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Plane Tree Allee on list for landscaping in 2008
By Dorothy Shinn
Beacon Journal art and architecture critic
Published on Thursday, Feb 21, 2008
Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, 714 N. Portage Path, Akron, has undertaken the restoration of the Plane Tree Allee, lovingly immortalized by Gertrude Seiberling in her 1936 painting.
This restoration project, which extends from the south side of the manor house mirrors the existing Birch Tree Allee, which extends north from the area adjacent to the breakfast room to the tea house at the end of the allee.
The original Plane Tree Allee was completed nearly 100 years ago and like the Birch Tree Allee was planted by landscape architect Warren Manning.
However, the London plane trees had become diseased on the one hand and overgrown on the other, deteriorating far from Manning's original plans.
The completed project will enable Stan Hywet's horticulture staff to maintain the new plane trees properly for decades.
The finished landscaping includes the restoration of the understory, seen in Mrs. Seiberling's painting, of hostas, azaleas and rhododendrons.
About five years of growth will be needed for the newly restored Plane Tree Allee to resemble the historic landscape.
Formal rededication of the space is set for April 21.
The allee will be part of Stan Hywet's 2008 family friendly exhibition, The Great Garden Adventure, opening up the southeast corner of the property to usable recreational space that children and families can explore throughout the seasons.
The London plane tree is a hybrid of the American plane tree (also known as the sycamore or buttonwood), and the Oriental plane tree.
This sturdy tree is well known in London, where it helps to soften and shade the urban landscape, a task for which it is well suited for dealing with pollution.
The tree's characteristic peeling bark enables the tree to renew itself, by peeling off in plates, thus aiding its resistance to airborne pollution, as this trait prevents the pores from
clogging up.
Many of the large plane trees that add charm to London's squares, streets and parks were planted more than 200 years ago as the city expanded. Good examples of larger trees can be found in Berkeley Square, Kew, Kenwood, Ravensbury Park and Morden.
There is an avenue of London plane trees along Merrimon Avenue in Asheville, N.C., that is so beloved that when the city talked about cutting them down so the road could be widened, the residents rose up in protest. They had the avenue declared a historic and protected site. The road, which curves around scenic Beaver Lake, has never been widened.
Here in Akron, several of our streets, including Sunnyside Avenue in West Akron, were originally planted in sycamores.
The only way to tell the difference between a London plane tree and a sycamore is that in fruit, the sycamore has one thorny brown ball, while the London plane tree typically has two. Also, the leaves of a London plane tree tend to be more deeply ''toothed'' than those of a sycamore.
This is just one of several capital restoration projects currently being undertaken at Stan Hywet, requiring $5 million in funding.
The entire campaign, a $10 million Capital and Endowment Campaign, is being styled ''An Icon of the American Spirit,'' for what is called ''one of the most important historic American country estates in existence today.''
The campaign will address the estate's capital improvement projects, including:
• Seven named endowment funds.
• Plane Tree Allee.
• Repair and restoration of Stan Hywet's 23 unique chimneys to preserve them as key architectural elements.
• Restoring the 1916 Aeolian organ, including its 2,670 pipes located in the walls surrounding the manor house's music room, which have been in a state of disrepair since 1957. Stan Hywet's Aeolian organ was the first ever installed in a private home in Ohio. Built by the Aeolian Company of New York City, its silence inhibits an entirely accurate and more compelling interpretation of the Music Room, often cited as one of the most beautiful rooms in America. The Kulas Foundation has awarded Stan Hywet a $25,000 challenge grant to restore the organ by the Schantz Organ Company of Orrville.
• The West Terrace and West Terrace Overlook need restoration as well as stabilization, a project that includes a multiyear repair and restoration of the manor house's water-management systems.
• The Japanese Garden has become overgrown and needs to be returned to its original specifications and beauty.
• Other outdoor recreation features that need restoration include the Twin Tea Houses, the Lagoon, the Family Tennis Court and Lagoon Path System, opening these recreation areas to Stan Hywet members and the public.
Stan Hywet is currently closed to the public until April 1, but those who wish to contribute to the capital campaign can get in touch by calling 330-836-5533 or 888-836-5533, or by following the links in this online article: http://www.stanhywet.org/article/item-474e9a79-25c3-409a-ae28-4b8d1dd8f5d8.aspx.
