Local History: Bradley-Hubbell House Gardeners Preserve Historic Horticultural Design

A little known treasure from Easton’s past lies next to the Bradley-Hubbell House and can be seen as one drives past the historic property at 535 Black Rock Road. The Bradley-Hubbell House Garden plays an integral role in telling the tale of life on the property and adds a touch of color to the already beautiful landscape.

The Bradley-Hubbell House, built in 1816, remained with the Bradley family for over 100 years. It is a quintessential example of the type of subsistence farming that took place in Easton during the nineteenth century. During that time, the Bradley family farmed the land and grew crops ranging from corn to flax. The property’s barn, which is currently undergoing a substantial restoration project, is indicative of this era in the property’s history. However, it does not tell the whole story of the property or the people who lived there.

In 1917, the Hubbell family moved into the house. This occurred during the “reservoir period” of Easton, when the Bridgeport Hydraulic Company built the reservoirs in the area. Franklin Hubbell, an employee of the Bridgeport Hydraulic Company, moved his family into the Bradley-Hubbell house. Hubbell was responsible for planting the evergreen trees that surround the Aspetuck Reservoir as well as apple orchards. Hubbell sold his apples at a stand, the location of which has now become the Aspetuck Valley Apple Orchards’ Apple Barn. While living at the home, the Hubbell family planted a flower garden, for which Helen Hubbell won several awards from the Easton Garden Club. The current garden follows the great horticultural tradition of Mrs. Hubbell and is a shining example of Easton gardening from the early 20th century.

The Historical Society of Easton received a lease from the Aquarion Water Company in 1999. The restoration and conservation of the house and property was begun in 2000 and the gardens were a vital piece of this process. The gardens were installed by Gilbertie’s Herb Farm following a design by horticultural curator Sheila Wertheimer. Wertheimer, a historic landscape designer with the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, determined which plants were appropriate for the gardens based on old family photographs and interviews provided by the Hubbell’s daughter, Patricia. Using a 1917 photograph from the Bridgeport Hydraulic Company as a model, but incorporating modern pest deterrents, the fence for the Bradley-Hubbell garden was built by the Easton Scout Troup #66.

The Restoration of The Bradley-Hubbell House Gardens continues to be a project of the Easton Garden Club, co-chaired by Abby LePage and Janet Hoyt. Members of the Garden Club meet at the Garden on Tuesdays at 9:00 am, starting in May, to prepare it for the summer. Weeding, mulching, and planting of annuals takes place in the spring, but work continues throughout the summer months to maintain the appearance of the garden.

Any Historical Society of Easton members who would like to volunteer to help preserve this aspect of Easton’s past and present are invited to contact the Society at (203) 261-2090, by email at hseastonct@gmail.com, or on the web at www.historicalsocietyofeaston.org.