330 AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS May, 1906 
DUNBARTON, 
NEW HAMPSHIRE 
NLY a few of the old land 
grants still remain in 
the possession of the 
original patentees’ 
descendants. Of 
these, the Stark 
estate in Dunbarton, New 
Hampshire, is one. It is of par- 
ticular interest since two of its 
owners were famous in American 
history, Gen. John Stark and his 
son, Major Caleb Stark. 
The estate comprises over one 
hundred acres. It lies in the heart 
of a fertile country and is composed 
of woodland and meadow, orchard 
and garden. The home lot is in the 
center of the grant, and the old-time 
details are carefully preserved. 
The grounds are entered through a wide road lined on 
either side by stately trees, whose branches, meeting over- 
head, form a shaded driveway. As one approaches the 
main avenue, a small wooden structure is seen at one side. 
This was the old school-house, where the Starks of earlier 
times obtained their educations. The fine country drive 
stretches ahead, winding in and out, under the leafy arch- 
way. Ata sharp turn to the left stands the old mill, now 
falling into decay, while the once foaming stream runs 
low in its rocky bed. This mill was erected in 1760 for 
the grinding of grain, it being the fulfillment of one con- 
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dition of the grant. 
It ran uninterrupt- 
edly until 18849, 
when its voice was 
stilled. Nature has 
made this one of the 
most picturesque 
bits on the estate. 
A graceful sweep 
of the road to the 
left leads one to the 
old cemetery where 
the Stark family lie 
buried, with the ex- 
ception of the emi- 
grant ancestor, Ar- 
chibald Stark. “The 
cemetery is fringed 
with trees, among 
which is the stanch 
old willow, brought 
The School House Where the Stark 
Children Were Taught 
The Old Mill on the Stark Estate 
IAL 
7a 
Ye 
Af Woe 
BY 
MARY H. NORTHEND 
‘ppphog, 
ELLY 
4 
as a slip from the grave of Napoleon 
First. 
Following the wide stretch of road 
that leads through the heart of the 
woodland, bounded on _ either 
side by monarchs of the forest, 
one admires the tall and lofty 
trees, some of which still bear 
the mark of the broad arrow. 
These are known as the “King’s 
Trees” and were originally des- 
tined to be used in the royal ship- 
yard, but through the freedom of 
our country from English rule, are 
still standing, monuments of the 
past and ornaments of the present. 
In and out winds the wide avenue 
until, between the drooping 
branches, the Colonial mansion is 
seen, half a mile distant from the entrance. This home- 
stead, all but hidden from view by the dense foliage of 
the trees, is the central feature in the clearing in the heart 
of the extensive estate. Here the grounds are open. 
They show lawn and garden, while many of the trees 
have a history distinctively their own. ‘There is a fine 
black walnut, brought by Major Caleb Stark, the builder 
of the house, from Ohio. This seems not to have altered 
within the last twenty years. A beautiful elm over- 
shadows the old well. It was set out by Miss Charlotte 
Stark, the last owner of the grant. Ancient button- 
woods, veterans 
scarred and faithful, 
still stand sentinel 
around the Colonial 
mansion, while mul- 
berry trees shade 
the opposite side of 
the road. An air of 
venerable _ distinc- 
tion surrounds the 
place. 
At the rear of the 
house is seen the 
old-fashioned gar- 
den, bright with 
blossoms and_ fra- 
grant with the odor 
of the flowers our 
grandmothers loved. 
Across the street are 
the old-time barns. 
