Journal of Adolph G. Rosengarten, Jr. - September

September 1st

1937

- Place looked very badly. Quantities of fall grass, reported universally to be the worst in years. Michael had cut lawn too short & too often.

1938

- It has been very cool since 8/21/38 when we returned from Chatham. Fall grass not as bad as 1937. Patsy & I engaged in reseeding.

1940

- This is the Eighth succesive day of rain. Fall grass not bad but work is far behind schedule because of rain.

1942

- A.G.R. Jr. & J.N.R. assigned quarters, Apt. 82 A Ingalls Road, Fort Monroe, Va. Some furniture from Minder House & Rokeby sent down but it took six weeks to get there.

1963

- Since Jan. 1^st temperature defeciency 431° & rainfall 10". Drought severe.

September 2nd

1937

- While we were in West the following was done to place: stone curb set on N. side of drive from court to bridge. Concrete flooring of porch blasted out & a flagstone flooring & two lime stone steps put in, lowering the level about 5". Hood over south door removed & fixture's location changed, also concrete step taken out & two flagstone steps put in. Pantry & Kitchen smooth plastered and repainted.

1948

- While we were away, the dry wall on Brooke Road was extended to tthe gate post & rebuilt. John Lee painted the living room, dining room, & hall to & incl. second floor. As he had not finished we spent several days at Chanticleer.

1951

- Drought broken by PM rain.

1959

- Yesterday & today, 2" additional rain, mostly in heavy showers.

1970

- Walk w/ 24 Evergreen, 12 Christmas & 12 Maiden hair ferns from stream, N. of Heather Area, planted w/ stepping stones by "Junior Varsity".

September 3rd

1947

- While we were at Chatham, Arthur Hacker put in a new hot water tank. Henry Farrow blocked up door from our bathroom to spare room & John Lee repainted kitchen & pantry and the spare room.

1963

- Beginning about 8:³⁰ PM we had five inches of rain.

September 4th

1935

- Arrived home at 5:³⁰ PM in a down pour of rain.

1937

- Forsythia by porch (next to outside water spigot) and Barberry diagonally opposite removed. In place of Forsythia but some what further out Ilex crenata planted.

1947

- Lawn around house reseeded. Fall grass had been pulled out by hand. Top dressing of screened mushroom soil. Scott's seed used.

1963

- Allan Davis, grading, seeding, & planting liriope: began today.

1968

- A.G.R. Jr. & JNR sailed on Q. Elizabeth, returning on same ship on Oct. 14^th. We visited Austria, France, & England.

1982

- Sabrina Patterson married to Thomas Warner at N.E. Harbour, Me.

September 5th

1953

- Possession of 54 Bvd. Flandrin surrendered to Dac d' Albufera & we moved to Hotel Vendome.

1956

- The new crouquet court, W. of porch, which had been graded with fill three weeks ago, was fertilized, seeded & rolled today.

1970

- Party at Chanticleer of 32 for Molly Keith. Warm & clear.

1974

- Jas. P. Barone & Co. began to resurface forecourt & drive at Chanticleer.

1980

- Ledlie N. Borgerhoff came for weekend.

September 6th

1935

- At noon it began to clear. After four & one half days of rain beginning Monday Sept. 2^nd and during the period there fell eight inches of rain.

1936

- On Upper Pool, Squaltech River, Tennis Court Co., P.Q. A.G.R. Jr. caught 4 lb. Brook Trout; J.N.R. caught one 2 lbs.

1937

- During this & the preceeding five days AGR Jr. worked on place, during appaling heat and humidity. Regraded North bank of drive & attacked the fall grass.

1949

- Luther Dalton had sprayed the honeysuckle bank on the new property, mowed, disked it during the summer. Today we sowed grass on it, which later came up well. A splendid job.

1979

- During the 12 hrs preceeding 7:³⁰ AM rainfall on our rain gauge was over 5.5".

1984

- Mandes "Tiling" wet area N.E. corner of Walnut Wood.

