House and Garden 
the “Horticulturist”) were collected 
and published in 1853 with a memoir 
by George William Curtis and a 
“Letter to his Friends” by Fredrika 
Bremer, who had been a guest of 
his during a visit in this country. 
During a recent visit in New¬ 
burgh, the writer collected all avail¬ 
able information regarding neighbor¬ 
ing estates which Downing had laid 
out, the accompanying illustrations 
being a result of his search. These, 
however, and the following brief 
description do scant justice to the 
subject. 
The Chadwick place, formerly 
owned by W. H. Findlay, is the best 
preserved of all places in Newburgh 
laid out by Do wning. It is in a very 
fine state of development and, in fact, 
is probably more attractive to-day 
than at any time previous, owing to 
the splendid growth of the trees and shrubs and 
the careful attention given to the maintenance 
of the place as a w hole. I he residence is a roomy 
structure of Gothic type of architecture, w ith broad 
piazzas and large living-rooms. It is so located 
that wTile quite near the public road, a thick 
screen of ancient spruces and single specimens of 
larches and maples, obstruct the view of the general 
traffic, hut at the same time, the house being at a 
considerable higher elevation, a distinct view of the 
river and the bordering hills is obtained from the 
upper windows. The driveway winding up from an 
unpretentious entrance on a course nearly parallel 
with the longitudinal axis of the house, is sunken 
below a naturally sloping terrace and turns gracefully 
at one end of the property, to approach the front 
door. The course of the road is so laid out and the 
planting so arranged that the distance from highway 
to house appears much greater than it actually is. 
The trees at this place are beautiful, most of them 
between seventy-five and one hundred years old, 
and all chosen specimens. Lawn space is plentiful, 
hut broken up here and there by plantings in such 
places as to form interesting vistas. No elaborate 
form of gardening has been attempted hut a general 
impression of substance and uniformity prevails, 
and for a place of comparatively small acreage, 
the effect is one of much greater extent. 
The old Do wning residence, “High¬ 
land Gardens” as it was known in 
Downing’s time, has of late years de¬ 
scended to a more prosaic sphere in 
being known as the “Carson Place.” 
The origi nal property has been cut 
up into small single residence sites, 
and while they are all maintained in 
excellent condition, the grounds left 
to the old house are now very limited 
in extent. The old circular con¬ 
servatory is still in existence, although 
in a bad state of decay. An unused 
fountain adds another spark of interest 
to what remains of the old atmosphere 
of the place and the magnificent 
framing of old trees and shrubs cer¬ 
tainly lends decided attraction to the 
surroundings. 
Probably the largest estate on this 
side of the river and near Newburgh, 
(i Continued on page 3, Advertising Section .) 
OLD DRIVEWAY ON FORMER BETTS ESTATE, NEWBURGH 
46 
