{"id":790,"date":"1955-06-24T14:53:42","date_gmt":"1955-06-24T19:53:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/radnorhistory.org\/archive\/articles\/ytmt\/?p=790"},"modified":"2016-06-26T14:55:39","modified_gmt":"2016-06-26T19:55:39","slug":"dr-henry-g-fischers-home-corner-of-bloomingdale-and-lenoir-avenues-thomas-eakins-phila-academy-of-fine-arts-wayne-art-center","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radnorhistory.org\/archive\/articles\/ytmt\/?p=790","title":{"rendered":"Dr. Henry G. Fischer\u2019s home: corner of Bloomingdale and Lenoir Avenues, Thomas Eakins, Phila. Academy of Fine Arts, Wayne Art Center"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"27_image01\"<\/a>(Continued)<\/p>\n

The extensive rose gardens shown in the top picture grew from a small planting of bushes already on the old Eldredge property, on the north-west corner of Bloomingdale and Lenoir avenues, when the Fischers purchased it from the Charles T. Mathers more than 30 years ago. The gardens grew, bit-by-bit, under the thoughtful planning of the late Dr. Fischer, of whom his wife says, \u201cHe always beautified everything he touched.\u201d<\/p>\n

From the small beginning which was their heritage from former owners, the Fischers developed two long rows of bushes which extend almost the complete length of their deep lot on the north side of the house. Just visible in this first picture is the wall which is shown in more detail in the second picture published today.<\/p>\n

Made of stone and framed with old brick, grown mossy with the passing of years, the wall has in its upper center a satyr\u2019s hand, carved by Dr. Fischer from a design of his own. Gifted in art in its various forms, he studied painting under Thomas Eakins at the Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts. His skill in sculpturing was self-taught, however, and his work in various art media became \u201ca wonderful hobby for him when the garden was asleep in winter,\u201d Mrs. Fischer tells us.<\/p>\n

As Mrs. Fischer and the writer stood in the midst of the lovely roses late in May, our voices did not in the least disturb the birds who came to the fountains and bird baths. Here can be seen woodpeckers, cardinals, thrushes, robins and many others, in addition to the ever-present sparrows and starlings. In winter small chickadees join the ranks of feathered visitors.<\/p>\n

\"27_image02\"<\/a>Although the adjoining picture suggests the luxurious mass of bloom as it appears in late May and early June, it can only leave to the imagination the glorious coloring. There is the red of \u201cCrimson Glory\u201d and \u201cEtoile de Hollande,\u201d the pure yellow of “Golden Dawn” and \u201cEclipse,\u201d the pinks of \u201cThe Doctor\u201d (named for Dr. Horace McFarland) and of \u201cPink Dawn,\u201d and the varying tints of “Condessa de Sastago,\u201d \u201cAngelo Mateo\u201d and \u201cMadame Henri Guillot,\u201d to name but a few of the varieties with their infinite shadings.<\/p>\n

Leaving the rose garden on this afternoon in May, Mrs. Fischer took your columnist to other parts of the grounds. Behind the stone wall is a picnic spot with small wooded paths, fireplaces, rustic tables and benches, all in cool shade for, while Dr. Fischer has removed some trees, there are still many left, and there are always birds in the large pool, in what Mrs. Fischer calls the \u201cspring garden.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here the \u201cDuchess of Wellington\u201d rose bush, a rare species of yellow bloom, may well be called her particular pride; there are also yellow pansies and blue forget-me-nots, although white flowers predominate. On this particular May afternoon, a gentle wind made a lovely blending of color against the glossy green of rhododendron and laurel.<\/p>\n

Dr. Fischer was much concerned in the growth and development of both the Wayne Art Center and the Garden Club; in the annual exhibition of the latter his flowers were always prominently shown. In looking back over the story of the Art Center as written several years ago in these columns, it is interesting to read that \u201cin June 1933, came the first garden party of the many that were to be sponsored by the Wayne Art Center. It was held in the garden of Dr. Fischer and of Mrs. Fischer\u2026 the party featured an outdoor exhibition of the work of students in addition to its many novel features of entertainment\u2026 these affairs came to be big summer events for children as well as adults\u2026 they were always held on a Saturday afternoon in June.\u201d And, while more than 20 years have elapsed since that first party, there are many who still remember that it was held in the Fischers’ gardens.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Continued) The extensive rose gardens shown in the top picture grew from a small planting of bushes already on the old Eldredge property, on the north-west corner of Bloomingdale and Lenoir avenues, when the Fischers purchased it from the Charles T. Mathers more than 30 years ago. The gardens grew, bit-by-bit, under the thoughtful planning…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-790","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/radnorhistory.org\/archive\/articles\/ytmt\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/790","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/radnorhistory.org\/archive\/articles\/ytmt\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/radnorhistory.org\/archive\/articles\/ytmt\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radnorhistory.org\/archive\/articles\/ytmt\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radnorhistory.org\/archive\/articles\/ytmt\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=790"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/radnorhistory.org\/archive\/articles\/ytmt\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/790\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":793,"href":"https:\/\/radnorhistory.org\/archive\/articles\/ytmt\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/790\/revisions\/793"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/radnorhistory.org\/archive\/articles\/ytmt\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=790"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radnorhistory.org\/archive\/articles\/ytmt\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=790"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radnorhistory.org\/archive\/articles\/ytmt\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=790"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}