September 7th

1935

- New cutting garden established. Three old flower beds & old cutting bed (by Stewart'sline & north of new garden) removed & graded.

1937

- Entire piece of grass south of house from hemlock hedge west to new garden reseeded.

1939

- A.G.R. Jr. & C.P.R. returned from a Europe engaged in war. They came on the Manhattan & had no trouble.

1949

- We returned from Chatham but stayed at Chanticleer until the 15^th.

1960

- Row of Ilex Helleri planted along top of wall below dining room.

1964

- Labor Day, Drought very severe and no end in sight.

1982

- A.G.R. Jr. home from B.M. Rehad. Center on crutches.

1984

- Meadow Garden - off Church Road - w/ borders now into lawn, substantially reduced.

September 8th

1935

- Grading continued.

1949

- While we were away, Wⁿ C. Binns Co. repainted kitchen, pantry, & spare room, scraped & stained floor on 2^nd floor walnut & repapered the study, where the floor was also repainted but it is a poor job. Erik Jansson did over the modern furniture in the study but it is very unsatisfactory.

1971

- James Barone resurfaced drive after leveling it out.

1984

- A.G.R. Jr. to England, last week 4 days partridge shooting Hampshire, returned 22 Sept.

1985

- Banks of Tennis Court prepared for red day lilies.

September 9th

1934

- J.N.R. and I returned from motor trip at 12:30 AM.

1949

- Outside, R.H. Johnson built a retaining wall & did the grading necessary to extend the cutting garden aprox. 30'. The removed of the hemlock & barberry hedge and the hurdle fence is a tremendous improvement & makes the place seem big.

1953

- C.P.R.'s dinner dance at Chanticleer to Christine. 200 for dinner & 200 after. Garden, tent, etc. Enchantingly flood lit. Best possible weather.

1975

- A.G.R. Jr. & J.N.R. flew from New York to London. While in U.K. one week (15^th - 20^th) partridge shooting at Sutton Scotney. Hants weekend.

1976

- Flew to London, returning Oct. 15^th. Magargee painted spare & dining rooms in our absence.

September 10th

1934

- Five hemlocks, south side of drying yard , planted today.

1938

- Grass around house coming up. Reseeding of lower lawn progressing.

1960

- 4 Clematis against wall w/ gate outside library.

1983

- Reception with tour of gardens for Presodent of Univ. of Pa. & M^rs Hackney. 24 guests.

September 11th

1936

- A.G.R. Jr. & J.N.R. returned from vacation, but stayed at Chanticleer until alterations were completed.

1956

- Bickers removed two flowering crab-apple above cutting garden & put in N.W. cor. Chanticleer, 2 Burford Holly planted 1.) W. of Water Wheel. 2.) Angle below Austrian Pines.

1964

- Bair of West Chester (through Henry Farrow) completed the pond; an important feature of the folly.

1967

- A.G.R. Jr. & J.N.R. flew from N.Y. to Paris via T.W.A. After a week in Paris, a weekend at Baix (Ardeche), to London on Sept. 24^th. See note Oct. 17^th.

1976

-Chanticleer & Minder House visited by circa 80 Am. Hort. Society.

September 12th

1936

- Place looked very well; patches of lawn which had been seeded showed green in some places.

1946

- AGR Jr. & J.N.R. departed for Chicgao to stay with the Murphy's. Returned at noon the 16^th after a grand time.

1947

- William & Gertrude Gleditzsch entered our employ at $300 per mo.

1960

- Hurricane Donna deposited 5.95" rain in past 24 hrs. Damage to trees minimal but newly seeded areas washed out. No power for 12 hrs but emergency generator functioned.

1962

- Lawn repaired & reseed, area between house, terrace & herbacious border.

1974

- A.G.R. Jr. & J.N.R. flew New York (B.A.) to London. To Sutton Scotney on 15^th Sept. for a week shooting partridges.

September 13th

1934

- Thursday! Opened the season at Topsy's, who is still concerned about his "daudy" lawn.

