Easton: Touring Olmsted, Richardson, Steele, and New Visions

October 2005

The 2005 Project Showcase was a celebration of COG designers and community clients who strive to bring their greenspace visions to reality, and a tour of wondrous architectural and landscape gems in North Easton with local historians and educators as docents. Photos by Lance Bukoff/Accent Photography.

Oakes Ames Memorial Hall, designed by H.H. Richardson with landscape design by F.L. Olmsted, was the site of Project Showcase.

Local resident, author, and educator Chet Raymo delighted the audience with a dramatic reading from his book set in North Easton, “The Path: A One-Mile Walk Through the Universe.”

Frederick Ames, President of the Board of Directors, Oakes Ames Memorial Hall, welcomes guests while COGdesign Executive Director Lucia Droby and community client representatives listen. Sharon Collins Beals (Children’s Museum in Easton), Nicolene Hengen (Triangle, Inc.), Virginia Robinson (Fran Hintsa Memorial Garden/Community Living Network).

Storyboards from a dozen community projects were on display. COG designer Frank Re explains a fine point about his design for Triangle, Inc. to Karen Lantelme.

Project Showcase is a time for mingling and making new connections. Advisory board member Karen Howard and board member Ellen Forrester chat with Rita Christiansen.

Docent Ed Hands provides commentary for Boston Globe garden writer Carol Stocker from atop Olmsted’s Rockery.

Local historian and Unity Church organist Richard Hill shares colorful details with COG designer Monica Fairbairn.

Leslie Horst and COG designer Louise Forrest in the restored Fletcher Steele garden of Unity Close .

Betsy Morse Mayer and Pamela Hart enjoy the ruins of Queset Garden once used as a stage setting for impromptu theatricals.

Project Showcase guests talk with Queset Garden docent Kath Holland (in hat) about her master plan to restore the garden which belonged to Broadway producer Winthrop Ames in the early 20th century.

COGdesign Board of Directors member Nancy Phillips compares notes with COG designers Margery Stegman and Ginnie Norman while local historian Richard Hill listens in.

Easton Historical Society president Frank Menino shares stories with guest Betsy Morse Mayer.

COG designer Geri Sprague enjoys the moment as a garden nymph in Fletcher Steele’s Unity Close Garden!

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