Project Details Page

synopsis

This 1,000-acre Strait of Juan de Fuca site was home to A.H. Anderson’s hunting and fishing retreat. In 1909, an impressed James Frederick Dawson recommended preservation and enhancement of native vegetation, a practice golf course, pools linking to the dredged yacht harbor, and more, but Anderson never had the firm draw up plans. The land remains covered with forest, farmland and salt marshes.

This 1,000-acre Strait of Juan de Fuca site was home to A.H. Anderson’s hunting and fishing retreat. In 1909, an impressed James Frederick Dawson recommended preservation and enhancement of native vegetation, a practice golf course, pools linking to the dredged yacht harbor, and more, but Anderson never had the firm draw up plans. The land remains covered with forest, farmland and salt marshes.

While minor, this rural project reveals how much the Olmsted Brothers appreciated the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, drew inspiration from it and integrated it into their design. A.H. Anderson consulted with Seattle architects Bebb and Mendell to design his lodge, and Olmsted Brothers concerning landscape improvements surrounding it. James Frederick Dawson made a single early summer visit, arriving by overnight steamer from Seattle at Port William, just north of Sequim. The setting of Gray’s Marsh Lodge delighted him, noting “Mr. Anderson’s house is beautifully located, nestled into the edge of the timber land and commanding fine views looking out across the sea.”

Reflecting his respect for this setting, Dawson recommended a light touch, “development in a modest way, such as properly arranging drives, court yards and walks, together with planting…of the native sort such as the Dogwood, wild roses and syringas [mock orange]…to strengthen the character of the present growth.” Dawson presented ideas for strategic view enhancement and screening, grading, beach access, and siting its harbor, garage, three hole golf course, skeet shooting range and service facilities.

For the main drive Dawson recommended “that the road…down through the woods turn to the North just before you reach the line of the house…then cross the ravines…and connect to a large turn around. This turn around should encircle the trees which exist” and be built with “as little grading among the trees as possible.” At the ravine crossing, he suggested building a bridge “rather than to fill the ravine with dirt.” He offered ideas for further enhancing its natural beauty as well, by constructing a dam to create a picturesque pool next to the bridge. “This pool could then flow over the dam and probably form another pool which would extend to the West end of the proposed inner harbor, where it could flow over a cascade of rocks into the little harbor.”

Architect Charles Bebb responded in the fall that Anderson wanted “a rustic bridge” and suggested that Olmsted Brothers - not they - design it. “Mr. Anderson…will give you any size timber or trunks of trees that you wish to suggest. He can give you two sticks each a hundred feet long from five to seven or eight feet in diameter with the bark on. …you are at liberty to do almost anything you may desire in the timber treatment of the bridge and its approaches.” Despite Anderson’s purported enthusiasm, he never engaged Olmsted Brothers for further design.

Graysmarsh Farm remains undivided today. It is operated as a commercial berry farm and private hunting retreat far more rustic than Mr. Anderson once envisioned.

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