Ambler -- Tunnel Farm

Object Details

sova.aag.gca_ref16434
GUID
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb6680b3e20-7bc7-4461-9406-2e95f5534e2c
General
Located on approximately 24 acres, the property was named Tunnel Farm as a nod to a tunnel built for an extension of the North Pennsylvania Rail Road which opened in Gwynedd in 1856. Local red Triassic sandstone was used to build a two bay, two story gable roof house fronting the road. The house retained the footprint with minor alterations until ca.1930 when Mr. and Mrs. Edward Harvey added a keeping room and bedroom. Tunnel Farm was maintained as working farm until the 1950s and is currently a gentleman's farm with barn, other outbuildings and gardens. Many efforts have been made to preserve open space near Tunnel Farm including deeding over half of the property to the Natural Lands Trust as an easement. Tunnel Farm is a rare example of a country farm with extensive open land, a pond, stream, woodlands and gardens in an ever-growing suburban environment. The original farmhouse was built in approximately 1783.
Other features of the garden include beehives, birdbaths, cisterns, ha has, herb garden, native plant gardens, vegetable garden, walled gardens, woodland gardens and an orchard.
Persons and groups associated with the garden include: Mr. and Mrs. Edward F. Harvey (former owners, 1926-1945), Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Clark, Jr. (former owners, 1945-1954), Mr. and Mrs. George B. Burpee (former owners, 1954-1957), Mr. and Mrs. Joseph M. Jackson (former owners, 1957-1961), Alice Doering (landscape designer, 1984-1994) and John D. Milner (architect, 1991).
Landscape designer
Doering, Alice
Former owner
Harvey, Edward
Clark, Charles J. Jr
Burpee, George
Jackson, Joseph M.
Architect
Milner, John
Provenance
The Weeders
Collection Creator
Garden Club of America
Place
Tunnel Farm (Ambler, Pennsylvania)
United States of America -- Pennsylvania -- Ambler
Topic
Gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Ambler
Landscape designer
Doering, Alice
Former owner
Harvey, Edward
Clark, Charles J. Jr
Burpee, George
Jackson, Joseph M.
Architect
Milner, John
Provenance
The Weeders
See more items in
The Garden Club of America collection
The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Garden Images / Pennsylvania
Sponsor
A project to describe images in this finding aid received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.
Custodial History
The Weeder's Garden Club facilitated the submission of this garden's documentation.
Archival Repository
Archives of American Gardens
Identifier
AAG.GCA, File PA697
Type
Archival materials
Collection Citation
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America collection.
Collection Rights
Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Scope and Contents
The folder includes worksheets articles and lists of notable plants and shrubs.
Collection Restrictions
Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Related Materials
Tunnel Farm related holdings consist of 1 folder (26 digital images)
See others in
Garden Club of American collection, ca. 1920- [ongoing].
AAG.GCA_ref16434
Large EAD
AAG.GCA
AAG
Record ID
ebl-1643208220039-1643210185576-0
Ambler -- Tunnel Farm
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