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Letters recall the glory days of Seven Mile Island After researching and publishing the history of Seven Mile Island years ago, | was contacted by Mrs. Eleanor Jarvis, a granddaughter of Alex and Mary Wilson, the former owners of this island property. Mrs. Jarvis spent much of her childhood growing up on Seven Mile Island and provided us with new information, unknown from our years of research. So to kick this series off we're going to let her take us on @ grand tour of this magnificent estate in her own words and from her fondest memories. In the months to follow, we will look back at the early history of the property and show you what it looked like in its glory days. J. Peter Hvidsten Good morning Peter, I think I will try to describe the garden by viewing it as half a wagon- wheel, viewed from above, with the house as the hub, each direction from the house being a spoke in the Leaving the house we would have a choice of direc- tions to take: we might choose to step out through the screened porch off the living room, and face west toward the lake across the wide lawn. The first spoke in the wheel. On our right would be the pool, and over to the left a fountain with a little statue of a girl with lily pads and flowers that mimic the lily pads and flowers in the foun- tain. but we might stroll over to the lookout, that little tiled and wrought-iron railed bay that extends out over the bank. Here we could sit for a while and enjoy the view, or continue to walk south, passing under the long row of tall graceful elm trees that mark the shoreline. Where the lawn ends, we have to search for the path through the dense trees and shrubs. If we follow it we find ourselves passing through a strange little formation of paths and rockwork. This odd little place was the result of misplaced trust in someone Three of the unique ‘cigar shaped’ pillars which greet visitors as they enter the property. who promised to build a Japanese garden but in fact had no idea how to do it. My grandparents were so disappointed they simply abandoned it, but years later they did get their Japanese garden. would then be at the south end of the garden, and might meet someone who had started from the front door - the second spoke of the wheel. Walking south across the lawn they would pass to the right of a well- groomed bowling green, and beyond that, a badminton court and an archery ran; At that point we might meet and stroll together to the boathouse and perhaps pause for a while on the upper deck to watch for herons and bitterns and other wildlife in the marsh. Coming back we might stop at the reflecting pool to waich the fish, perhaps, or, if the day is growing warm, to take cool refuge in the teahouse. Leaving there, we could take the paved walk up to the drive and return to the house. Back at the house, if we stand under the portico and look along the third spoke of the wheel toward the east, we are facing a wide half-circle of garden with walkways and Please turn to page 28 The pergola, which lead from the road to the main house. Flower gardens and fountains were in abundance on the property. FOCUS -JUNE 2010 29