Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center is a
botanical garden
A botanical garden or botanic gardenThe terms ''botanic'' and ''botanical'' and ''garden'' or ''gardens'' are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word ''botanic'' is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is ...
and public park located at 170 Longview Road in
Chester Township of
Morris County, New Jersey
Morris County is a County (United States), county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, about west of New York City. According to the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the county was the state's List of counties in New Jersey, tenth- ...
. The house and garden, listed using its historic name, Merchiston Farm, was added to the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...
on November 13, 1989 for its significance as the home of the American
landscape architect
A landscape architect is a person who is educated in the field of landscape architecture. The practice of landscape architecture includes: site analysis, site inventory, site planning, land planning, planting design, grading, storm water manage ...
Martha Brookes Hutcheson and her landscaping of the property. The site includes six
contributing buildings
In the law regulating historic districts in the United States, a contributing property or contributing resource is any building, object, or structure which adds to the historical integrity or architectural qualities that make the historic dist ...
and six contributing structures.
[ With ]
History and description
In the late 18th century, the property was owned by Frederick Hunnel. The original farmhouse was a simple two-story house. It was expanded in 1848. The property was sold to William and
Martha Brookes Hutcheson in 1912. Mrs. Hutcheson designed an expansion of the house featuring
Colonial Revival style
The Colonial Revival architectural style seeks to revive elements of American colonial architecture.
The beginnings of the Colonial Revival style are often attributed to the Centennial Exposition, Centennial Exhibition of 1876, which reawakened A ...
. It was later expanded by the architect
William Lawrence Bottomley in 1927. Hutcheson lived here until her death in 1959.
The property became part of the
Morris County Park Commission in 1972.
Gallery
File:Hutcheson House, Merchiston Farm, Chester Township, NJ - looking north.jpg, Hutcheson House and garden, sundial
File:Merchiston Farm, Chester Township, NJ - Reflecting Pool.jpg, Reflecting Pool
File:Hutcheson House, Merchiston Farm, Chester Township, NJ - flowering trees, looking east.jpg, Flowering trees
File:Merchiston Farm, Chester Township, NJ - looking south from Hutcheson House.jpg, Vista from the Hutcheson House
File:Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center - entrance sign.jpg, Entrance sign
File:Merchiston Farm, Chester Township, NJ - information sign.jpg, Merchiston Farm historical information
File:Bamboo Brook, Merchiston Farm, Chester Township, NJ - looking west.jpg, The namesake Bamboo Brook
See also
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Willowwood Arboretum – adjoining park
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List of botanical gardens and arboretums in New Jersey
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References
External links
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{{NRHP in Morris County, New Jersey
Chester Township, New Jersey
Botanical gardens in New Jersey
Parks in Morris County, New Jersey
County parks in New Jersey
National Register of Historic Places in Morris County, New Jersey
New Jersey Register of Historic Places