Learn about the history of Linwood Gardens, from the early 1900s to today.
HISTORY
Linwood Gardens was constructed as a summer place between 1901-1910 by William Henry “Harry” and Emilie V. P. (Mitchell) Gratwick. The Gratwick family lived in Buffalo during the winter and spent summers at Linwood Gardens, then called “Highlands.” Up to 30 employees worked in the gardens, on the dairy farm, and in the summerhouse.
In the late 1920s, just before the Great Depression, Harry Gratwick’s financial and health situations were poor. He sold the prize Guernsey cows and could no longer afford to manicure the gardens as they had been. The heyday of Linwood Gardens as a summer place came to an end.
Italian Garden, c. 1910s.
Summerhouse, c. 1950s.
Bill Gratwick III working with tree peonies c. 1940.
In 1933, William H. “Bill” Gratwick III, son of Harry and Emilie Gratwick, moved to Linwood with his family. His was the first generation of the family to live year-round at the property. Bill Gratwick established the Rare Plants Nursery, where the Japanese tree peony became a centerpiece. Bill worked with and was strongly influenced by Dr. Arthur P. Saunders, a prominent horticulturist.
In the 1940s, Bill Gratwick partnered with Nassos Daphnis on a tree peony hybridization program that lasted until the 1980s. Daphnis created his famous series of hybrid cultivars, which are internationally recognized as foundational in the field. Gratwick introduced several varieties of his own and maintained a vibrant collection of Japanese and American hybrid varieties.
As an artist, landscape architect, and horticulturalist, Bill Gratwick contributed sculpture and new garden areas to the Linwood landscape. His wife, Harriet (Saltonstall) Gratwick, directed the Linwood Music School on the property from 1947-1963, which brought in community members for music classes and concerts. Linwood hosted a wide variety of cultural activities during those years.
Harriet Gratwick conducts a children's chorus, c. 1955.
The six-week-long Linwood Music School held recitals and concerts outdoors for many years, beneath the large elm trees in the Lily Pool Garden.
Dwarf Village, c. 1960s.
Lee Gratwick, Bill and Harriet Gratwick’s daughter and the third generation of the family to steward the property, is now living at Linwood Gardens. She has worked since the 1980s to preserve the tree peony collection, gardens, and summerhouse.
Lee’s children, nieces, and granddaughter are also passionate about the future of the property and are involved with upkeep, improvements, and new ideas.
For further Gratwick history information, visit http://buffaloah.com/h/grat/grat.html
Lee Gratwick among the tree peonies.