CHAPTER 2: THE EISENHOWERS AND FARM #1, 1951–1969 CULTURAL LANDSCAPE REPORT FOR EISENHOWER NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE, VOLUME 1 42 CHAPTER 2: THE EISENHOWERS AND FARM #1, 1951-1969 CHAPTER 2: THE EISENHOWERS AND FARM #1, 1951-1969 This chapter focuses on General and Mrs. Eisenhower’s Throughout the years, the Eisenhowers had often talked association with Farm #1 during the 1950s and 1960s. about the kind of home they would want to own. These In the first section a general overview of the farm’s discussions became more frequent and grounded in acquisition, renovation, and use by the Eisenhowers is reality during the time at Columbia. General Eisenhower given. The second section provides a more in-depth recalled: discussion of the development of the ornamental landscape of Farm #1 and describes the condition of the While I was Chief of Staff, Mamie and I frequently property upon General Eisenhower’s death in 1969. discussed the sort of home that would fit us best, if we ever got one. On several occasions, we actually began making specific plans. These never got beyond ACQUISITION AND RENOVATION sketchy scratchings. We knew that years would pass before we could do anything more than dream and The Eisenhowers Purchase Farm #1 talk. Now, after leaving the military and moving into Columbia, we started thinking again about a After completing his tour of duty as Chief of Staff of place of our own. The topic recurred regularly at the United States Army in 1948, General Eisenhower Morningside Heights. For my part, I wanted an moved from Washington to New York City to serve as escape from concrete into the countryside. Mamie, President of Columbia University. It was during this who had spent a lifetime adjusting herself to other time that the Eisenhowers began to think about their people’s housing designs, or the lack of them, wanted retirement years and the possibility of purchasing a a place that conformed to her notions of what a home of their own. John Eisenhower recalled his father home should be. In the fall of 1950 we finally did occasionally mentioned looking for a place while at something about it.3 Columbia, possibly in the Middleburg area of Virginia, but he felt his parents were just really exploring the idea The “something” to which Eisenhower referred was the and there was not any urgency on their part. However, purchase of a farm just outside the town of Gettysburg, in General Eisenhower’s own writings, he indicated the Pennsylvania. There were several reasons Gettysburg was desire to own a home of their own had been something chosen. First, the town was an easy commute to both he and Mrs. Eisenhower had felt for quite some time. In Washington and New York. Second, the Eisenhower’s a letter written to Mamie from Algiers, Africa, December friends, George and Mary Allen, owned property nearby. 2, 1943, the General wrote: The Allens had purchased a small farm in Adams County, four miles south of Gettysburg, east of Emmitsburg I know that when I find myself contemplating a Road and had plans to restore their eighteenth-century post-war experience I always picture a little place stone farmhouse. They encouraged General and Mrs. far away from cities (but with someone near enough Eisenhower to settle in the area. And finally, General for occasional bridge) and the two of us just getting Eisenhower had “a certain affinity to come back to brown in the sun, (and possibly thick in the middle.) Pennsylvania because [his] people were from here A dozen cats and dogs, with a horse or two, maybe originally before they went to Kansas.”4 This affinity was a place to fish (not too strenuously) and a field in enhanced by fond remembrances Eisenhower had of a which to shoot a few birds once in a while - I think 1918 command he held at nearby Camp Colt. During that's roughly my idea of a good life.1 his brief nine-month post, the Eisenhowers settled into a life in the quiet town while he organized the training They had always lived in government-issue housing for the Army’s Tank Corps. Eisenhower realized these during “more than a third of a century of married life.” “sentimental attachments,” to Gettysburg, which were As the possibility of retirement became a reality for them, “reinforced by its significance in American, as well as they seriously “began to think about buying a house and personal history,” made this a comfortable place for he farm” for their retirement.2 and Mrs. Eisenhower to settle into retirement.5 43 CULTURAL LANDSCAPE REPORT FOR EISENHOWER NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE, VOLUME 1 During