SOME HIGHLIGHTS ON THE HISTORY OF HORTICULTURE IN DUTCHESS COUNTY Joseph W. Emsley
In the Dutchess County Historical Society Year Book for the year 1928 there was printed portions of a talk given by Miss Helen W. Reynolds at a Society pilgi image entitled "The Story of Hyde Park." The article details the important role played by members of the Bard family in the early landscaping of estates on the Hudson River, particularly in the originally patented area of Hyde Park. Included were the Vanderbilt estate and the home and grounds of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, now all part of Federal Government Historic Sites. Attention is directed particularly to the Vanderbilt estate, the principal area of the Bard family property. Referring to the Hyde Park properties as well as all of some eighty county seats along the Hudson River, Miss Raynolds emphasized the value of the land along the river and the love for the land by the Livingstons and all the early land owners. The key to the originally landscaped properties such as patented "Hyde Park" was the turf and the richly grassed lands. There were magnificent trees on the estates, and unexcelled views of the Hudson River. Dr. John Bard and his son, Dr. Samuel Bard, both distinguished New York City physicians during the latter part of the 18th Century, gave to Hyde Park its original landscaping and related horticultural developments. Dr. John Bard was a personal friend of Benjamin Franklin; Dr. Samuel was personal physician to President Washington. In the 1932 Historical Society Year Book, President Franklin D. Roosevelt contributed an article entitled "Broadside of 1768 About Hyde Park" in which he made known how Dr. John Bard came into possession of the Hyde Park property. In 1705 a patent for a tract of land in Dutchess County was granted to Peter Fauconier. Bounded by the present villages of Hyde Park and Staatsburg, the tract, more specifically was bounded by Crum Elbow Creek on the south and a small stream which reaches the Hudson River just below Staatsburg on the north. Ultimate title to the patented properties was acquired by Dr. John Bard who had married Susanne Valeau, a granddaughter of Peter Fauconier. In 1772 Dr. Bard came to Dutchess to make his home on the land. The name, Hyde Park, was used to designate the whole area of 3,600 acres covered by the patent of 1705. At the time, Fauconier was reported to be acting as private secretary to the then Governor of New York, Edward Hyde, or Viscount Cornbury. There was the implication that Hyde Park was largely undeveloped and its potential value lay in timber obtainable for commercial purposes. Dr. John Bard came to live in Hyde Park in 1772, remaining there about 10 years. Because of financial reverses, however, he returned to 27