Today
Art History 101 — The ongoing series ''Art History 101'' is being held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Charles and Jane Lehner Auditorium of the Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High St., when Kent State University adjunct art history faculty Albert Reischuck presents ''Love and Family/Gender Issues.'' This drop-in lecture is free to AAM members, or $7 to nonmembers, $25 for the series, which runs through May. Information: 330-376-9185.
Also at the AAM, a 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. members' preview is being held for two new exhibits: Family Album: The Karl and Bertl Arnstein Print Collection and A Shared Vision: The Fred and Laura Ruth Bidwell Photography Collection. Members can go for free, but for nonmembers it costs $15 per person. No reservations required.
Friday
Raffle — Two paintings will be raffled from the show, Past, Present . . . Future?, by artist Eric David during its 7 to 9 opening at Red Light Gallery, 111 N. Main St., Akron's Northside Arts and Culture District. Proceeds from the raffle will go to support the Haven of Rest Ministries at 175 E. Market St., Akron. Raffle tickets are $5. Admission to the show is free. Raffle winners will be announced at 9 p.m. Refreshments will be served. Details: 330-671-3792.
Grand Opening — 2nd April Galerie, The Dreg Spot & Studios celebrates its new location at 324 Cleveland Ave. N.W., Canton, with a 5 to 10 p.m. grand opening. Call 330-451-0924 or see http://www.secondapril.org/ or http://www.uncledreg.com/.
Art Extravaganza — Jackson High School and Jackson School for the Arts holds the second annual All District Arts Extravaganza from 5 to 10 p.m. in the new Jackson High School commons area, where the evening's events include performance of one-act plays, a silent auction, a gift basket raffle, a 50/50 raffle, performance of the Jackson Memorial Middle School Chamber Choir, a special performance of Suessical by Jackson Memorial Middle School students, plus an exhibit of student art work. For more information, call Susan Gardner, JSA director, Jackson High School, at 330-837-3401, Ext. 1220, or e-mail srg2jc@mail.jackson.sparcc.org.
Saturday
PAA events — The following classes and events take place at Peninsula Art Academy, 1600 W. Mill St., Peninsula. 330-647-2248.
Glass Fusing — A one-day primer with Marianne Hite on glass fusing will be held from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Cost is $75 ($70 PAA member), plus cost of materials.
Woolie Weather — Join Heather Quinones from 12:30 to 4 p.m. to recycle scrap pieces of fabric into beautiful items. Learn how to prepare old wool clothes and create stitches to enhance designs. Cost is $65 ($55 PAA members).
Glassblowing — Bob Pozarski teaches the fundamentals of molten glass forming. The five-hour classes fill up fast and aren't held in the warmer months. Cost is $90 ($70 PAA members) for beginners, $130 ($110 PAA members) for intermediate.
PAA Showcase — From 5 to 7 p.m., PAA Instructors' Showcase and a meet-the-artist reception. The exhibit runs through March 23.
Monday
Potting Around — Bob Yost, potter and owner of Yost Tile and Middlebury Pottery and School, 1643 Massillon Road, Akron, holds a five-week beginning pottery class from 7 to 9 p.m. Cost is $135 per person. 330-734-0763.
Tuesday
Narrative Style — Duane Matthew, instructor of college composition at the Stark State College of Technology, presents his original narrative poems at the monthly Brown Bag Lunch at 12:10 in the lobby of the Massillon Museum, 121 Lincoln Way E., Massillon. His ''Poet's Perspective'' program includes thoughts about the Underground Railroad and other historic and contemporary topics. 330-833-4061.
Deadline
Prix de la Sculpture — March 3 is the day entries are due in Noilly Prat's Prix de la Sculpture, a sculpture competition to engage emerging artists to create an outdoor sculpture for the headquarters of the vermouth-making company in Marseillan, in the south of France. The competition runs in three countries: the United States, France and the United Kingdom, with regional finals in each country. The U.S. winner will receive a $10,000 prize and the runner-up a $5,000 prize. The U.S. winner will present work in Paris, France, on April 2 during the finals of the global competition. The grand-prize winner receives a commission budget of 30,000 Euros, or about $44,000 to produce the final work. For more information, see http://www.noillyprat.com.
Dorothy Shinn writes about art and architecture for the Akron Beacon Journal. Send information to her at the Akron Beacon Journal, P.O. Box 640, Akron, OH 44309-0640 or dtgshinn@neo.rr.com.
Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, 714 N. Portage Path, Akron, has undertaken the restoration of the Plane Tree Allee, lovingly immortalized by Gertrude Seiberling in her 1936 painting.
Get the full article here.
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