Fort Washington -- The Highlands
- General
- The Highlands lies on the old Skippack Pike in the White Marsh Valley. The English-style stone house was built by Anthony Morris in 1796. The Sheaff family developed the garden with two stone walls--one being crenelated. During Caroline S. Sinkler's ownership after 1915, the garden was renovated closely following the original existing features. Along both walls, there used to be lean-to greenhouses. These were removed by Sinkler and used to create a new wall. The plan of the garden had two axes that formed four separate gardens, one of them a parterre with a large sundial. Small pools, Italian sculptures, and garden ornaments were placed in the garden during Sinkler's time. Decay of the garden began after the death of Mrs. Roosevelt; subsequently the property was bequeathed to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
- Persons and organizations associated with the garden include: Anthony Morris (former owner, 1796); George Sheaff (former owner); John Sheaff (former owner, ?-1915); Caroline Sinkler (former owner, 1917-1941); Nicholas G. and Emily Roosevelt (former owners, 1941-1957); Archie Coutts (gardener); Wilson A. Eyre (landscape architect, 1917); George Saylor (gardener); Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (owners, 1957-); and the Highlands Historical Society.
- Architect
- Eyre, Wilson, 1858-1944
- Landscape architect
- Eyre, Wilson, 1858-1944
- Creator
- Highlands Historical Society
- Former owner
- Sheaff Family
- Roosevelt, Nicholas Guy, 1883?-1965
- Roosevelt, Emily Wharton Sickler, 1884-1970
- Sinkler, Caroline, 1860-1949
- Collection Creator
- Garden Club of America
- Place
- The Highlands (Fort Washington, Pennsylvania)
- United States of America -- Pennsylvania -- Montgomery County -- Fort Washington
- Topic
- Gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Fort Washington
- Architect
- Eyre, Wilson, 1858-1944
- Landscape architect
- Eyre, Wilson, 1858-1944
- Creator
- Highlands Historical Society
- Former owner
- Sheaff Family
- Roosevelt, Nicholas Guy, 1883?-1965
- Roosevelt, Emily Wharton Sickler, 1884-1970
- Sinkler, Caroline, 1860-1949
- See more items in
- The Garden Club of America collection
- The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Gardens / 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.
- Archival Repository
- Archives of American Gardens
- Identifier
- AAG.GCA, File PA008
- 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.
- Bibliography
- Garden featured in James Boyd, ed., Beatrice M-P Cloud, A History of The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society: 1827-1927 (Philadelphia: The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, 1929) pp. 469-473. Garden featured in Phyllis L. Herring, "The Highlands: A 20th Century Wuthering Heights or a Potential Showplace," in The Green Scene (March 1976). Garden featured in Louise Bush-Brown and James Bush-Brown, "The Highlands: the Garden of Miss Caroline Sinkler at Ambler" in Portraits of Philadelphia Gardens (Philadelphia: Dorrance and Company, 1929). Garden featured in Andrew Jackson Downing, "A Treatise of the Theory and Practise of Landscape Gardening."
- Existence and Location of Originals
- Two 35 mm. slides copied from Country Life (May 1937, p. 81); and Bush Brown, Portraits of Philadelphia Architects (1929)
- Scope and Contents
- The folder includes a worksheet, narrative history, copies of articles, Garden Club of America correspondence, and copy of "The Highlands Preservation Master Plan" by George E. Patton (December 1977).
- 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.
