This forty room mansion was a summer home for Frederick Ferris Thompson, a prominent banker in New York City, and his wife Mary Clark Thompson. Mary Thompson and landscape architect Ernest Bowditch designed the nine formal gardens. Frederick died in 1899, Mary in 1923 and, as often happens with these large estates, the nephew who inherited everything couldn’t keep it and sold it the federal government in 1931. Part of the property became a veteran’s hospital and the mansion housed doctors, their families, and nurses. The hospital is still in use but the gardens and mansion have been turned over to a local non-profit organization.
The mansion is in amazing condition. We couldn’t see any sign of the period when it was used as housing for the hospital personnel. The woodwork is beautiful. The ground floor with it’s many windows and open plan is bright and airy. The two story Great Hall was designed after medieval castle halls and even has a suit of armor on display along other objects which were in the house when the Thompsons lived in it.
We weren’t as impressed with the gardens but they may be better at other times of the year.
The main garden paths are accessible. The Rock Garden and the Japanese Garden are not accessible due to steep, narrow paths. The greenhouses are accessible but a little crowded. The first floor of the mansion is accessible. A book of photographs of the second floor is available.
The parking lot is huge with plenty of room for any RV. We followed the signs for the entrance and were surprised to see a iron archway over the road without a height designation. We fit but if your RV is tall call to see if there’s another entrance. Gardens
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