Frederic Churchs OLANA State Historic Site

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Frederic ChurchsOLANAState Historic Site

• Sara Johns Griffen
• President, The Olana Partnership
• Monday, June 1, 2009

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Goals and Challenges in Restoring a Landscape and
Preserving its Views
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Helpful things to have when evaluating and
restoring your propertys landscape

• A clear sense of its significance
• Lots of historical documentation
• Realization that property has been maintained
  perfectly throughout the years
• Hoards of people who passionately care about the
  landscape
• Loads of money to do extensive reports
• Tons of money to perpetually preserve every
  square inch of the landscape
• Unlimited funds to preserve every square
• inch of the views in all directions

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More Realistic Situation in Most Cases

• Uncertain sense of a landscapes significance
  within the historic property
• Scattered and scanty documentation
• Considerable deterioration over the years
• One or a small number of people who really care
  about the landscape
• Very limited funds for reports/restoration

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Olanas Situation Somewhere in the middle
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1.Gradual growth in the sense of significance of
the landscape

• Woodlands

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The Park
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• The Lake

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• Framed Views

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2. Extensive documentation, though scattered

• Plan for Olana, 1886

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Historic Photographs
Historic Kitchen Garden
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Carriage Drives
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Mrs. Carnes and Downie Church
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Cosy Cottage
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Mount Merino from Olana
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Extensive Letter Collection

• I have made about 1 ¾ miles of road this
  season, opening entirely new and beautiful views.
  I can make more and better landscapes in this way
  than by tampering with canvas and paint in the
  studio.
• Frederic Edwin Church, 1884

• In addition
• Deeds
• Insurance reports
• Maps

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Other Advantages for Olana

• 3. A few people over the years who have kept
  landscape torch alive
• 4. Gradual build-up of funding over the years to
  allow progressive reports and restoration

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Planning Process

• Historic Landscape Report (1984-1996)
• Landscape Restoration Plan (1995-2002)
• Comprehensive Plan (1997-2002)

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Planning Process Critical to have review
committee made up of as many constituent groups
as possible

• Rep from owner
• Rep from support group
• Curatorial rep
• Maintenance rep
• Scholarly guest reviewers
• Municipal rep
• Involved state agencies reps
• Neighbors reps
• Tourism reps
• More pertinent for Comprehensive Plan

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If Possible, Hire a Facilitator

• Keeps track of details
• A good way to mediate between differing parties
• Helps keep eye on the goal

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Historic Landscape Report Components

• Historical Background (the context)
• Property History during historic ownership
• Design Description
• Property History in more recent years
• Existing Conditions
• Illustrations

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Landscape Restoration Plan Components

• Part 1 General (statement of significance, goals
  and objectives, proposed treatments)
• Part II Landscape Restoration Projects (Setting,
  roads, plantings, view restoration, outbuildings,
  lake, miscellaneous)
• Part III Implementation Management and
  Maintenance

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Comprehensive Plan Components

• Historic Structures
• Historic Landscape
• Viewshed
• Access and Circulation
• Collection
• Education
• Infrastructure
• Marketing and Economic Development
• Operation

• Recreation and Natural Resource Management
• Alternatives
• Restoration Implementation and Priorities
• Funding Plan
• Attendance
• Environmental Impacts and Mitigation

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Then the Fun Begins!
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Bob Burns Meeting a 500 Deadline
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The Actual Fun Stuff
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The End Result Major Grants Received for
Landscape Restoration Projects

• 2007 Hudson River Foundation 75,000 Carriage
  Drives
• 2006 ESDC 2,500,000 Farm Stabilization
• 2006 NYS Member Item/Saland 15,000Visitor
  Experience/Signs
• 2006 DEC 10,000 Invasive Species Eradication
• 2004 Federal Appropriation/Sen. Clinton 250,000
  Barn Complex
• 2004 NYS Member Item/Brodsky50,000 Barn Complex
• 2004Cape Branch Foundation 200,000Cosy Cottage
• 2004 Hudson River Foundation 115,000 Underground
  Utilities
• 1997 The Prospect Hill Foundation 8,500
  Landscape Restoration Plan
• 1997 NYS Member Item 6,500 Landscape Signage
  Project
• 1997 Hudson River Greenway Conservancy 6,500
  Signage
• 1996 EPF500,000 Pond Restoration
• Also, 2 million received in 2005 for main barn
  project.

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Implementation since 2003

• Restoration of Cosy Cottage
• Restoration of Views
• Utility Wires Buried Underground
• Reconstruction of Wagon House
• Planting projects
• Carriage Drive Restoration
• Restoration of Lake

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Cosy Cottage Before Restoration
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Cosy Cottage after Restoration
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Mt. Merino Before Clearing
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Mount Merino After View Restoration
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Ridge Road Before Restoration
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Ridge Road Viewshed Restored
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Power Lines Before Removal
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The Final Pole is Removed
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After Power Line Removal
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Newly Planted Orchard
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Wagon House Restored/Kitchen Garden to be Restored
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Old Signage
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New Signage
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The Challenges Continue
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Some of those Challenges

• Finding balance between historic integrity and
  addressing visitor needs/wants
• Continued need to expand awareness to outside
  world
• Continued need to promote understanding of
  landscape among our visitors
• Continued need for raising money
• Continued viewshed threats

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To keep track of our progresswww. olana.org
Its worth it!