1936

- During our absence: Antique mantle & marble facing put in living room. Dining room had been smooth evated; Fan & blower installed in wall over range in kitchen; Back stoop extended & garbage cans set in cement; rain gutter on third floor fixed; Dining room painted "January Green"; Floors os 1^st floor & stairs scraped & stained walnut in place of light oak.

1937

- We moved down from Chanticleer.

1959

- Additional top soil bought to level out & increase area of croquet court.

1963

- Repair of lawn S. of herbacious border completed.

1969

-Party at Chanticleer of 38 for Wingate & Janet West Lloyd.

1971

- Beginning on the 10^th (Friday) and ending today, almost continuos rain: official Phila. total 4.63" but our garage registered 9"+.

1980

- Drought! Since 16^th August only 0.03" of rain.

September 14th

1953

- A.G.R. Jr. & J.N.R. landed at N.Y. at 8:⁰⁰ AM from SS Liberté. Smoothest crossing ever.

1959

- We sailed from N.Y. on S.S. Constitution for Lisbon. Thence to Madrid, Paris & London, returning by air on Oct. 23^rd. While away painting only.

1960

- Because of his illness, Harold Fry's employment terminated. Marrion Fry remains.

1964

- Nine clematis planted against lowest wall of the folly.

September 15th

1933

- Mrs. Kyle delivered possession.

1934

- Rain till 4:³⁰ PM. Continued digging and cultivating burberry hedge.

1935

- Graded, grub-proofed with arsenate of lead & sowed lawn of new garden and old flower beds. Partly leveled off the new fill N.W. of house.

1949

- William & Gertrude Gleditzsch reentered our employ.

1960

- 31 Taxus "Bloodgood" planted as hedge around terrace & behind bench.

1964

- Evergreen shrubs along walk above hardy border re-arranged to achieve a more effective curve.

1974

- Barone filled bed of stream N. of bridge with stone & tile, thus improving new diversion.

1985

- Philadelphia Museum of Art: Garden tour & reception for +/- 140 people.

September 16th

1934

- Sunday, A.R. Jr. to town, J.N.R. came along with her sewing, to work on Miss Cavier's case.

1935

- Worked in swamp, scything grass & reset curb on drive S. of stream.

1939

- For past 3 weeks Patsy has been assisted by one "Domenic". They have cut & leveled off sewer lines & septic tanks, resseded lawn & trained up S. bank of drainage ditch E. of drive.

1963

- Beginning about 9:⁰⁰ AM a good rain: 1"-1 1/2".

1969

- Edward, Secunda, Samantha & Beverley Goodman moved into 747 Brooke Road.

September 17th

1946

- Michael, a smooth haired fox terrier, born June 21^st 1946, arrived.

1983

- Sarah Madeira lunch for 70 before wedding. Am. Hort. Society Tour of gardens. Two bus loads, 90 people, as usual arrived 1 week late. Hurried.

September 18th

1935

- Grading, grub-proofing & sewed the new fill & part by the burberry hedge.

1936

- Heavy rain.

1937

- Still working on lawn: removing fall grass & reseeding lawn.

1938

- Alberta Reath Neilson died at Bar Harbor, Me.

1945

- A.G.R. Jr. seperated from active service at Camp Blanding, Florida. Entered on terminal leave.

September 19th

1934

- Loring Dam and Cornelia, his wife, the later being J.N.R.'s former boss at Museum came to dinner tonight. All possible side put on.

1936

- Five hemlocks installed by Thomas on drive to scream back porch, replaced privet bushes which had gotten top heavy.

1938

- We moved back to our house. John & Bertha Murlasits re-entered our employ at $125.00 a month. Our beds are terribly hard.

1950

- A.G.R. Jr. & J.N.R. returned on S.S. Queen Elizabeth. We motored in our cheverolet convertible about six thousand miles, mostly in France, buut also in Belgium, Switzerland & England. Our guests included Hon Mrs. Crosley & Lindy, Brigadier & Mrs. E.T. Williams & the Borgerhoffs.