late 1949 and 1950, General and Mrs. Eisenhower Eisenhower’s attorney, Richard A. Brown, convinced the made several trips to the Gettysburg area in search of a Reddings to reconsider and they agreed to sell the farm, suitable farm to purchase. The Allens often accompanied although they increased the asking price from what had them on these expeditions. Over a period of months, originally been discussed.11 they examined many properties, but none of them seemed appropriate for their needs. Then, in October Years later, Mrs. Eisenhower gave her recollections of 1950, while Mrs. Eisenhower was in Denver visiting her the purchase: mother, she received a call from George Allen. Allen informed her there was a farm available in Adams County Well, Ike and myself had been looking for someplace that might be of interest. The weekend after Mrs. to go to in the summertime and we’d looked up and Eisenhower’s return to New York, she and the Allens down the Hudson; well, they were mansions and I set out on another “farm hunting expedition” to see the knew I couldn’t staff them. So, I said aren’t there Allen Redding Farm.6 any other places around here? And this man who had sold them [the Allens] the house…said, well By 1949, Allen Redding and his wife had decided to there’s one house or farm over here owned by a Mr. sell the farm and move into town. According to their Redding and he says he’s going to sell. Well Ike daughter, M. Frances Jacobs, most of their children had said, Mamie, you go over and look at it. Mrs. Allen already married and left home and Redding was “getting brought me over and she sort of slurred my name so tired of farming ‘cause he couldn’t get help. And Rafael, they didn’t know it was Eisenhower. And I looked my brother, didn’t care about farming any more.”7 The at this place and I saw these three big trees and they’re farm was listed with John C. Bream, a local realtor. After ash and then they had a big square kitchen…That the farm had been on the market for about a year, Bream appealed to me [to] no end, you see, and I said, oh, told the Reddings he had “some prominent people” I’ve just got to have that place…and Ike said, well who may be interested in the farm. 8 Mrs. Eisenhower Mamie, if you like it, buy it. The old gentleman made her initial visit to the farm with Mrs. Allen shortly then decided not to sell. Well, of course, woman- thereafter. like, if I couldn’t have what I wanted…well, I was heartbroken….in about three months, he decided The Eisenhowers made an additional visit some weeks to sell again….We had to buy everything – all later. Mrs. Redding showed the home to Mrs. Eisenhower the equipment, worn out and otherwise. And he and Mrs. Allen, both of whom she remembered as went way up on his price. But we eventually took “very sociable,” while the men examined the outside it, with the understanding, of course, that we were of the house and the farm.9 Eisenhower noted that the coming back here the following summer. We felt it barn dwarfed the small house, the buildings were in a was a place we could walk in, close the door and state of disrepair, and the soil was sorely depleted. He walk off.12 later recalled thinking it would “take work and money to modernize it.” However, there were several selling The papers were signed giving the Eisenhowers ownership points that made the property desirable. Eisenhower was of the Redding Farm on January 15, 1951. The purchase enamored by the view of the mountains to the west, while included 189 acres of farmland, the old house, barn, Mrs. Eisenhower especially liked the old house with its outbuildings, equipment, and all farm animals, including large kitchen and the huge green ash trees in the eastern a herd of approximately twenty-five Holstein milk cows, lawn. In spite of its poor condition, the Eisenhowers a dozen heifers, a few Chester White hogs, some white decided to purchase the property.10 Leghorn chickens, and one horse. The Eisenhowers paid approximately $40,000 for the farmland, structures, However, a deal was not immediate in coming. The equipment, and livestock.13 (figs. 2.1, 2.2) Reddings had begun to second-guess themselves and were unsure of their decision to sell. They Even though the Reddings had vacillated in their decision had considered taking the farm off the market just to sell the farm, in the end they were pleased to sell to before the Eisenhowers became interested, and after the Eisenhowers. Raphael Redding remembered his the Eisenhowers visited the farm, the Reddings did father “was always very proud of the fact…that he sold withdraw the farm for a short time.