49 
England, came in the year 1848 to Philadelphia, where he 
for a time stopped at Rosedale Nurseries upon Darby Road. 
Being acquainted with Thomas Meehan, they formed a part- 
nership, and started a nursery under the business name of 
Meehan & Saunders, which was located on east side of Main 
Street, near Carpenter's Lane, Germantown, — Meehan Street 
of today occupying part of their grounds. After conducting 
their business at this place until it was no longer advan- 
tageous, Thomas Meehan bought ground and removed to 
Chew Street, while William Saunders located on Johnson 
Street, at southeast corner of Greene Street, a place which 
may be remembered by the present generation, as being 
occupied by William Grassie. Here Saunders conducted a 
general florist and nursery business, wrote for the better class 
horticulture magazines, such as Downing's "Horticulturist" 
and "The Gardener's Monthly," — and followed landscaping. 
Among the noteworthy works designed and executed by 
William Saunders were Hunting Park, Philadelphia ; Clifton 
Park, Baltimore, and the National Cemetery Grounds at 
Gettysburg, Pa. He was also founder of an important order 
known as "The Patrons of Husbandry." With the exception 
of "Awbury," there is in Germantown no work of William 
Saunders remaining. He was the designer and planter of 
"Pomona Grove" as we remember it. This work 
was done for Isaac F. Baker, who in ownership was 
succeeded by Robert C. Cornelius, Thomas W. Evans, and 
Amos R. Little. In its day, "Pomona Grove" was an im- 
portant estate, and extended from Main Street, to Morton 
Street, north of Washington Lane. A famous English yew 
tree which occupied a prominent place near the mansion is 
credited to William Saunders, and it is to be ever regretted 
that a monument so worthy was destroyed to make way for 
an "improvement" of ordinary brick and mortar. 
About the time that Meehan & Saunders became estab- 
lished upon Main Street, William Bright came to German- 
town as gardener to Joseph S. Lovering, near "Rising Sun," 
whose gardens he planned and planted. He left this place to 