1963

- Allan Davis planted Retinispora plumosa Vattchi N. stream W. of Drive.

1973

- At Chanticleer, Weldon Nurseries planted 66 Juniperus plumosa on bank of drive & 10 Canadian Hemlock & 10 White Pine at Minder House between pond & Brooke Road. Cresting sodded.

1983

- A.G.R. Jr. left for England on the Concorde, returning on the Queen Elizabeth 2 on October 13^th. (q.v.) nine hours late due to heavy seas.

September 20th

1936

- One Hundred crocus planted in lawn next to brick walk.

1960

- 7 arborvitae planted W. of drive along Brooke Road: also some rhodendron rearranged E. of vista & three big Hicksii yews to bank S. of stream.

September 21st

1935

- Regrading the fill in the swamp. Water grass in new garden etc. sown a week ago today - new growth just shows.

1956

- 35° at 6:³⁰ AM. White frost. Lowest temperature on record for any Sept. day.

September 22nd

1934

- Saturday - rain again. At 7³⁰ PM, A.R. Jr. summoned to Toms River, N.J. to get Miss Cavier out of jail, returning at 3:30 AM.

1935

- Worked on preperation of tulip cutting bed next to new cutting border. Dug out 6" & worked sand & bone meal into the hard pan.

1939

- The Martin Contracting Company completed resurfacing the entire drive.

1945

- A.G.R. Jr. & J.N.R. returned to Minder House,the sword to be beaten into a plow share and the tin hat into a moldboard.

1964

- First day of Autumn & end of summer: worst drought on record persists.

1968

- Driest & hottest summer since the turn of the century. 8" of rain below normal.

1986

- Enlarged green house (two months in construction) put in house.

September 23rd

1934

- Sunday, rest.

1935

- Funeral of Gen. W.W. Atterbury in PM. After which finished new tulip bed & watered the lawn.

1939

-During the summer, through J.P. Hallahan, we had the living room, hall & all the 2^nd floor rooms replastered and the trim replaced. In addition, new doors, 2-1/2" thick, were put in living room opening on to porch: covered type radiators in hall, our bed room & sitting room were installed: the sitting room was papered & two "flush panel" doors put in; a new pantry sink, with cupboards for trays & draweres. The painting was done by David A. MacGregor.

1948

- Planting of laurel, leucothoe, repandens yew etc. behind new stone wall on Brooke Road put in today.

1958

- Progress report: All plastering at Minder Hpuse completed.

1970

- The hottest day of the summer: a record for lateness. Drought.

September 24th

1934

- Miss Cavier discharged by Magistrate. See local papers.

1935

- Quite cold. Signs of fall; dog-woods turning red & some color on a few branches of swamp maples.

1936

- Rain. Only sign of fall is slight turning of the dog-woods.

1946

- W^m J. & Jean Hennessey entered our employ.

1954

- Upper Bank Nurseries completed following: Eleagnus & 3 evergreen barberry on Brooke Roard, N. of entrance: dwarf hemlock above stream (replacement): a Pieris above hardy border: three yew in N.E. corner of enlarged parking court; 2 rhodend & 2 Franklinia along & at end of Vista; two Ilex specimen between walk & dining room.

1963

- Black frost this morning: earliest on record, making this shortest growing season ever.

1980

- Kay Wimble for night: Winterthur visited AM.

September 25th

1936

- A.G.R. Jr. & J.N.R. moved in today. Winter rugs down, curtains up & all repairs finished.

1937

- About 100 muscari, "havenly blue" planted just North side of drive near bridge. Lawn watered. The end of Daylight Saving.

1963

- Moving to town about half-way completed.

1969

- A.G.R. Jr. & J.N.R. sailed on Q.E.2 for France: returned Oct. 22^nd.

1979

- A.G.R. Jr. & J.N.R. departed on Q.E.2 & debarked at Cherbourg Paris until Oct. 9^th thence to London.

