Formal gardens at the former Moseley Estate

Maudslay State Park is beloved for its miles of trails and beautiful scenery.  The former estate offers sweeping views of two rivers, formal gardens, and an abundance of ornamental trees, rhododendrons, azaleas, and mountain laurel.  The property’s cultural history is as rich as its natural beauty, and will be highlighted in a program sponsored by the Museum of Old Newbury on Thursday, June 7 at 7:00pm.  Park interpreter Donna Sudak will present “A History of Maudslay’s Gardens” at Newburyport’s newly renovated Brown Chapel at Oak Hill Cemetery, 4 Brown Street.  Join Sudak to discover the hidden treasures found in the landscape of the former Moseley family estate. The presentation includes archival photos and is accompanied by a narrative explaining the early history of the property.

Maudslay State Park was once the Moseley family estate, and at its peak, included 30 structures and employed 40 staff to service the grounds.  The main house boasted 72 rooms, and other buildings on the site included houses for the head gardener and coachman. 

The Formal Garden was a main feature of the property, and Sudak’s talk will highlight the work of landscape architect Martha Brookes Hutcheson (1871-1959) in this area.  Hutcheson studied landscape architecture at both the New York School of Applied Design for Women and at MIT.  She toured Europe to study gardens in the late 1890s, and designed gardens in the Boston area and throughout New England.  In 1935, Hutcheson became the third woman to be named a fellow to the American Society of Landscape Architects. 

Free and open to the public; reservations recommended due to limited seating.  Contact 978-462-2681 or info@newburyhistory.org.
Thursday, June 7
Reception 6:30pm    Program 7:00pm
Brown Chapel at Oak Hill Cemetery, 4 Brown Street (Please note that there are no restroom facilities on site.)
This program is sponsored in part by the Institution for Savings.