“HILL STEAD” 
A FINE CONCEPTION CONSISTENTLY EXECUTED 
By J. EASTMAN CHASE 
If ILL STEAD,” the residence of Mr. Alfred 
Atmore Pope, in Farmington, Connecti- 
cut, is an interesting and instructive ex¬ 
ample of the logical development of natural and arti¬ 
ficial conditions. That is to say, in Farmington, Mr. 
Pope found a landscape of varied and reposeful 
beauty, with a combination of natural features that 
offered every desirable opportunity for the creation of 
a gentleman’s ideal New England home. Then, too, 
the village, of very early settlement, had perspective 
and tradition. Its old days of prosperity produced 
a wealthy and aristocratic class, who built many 
admirable and in some cases stately houses which 
are fortunately remaining in good condition. They 
have in some instances been changed and added to, 
but generally with good judgment. Farmington has 
distinctly an atmosphere of the best old New England 
social life. No more ideal place could be found for 
the building of an estate of large proportions, a home 
designed for comfort, seclusion and cultivated tastes. 
The atmosphere, the antique flavor of Farmington 
had been created; it was evidently Mr. Pope’s pur¬ 
pose, having found ideal conditions, to develop his 
place logically in harmony with its surroundings. 
It is, therefore, in no sense an innovation, it strikes 
no new nor discordant note in the general harmony 
of the landscape, and is quite one with the old social 
traditions. To miss this view of “Hill Stead” is to 
miss the true spirit of its conception and expression. 
The visitor who sees “Hill Stead” in its entirety, 
not only the house and its contents, but also the 
farm, the gardens, the woodroads, the stone walls 
and the lane, will be impressed by the thoroughness 
with which the various problems have been studied 
and the judgment, the restraint and the sincerity 
with which they have been solved. “Hill Stead” 
is in no sense a “show-place.” Beauty, consistency 
and sobriety,—these are what the mind rests upon, 
as on a well-composed and harmonious picture. 
The estate comprises about two hundred and 
fifty acres of wooded hills, undulating land and 
marshes, which afford a fascinating combination of 
material for a landscape composition. The buildings 
are placed upon an elevated plateau, at the base of 
a range of hills, from which the land gently slopes 
westward toward the village. The location affords 
the desired seclusion and outlook. 
The house in design is of the period of about 
18io, ample and dignified in proportion, simple and 
restrained in treatment. It is, of course painted 
white with green blinds. The house, shed, stable 
and carriage house are connected, giving a convenient 
THE HOUSE 
142 