1980

- Beginning at 7:⁰⁰ AM & followed by occasional showers, less than half inch rain. Still very bad drought.

September 26th

1936

- Our first dinner party of the season. New grass shows well in most places.

1937

- Furnace light tonight. Cold & rainy.

1960

- 2 Ligustrum coriaceum & 8 Juniperus conferta planted below library windo. 4 clematis planted both sides of door to back parking area.

1962

- Flower beds bouble trenched (bastard technique): A good rain began 8:⁰⁰ PM ending drought.

1964

- Aunt Lilie & five Borgerhoffs came for lunch.

1970

- Even for late Sept. a record: Eighth successive day temp reached 90° or more.

1978

- Returned on Q.E.2 (one day late) after 10 days Ireland, 6 Wales & week in London.

September 27th

1936

- Cleaning up & getting ready for winter outside. End of D.S.T.

1939

- We moved back to our house today. Fredrick & Margaret Smith entered our employ.

1940

- Hard frost; Temperature at 6:³⁰ AM was 36°.

1951

- A.G.R. Jr. & J.N.R. left for Buffalo, N.Y. to spend the weekend with Carl, Priscilla Weining.

1952

- AGR Jr. & JNR with Walter & Helen West left Paris for Florence, where we stayed five days & then motored back to Paris, arriving Oct. 8^th.

1960

- Seven azaleas on lower part of place along cut from Harrison's upper pond. During summer this area had been cleared & leveled w/ 3 loads of top soil.

1963

- Four upright yew around tulip poplar S. stream & W. of drive, planted.

1985

- Hurricane "Gloria" damage to trees minor but expenive.

September 28th

1935

- Three Scotch pines planted by Martin on edge of lawn above laurel bed and the Austrian pine transplanted to make the group. A.G.R. Jr. & James involved in cleaning up.

1959

- Joseph G. Rosengarten Jr. at the age of 84, died today at Bryn Mawr Hospital.

1962

- Moving to town completed today.

1964

- First good rain in two months: 1 1/2" by 6:⁰⁰ PM.

September 29th

1934

- Saturday - rain again. First dinner party of season with round robbin of Sniff by families. The Platts won.

1935

- End of D.S.T. - 95 Mertensia & 40 daffodils planted by A.G.R. Jr. & J.N.R. on S. bank of drainage ditch and 5 mertensia planted in ditch.

1953

- "Moving to Town" completed today. i.e. winter rugs down & curtains up.

1963

- Beg. about 1:⁰⁰ AM rain, ending 2:⁰⁰ PM w/ a total of 1 3/4".

1975

- A.G.R> Jr. & J.N.R. returned on Q.E.2. Moving to Town completed, see Sept. 9^th.

1978

- Peter & Hillary Ball, The Hall, Thirsk, N. Yorkshire arrived today at Chanticleer.

September 30th

1934

- Rainfall for September 6.27 in. No annual defeciency on this date. Changed from Daylight Saving to Standard Time.

1935

- Very cold - 40° at 7:⁰⁰ AM Temp defeciency for month 58° - Rainfall 8.36 in. Excess since Jan. 1^st 5.32 in.

1936

- Rainfall for month 3.07. Excess temp. for month 46 deg.

1938

- Defeciency of temp. 54° for month: rainfall 7.35 in. ; Excess of rain since 1/1/38 8.03 in.

1940

- Defeciency of temp. 21° for month - since Jan. 1^st 500°. Rainfall 4.58 in. for month, excess since Jan. 1^st 4.12 in.

1951

- A very dry fall. Reseeding, regrading etc. in new garden, old lawn & abovethe hardy border still w/o sign of life.

1960

- New lawn from terrace to flower beds in new garden coming up well. Barone had to reseed twice because of flooding rains earlier this month.

1966

- The driest Septmber since 1906.

1975

- Weldon Nurseries work in progress: sod of 3 patches at Chanticleer; replace dying juniper w/ coton easter flower bed "B"; Extract wiltonii juniper & 3 azaleas planted drive at Chanticleer.

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