|
 Landscape
has a significant
role to play in historic
restoration. Just
as the Gore mansion
is being restored
to its 1806 appearance,
the Gore landscape
requires the same
care. In preparation
for future farm interpretation,
researcher Vivian
Sinder-Brown of Newton
has transcribed the
Jacob Farwell Farm
Journal (1820-1826).
Farwell was the farm
manager for the Gores
from 1810 to 1830.
His journal provides
a fascinating and
very detailed day-to-day
account of farming
activities on the
estate. However,
we need to know much
more before we can
begin to restore
the Gore landscape.
This summer, we turned
to archaeology. Some
of the findings are
quite surprising.
Students and staff from the
Fiske Center for Archaeological
Research, University of Massachusetts
Boston spent much of July
surveying and digging on the
estate. Principal investigator,
Dr. Leith Smith, has identified
five significant areas to
investigate for evidence of
landscape features and improvements,
cultivation and irrigation
techniques, dismantled structures
and, of course, household
objects: the grapery, the
drive circle, the straight
walk, the south lawn and the
original carriage house site.
The students laid out a grid,
mapped the site, established
the exact measurements of
various features and excavated
specific locations in the
first four areas. The findings
include extensive Gore era
landscape improvements with
a mixture of stone and sand;
plow marks on most of the
sites and within 40’of
the mansion; early clay irrigation
pipes and post holes across
the south lawn; an unknown
structure near the mansion
(this will require further
investigation); rounded, sandstone
blocks, possibly from a dismantled
terrace; and a 60’ Gore
era well, beautifully built
with a clay surround and full
of water.
Among the artifacts found
were shards of porcelain,
a piece of a clay pipe and
an 1812 military button.
 The
archaeology team returned
October 14-29th to extensively
excavate the carriage house
site in preparation of the
re-siting of the carriage
house, the restoration of
the entrance and the carriage
drive to the mansion. The
carriage house was moved from
its original location in the
mid 1960s when the City of
Waltham widened Gore Street.
The current location, at the
end of the parking lot, has
very poor drainage. Extensive
regrading would be required
to correct the situation.
Repositioning it will allow
Gore Place to more easily
correct the moisture problem.
This archaeology project
has attracted local community
and media interest. Reporter
Chris Bergeron of The MetroWest
Daily News, interviewed team
member Christa Beranek and
wrote an article on July 29,
2008, in which he reported
the following:
“As she digs deeper
into the soil, Beranek said
a clearer picture of Gore
has emerged that reveals him
as an ambitious, hands-on
planner.”
Bergeron quoted Beranek as
saying, “I think, cumulatively,
the most surprising thing
we’ve found is how much
Gore changed the landscape
by bringing in stone and sand
for fill. This whole landscape
is something he created. Though
people mostly think of him
as a politician, he thought
of himself as a farmer and
a landscape improver. What
we’re doing here adds
another side to him.”
As we dig deeper and uncover
new evidence about Gore’s “Farm
at Waltham”, it is clear
that this was not a hobby
but a serious endeavor.
This project is part of the
Wheatland Master Plan for
the Restoration of the Landscape
developed by the Halvorson
Design Partnership of Boston.
Phase One of the Plan calls
for the re-siting of the Gore
carriage house, restoration
of an appropriate period surface
for the carriage way and the
recreation of the formal flower
garden across from the mansion.
Taken altogether, these changes
will give the visitor a more
authentic sense of place and
a heightened understanding
of our historical interpretation.
The archaeology project is
funded in part by The Dorothy
Parker Wheatland Fund at Gore
Place and the Gore 200 Capital
Campaign.
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