martinhouseclr

64 DARWIN D. MARTIN HOUSE // CULTURAL LANDSCAPE REPORT Aside from these interferences, it is clear from the compiled evidence that Martin did have the hemi- cycle replaced with the Floricycle in spring of 1906. If not wholesale replacement of the entire planting arrangement in spring of 1906, then the gradual replacement of various components of it though the next several growing seasons, until by 1913 (as the photographic record shows) a series of mature shrubs at the perimeter of the planting area are clearly distinct from what was represented in the hemi-cycle planting plan of 15 February 1905. Furthermore, Wright was in Buffalo May 10, 1906, the prime planting window for that year, and may have had a hand in overseeing the installation. 159 Two unique panoramic photographs of the house from Summit Avenue (among others) determined to be from spring 1906 show that the soil beds of the hemi-cycle area appear to be disturbed, suggesting work being done there as opposed to a bed awakening from winter dormancy. 160 One puzzling element in several photos of this period are the existence of evergreens both within a portion of the planting and within the planting area just northeast and outside of the formal arc of the Floricycle. These evergreens are noted on the 15 February 1905 ‘Plan of Plantings’ yet they are not seen after 1906 – perhaps signifying that the entire Floricycle area was in a state of modification throughout much of 1906. [Fig. 43] The difficulty in determining an exact date of 159 DDM, Memorandum, 10 May 1906, MFP-UB 160 University at Buffalo Archives, Darwin D. Martin Photograph Collection, MS_22.5_534 & MS_22.5_533 replacement, despite the considerable quantity of professional exterior photographs taken by Henry Fuermann & Sons through winter of 1907, is due to the immaturity of the plantings at this time, and thus the resulting visual similarity of the hemi-cycle and Floricycle. The characteristic form of the large shrubs at the rear of the Floricycle would not reveal themselves for several seasons. [Fig. 44]Moreover, the Floricycle was never referred to again by name in any archival materials and it survived, more or less, to the point when Isabelle Martin left the house permanently. 161 Also planted during this spring 1906 timeframe is an American elm tree located directly adjacent to the southwest corner of the Barton House verandah. 162 [Fig. 45] Other apparent landscape modifications include the removal of the still young and mostly indistinguishable cherry tree allée within the courtyard garden. On 23 May 1906, Martin also noted the purchase of a “53 foot lot” located on Jewett Parkway, which he qualified as “adjoining.” 163 This lot is 161 The Floricycle appears to have been thinned out over time by the Martins in a systematic way that preserves the repeating unit form and overall spatial character of the design. See the narrative on the period to 1929 for a description of this stewardship. 162 This particular elm was not planted at the same time as the 5 previous elms in May of 1905. The photographic record corroborates this chronology and, indeed, spring 1906 photographs show that the earth around the tree is disturbed. It is possible the tree was planted in fall of 1905, however period photographs with snow on the ground, believed to be fall/winter 1905, show that the tree is still not yet installed. 163 DDM, Memorandum, 23 May 1906, MFP-UB identified based on the 1903 Buttolph survey as the only lot along Jewett Parkway that has a 53-foot wide street frontage. 164 The purchase of this particular lot is corroborated by a later survey of the Martin House parcels performed by F.K. Wing in 1918. 165 The Wing survey, although encompassing other parcels such as 143 Jewett (owed by others at the time), distinguished lands owned by Martin through the indication of noted survey stakes at owned parcel corners, indicated by the term “set stake” in the map. 166 The 53-foot wide lot’s purpose is unclear at this time, however it is presumed to be referred to as the “Jewett Ave [sic] garden lot,” as Martin referenced work being done in a 1908 diary entry. 167 The work included drainage improvements, and the planting of shrubs and fruit trees. In the same diary entry Martin notes that a poultry house has been built. No known photographs of the garden lot or the poultry house exist. The poultry house footprint does appear on the 1916 164 Buttolph, Showing plot as southwest corner of Jewett Ave [sic] and Summit Ave, University at Buffalo, Architectural Drawings of the Darwin D. Martin House and Graycliff, 1904- 1988, #22.0_27.1, 1903. 165 Wing, Corner of Jewett Parkway and Woodward Avenue, University at Buffalo, Architectural Drawings of the Darwin D. Martin House and Graycliff, 1904-1988, #22.0_29.1, 1918. 166 The map indicates that the 53-wide parcel contains a fence down along the east and west property lines and along the front of the parcel, setback at a distance more or less equal to the setback of 143 Jewett. By 1918, Martin also owns a 28- foot wide parcel adjacent to the west lot line of the main house between the porte-cochere and 143 Jewett Parkway. This parcel, along with an undetermined encroachment onto the Martin House parcel proper, constitute the access drive to the apartments (now demolished) built in the rear of the property after 1962. 167 DDM, Memorandum, 5 May 1908, MFP-UB