pinchot, Were the gardens at Grey Towers few locations in the landscape outside of the eminent conservationist and two-term always so lavish? historic corridor where we allow wedding Pennsylvania governor. No. Although the grounds included a large photos, as long as they don’t interfere with rose garden and apple trees when James our primary functions and use. You must and Mary Pinchot lived there, Grey Towers obtain approval to use these locations in was mostly a working farm. It wasn’t until advance. Gifford and his wife Cornelia Bryce Pinchot moved to Grey Towers in the 1920s and How do we get to the falls? 1930s that the gardens, under Cornelia’s The waterfalls are located on private planning and vision, began to take shape. property, and the landowner no longer Cornelia worked with landscape architects allows public access. and designers to add all the plantings and stone features in the landscape, including Is Grey Towers haunted? the buildings. She and Gifford planted over There have been no documented sightings 100 trees. of ghosts, though some claim to have “felt” Grey Towers serves as an education and a presence. It depends on your personal leadership development center for natural resources. Why can’t we see the upper floors interpretation and beliefs. of the mansion? The second and third floors of the mansion Why isn’t there a dining room in What did Gifford Pinchot the House? accomplish? have been renovated as an active conference center, in keeping with the original intent Grey Towers served mainly as a summer As founder and first chief of the U.S. Forest of the gift of Grey Towers from Dr. Gifford home, and Gifford and Cornelia Pinchot Service, Gifford Pinchot introduced and Bryce Pinchot. He wanted to make sure spent a lot of time outdoors. The outdoor then put into practice the groundbreaking Grey Towers continued to be a place where dining table, also known as the Fingerbowl, concept of conservation—the sustainable dialogues and conversations about natural served as their dining room and is the most use of our natural resources. Gifford was an resource conservation continue to take popular feature in the landscape. eminent conservationist who helped create place, just as they did when his father lived the National Forest System, which today there. Check the calendar schedule to find comprises over 190 million acres. Gifford out when a three-floor tour or an Open and his wife, Cornelia, made tremendous House is offered to give visitors a look at changes in the economic, social, and those upper floors. political climate of the Commonwealth. Who can use the Conference Who were some of the other Center at Grey Towers? Pinchots? Any natural resource agency, group, James and Mary Pinchot, Gifford’s parents, association, or organization that is working built Grey Towers in 1886. James grew on conservation or has natural resource up in Milford and became a wealthy conservation as its mission. businessman who made his fortune in wallpaper. As patrons of the arts, James What can I do at Grey Towers? and Mary were supporters of the Hudson You are encouraged to join us on a guided The Fingerbowl is the most popular feature in River School, and James was co-founder tour of the first floor of the mansion and the Grey Towers landscape. Page 6 2012 Grey Towers Legacy

42 New York 209 Pennsylvania Grey Port 151 Grey Towers Drive PO Box 188 6 Jervis Towers Matamoras Milford, PA 18337

84 r ware Rive New Jersey ela D 6 Milford 23

Pennsylvania 6 Milford 209

6 Grey Towers

New Jersey

206 209

Phone: 570–296–9630 On the Web: www.fs.fed.us/wo/gt E-mail: [email protected]

Volunteer/Internship Positions Available Have a passion for history? An interest in conservation? Do you love to garden? Enjoy talking to people? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might enjoy volunteering at Grey Towers. Opportunities exist for volunteers to: • Guide tours Published by the • Work in the gift shop U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service • Help with gardening and landscaping State and Private Forestry • Participate in research and curatorial work Sidney R. Yates Federal Bldg., 4 NW • Help with Grey Towers maintenance and facilities 201 14th Street, SW Washington, DC 20024 Throughout the year, Grey Towers relies on its volunteers, who contribute thousands of hours. Volunteers have an opportunity to share years of valuable This newsletter was edited, designed, experience, skills, and knowledge. And it’s a rewarding experience—Grey and produced with assistance from the Towers volunteers are invited to two volunteer appreciation and recognition Northeastern Area State and Private events each year and can earn incentive gifts. Forestry. COLLEGE STUDENTS: Do you have an internship requirement? Do you For information about this and other want to get some work experience or build your resume? Consider a 12-week Grey Towers publications, contact internship with Grey Towers—perfect for students majoring in history, Lori McKean at [email protected] or environmental science, arts, landscaping, and more! call 570–296–9672. For more information, call 570–296–9630 or send an e-mail to The USDA is an equal opportunity [email protected] with the word “Volunteering” in the subject line. provider and employer. Printed on recycled paper using environmentally friendly ink.