Edgerton Park, also known as the Frederick F. Brewster Estate, is a 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
Eli Whitney Jr. (December 8, 1765January 8, 1825) was an American inventor, widely known for inventing the cotton gin, one of the key inventions of the Industrial Revolution that shaped the economy of the Antebellum South.
Although Whitney hi ...
, known as "Ivy Nook". In 1909, it became the estate of industrialist
Frederick F. Brewster Frederick may refer to:
People
* Frederick (given name), the name
Nobility
Anhalt-Harzgerode
*Frederick, Prince of Anhalt-Harzgerode (1613–1670)
Austria
* Frederick I, Duke of Austria (Babenberg), Duke of Austria from 1195 to 1198
* Frederic ...
, with a new Tudor-style mansion constructed named Edgerton for its location on the edge of town. 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
The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...
in 1909.
[ and ]
The property was listed as
historic district
A historic district or heritage district is a section of a city which contains older buildings considered valuable for historical or architectural reasons. In some countries or jurisdictions, historic districts receive legal protection from c ...
on the
National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
[ In 1988, the district included seven contributing buildings, eight other contributing structures, and one contributing object.][
]
Features
The 22-acre park features the original wall, greenhouses, carriage house, gatehouse, and bridge from the Brewster estate. 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.
Edgerton Park Conservancy
Edgerton Park Conservancy is a non-profit, volunteer organization dedicated to the needs of Edgerton Park. It works to restore and maintain the buildings and grounds, and offers education programs for schools and the community in the conservatory. 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.
Gallery
File:Edgerton1.jpg, 1909 Conservatory
File:Edgerton 3.jpg, 1909 Carriage House
File:Edgerton4.jpg, 1991 Brewster Fountain
File:Edgerton2.jpg, Edgerton Park with Brewster Fountain
File:Edgerton Park Hamden I.jpg, 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
External links
Edgerton Park Conservancy
{{DEFAULTSORT:Edgerton (Hamden And New Haven, Connecticut)
Parks in New Haven, Connecticut
Parks in New Haven County, Connecticut
Houses completed in 1909
Historic districts in New Haven County, Connecticut
Historic districts in New Haven, Connecticut
Greenhouses in the United States
Buildings and structures in Hamden, Connecticut
National Register of Historic Places in New Haven County, Connecticut
Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Connecticut
Agricultural buildings and structures in Connecticut
Parks on the National Register of Historic Places in Connecticut