Springside National Historic Landmark

Happy birthday, Matthew Vassar! Born in 1792, we are grateful that you created Springside with the help of Andrew Jackson Downing. Vassar died in 1868, and is buried in the nearby Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery.

https://wrrv.com/look-for-these-fairy-houses-in-the-city-of-poughkeepsie/

Look for These Fairy Houses in the City of Poughkeepsie The City of Poughkeepsie is pretty magical after all.

Autumn comes to Springside.

Spring comes to the Porter’s Lodge

The Open Space Institute Provides Funding to Protect Last Remaining ‘Springside’ Property in Downtown Poughkeepsie




POUGHKEEPSIE, NY —The Open Space Institute (OSI) and Springside Landscape Restoration have announced the permanent protection of scarce greenspace in downtown urban Poughkeepsie. The newly-protected “Scraggy Knoll” property is the last remaining parcel of the original “Springside” estate.

The nearly two-acre Scraggy Knoll parcel, once approved for the development of a six-unit condominium, is located to the east of the current boundaries of Springside. Both Springside and Scraggy Knoll are a designated National Historic Landmark. OSI’s grant of $16,000 allowed Springside Landscape Restoration to conserve the property and its winding trails, rocky knolls, and pastoral forests.

“For over 170 years, Springside has been a priceless inheritance, connecting families to this wonderful landscape,” said Kim Elliman, OSI’s president and CEO. “OSI is proud to have helped preserve this special place, and prouder still that the citizens of Poughkeepsie will have it for their permanent enjoyment.”

"We are overjoyed that this critical and long-awaited property is now permanently preserved,” said John Mylod, president of the Springside Landscape Restoration board of directors. "Funded largely by Springside donors, OSI's grant was the final key to allow us to go ahead with the purchase agreement and welcome Scraggy Knoll back into Springside. This grant was crucial in our fundraising efforts.”

Springside is the only largely intact and documented example nationally of the skill and vision of Andrew Jackson Downing, known as the “father” of American landscape architecture. In 1850, prosperous Poughkeepsie brewer and community leader, Matthew Vassar, hired Downing to design this country estate on the outskirts of Poughkeepsie.

In the mid-1980s, 20 acres of the original estate were saved from development by local volunteers, who established Springside Landscape Restoration to protect the site and open it for public enjoyment. Today, nearly 2,000 people every year visit Springside, to enjoy the property’s landscape layout, an interpretive walking tour, and other amenities.

Scenic Hudson also supported the project with an approximately $8,500 grant to Springside Landscape Restoration to help cover additional transactional expenses from the project, including current property and school taxes.

“Scenic Hudson was delighted to play a role in protecting this historic and beautiful land in the heart of Poughkeepsie, and providing city residents with new opportunities to explore nature and the history of their community,” said Steve Rosenberg, executive director of The Scenic Hudson Land Trust.

Matthew Vassar stands watch over his Porter’s Lodge, designed by Andrew Jackson Downing.

Larch and oak carpet along the trails

Porter’s Lodge at Springside

Spring weather is near, we hope!

SAVE SCRAGGY KNOLL!
We are so close to purchasing and keeping green the last remaining parcel of Matthew Vassar's historic Springside landscape known as the “scraggy knoll”.
Currently in private hands, our option to buy scraggy knoll expires in April.
So far we’ve raised $46,000, but we need $15,000 to close on the property and protect scraggy knoll from any future development.
In 1850, Matthew Vassar, founder of Vassar College, hired America's leading landscape architect, Andrew Jackson Downing, to design his country estate.
Much reduced in size now, 20 acres of the original estate were saved from development by volunteers who created Springside Landscape Restoration. Springside is the only largely intact example of A.J. Downing's handiwork in the country and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1969.
Our present goal is to purchase the scraggy knoll parcel and add it to the Springside landscape where it will be preserved as open space as well as open to the public every day of the year free of charge.
Please help Springside today. Go to our secure PayPal service at www.springsidelandmark.org . Or, if you prefer to mail a gift, send your check to:
Springside, P.O. Box 4915, Poughkeepsie, NY 12602

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Springside Landscape Restoration: Historic Designed Landscape – Historic Site | ©2015 - Present | Springside Landscape Restoration. All rights reserved | By FLAIRDESIGNS Springside Landscape Restoration, a 501c3 not-for-profit organization, owns and stewards Springside. Mail to: P.0. Box 4915, Poughkeepsie, NY 12602