Author: Darrin M. VonStein

Part 4(a) still continued – Unbuilt Flagpoles, The East Plaza, Capitol Grounds, Washington, D.C.

October 11, 2023

While Thomas Wisedell was designing the lampposts for the East Plaza during the fall of 1874 and spring of 1875, he was also tasked with creating two bronze flagpoles.  These were shown on the plan of the Capitol grounds rendered by Wisedell in September 1874 and were to be located on the triangular plots near the … More Part 4(a) still continued – Unbuilt Flagpoles, The East Plaza, Capitol Grounds, Washington, D.C.

Part 2(a) continued – The Central Park Dairy

October 10, 2023

When Olmsted & Vaux were first planning Central Park in the late 1850’s, it had been intended that much of its southern end of  would be designed as a playground.  Rather than a playground for small children, this was an area principally for cricket matches.  At that time, the only intended architectural features were to … More Part 2(a) continued – The Central Park Dairy

Part 9 – Goodholme’s Domestic Cyclopaedia

August 17, 2023

In 1876, Thomas Wisedell and Calvert Vaux collaborated in writing a major section of a large publication entitled A Domestic Cyclopaedia of Practical Information later re-titled Goodholme’s Domestic Cyclopaedia of Practical Information.  This was a massive undertaking by the publishing house of Henry Holt & Company of New York.  Its editor was supposedly a man … More Part 9 – Goodholme’s Domestic Cyclopaedia

Part 7 – Mt. Vernon Square, Baltimore, MD.

July 26, 2023

In 1875, members to the Baltimore City Council sought $40,000 towards the renovation of the four parks that served as approaches to the Washington Monument at Mount Vernon Square.   The monument was originally designed by Robert Mills and constructed between 1815 and 1829 to honor George Washington and was erected on John Eager Howard’s estate … More Part 7 – Mt. Vernon Square, Baltimore, MD.

Part 6 – The City/ County Building, Buffalo, NY.

July 2, 2023

In the fall of 1875, Dennis Bowen of the Buffalo Parks Commission asked Frederick Law Olmsted to plan the grounds surrounding the new City and County Hall which was to be completed in the spring of 1876. The building had been designed in 1871 by the Rochester, N.Y. architect Andrew Jackson Warner who was also … More Part 6 – The City/ County Building, Buffalo, NY.

Part 5 – The Schuylkill Arsenal, Philadelphia, PA.

June 22, 2023

In May of 1875, Quartermaster-General Montgomery Meigs (1816-1892) asked Frederick Law Olmsted to consult on improving the grounds and buildings as well as the wall sand gates at the Schuylkill Arsenal located below South Street on Grey’s Ferry Road in Philadelphia. Olmsted and Meigs had previously worked together planning and constructing the Quartermaster’s depot at … More Part 5 – The Schuylkill Arsenal, Philadelphia, PA.

Part 4(f) – The Fountain, Washington, D.C.

May 26, 2023

The boundary wall connecting the two entrances including the ornate drinking fountain at the center of the entire scheme was finally erected in 1881. It is this later date that is of interest since it helps explain why the fountain exhibits a different style than the rest of the decorative stonework Wisedell designed for the … More Part 4(f) – The Fountain, Washington, D.C.

Part 4(e) – Stonework, The Capitol Grounds (west side), Washington, D.C.

May 3, 2023

Work on grading the grounds on the western side of the Capitol building began in 1876.  Since the architectural renderings for this project were undated, most of the information was found the congressional records and in the letters and correspondences of Frederick Law Olmsted. Based on congressional appropriations, it appears as though Thomas Wisedell probably … More Part 4(e) – Stonework, The Capitol Grounds (west side), Washington, D.C.

Part 4(d) – The Unbuilt Summer-House, Washington, D.C.

April 23, 2023

With the completion of the Summerhouse in the spring of 1881, Frederick Law Olmsted began planning a second Summer-house which was to be located on a similar triangular plot on the southwest of the Capitol grounds. While the north Summer-house had its water sourced from the Capitol’s cooling system, the south Summer-house was to be … More Part 4(d) – The Unbuilt Summer-House, Washington, D.C.