By Maggie Lidz, Estate Historian
During the month of July, water, or the lack of it, is a constant theme for people who live in Delaware. Below are a series of excerpts from family letters about how to keep cool during this long hot month! H.F. du Pont created the Glade Garden in the early 1930s. Now eighty years old, it is still one of the most beautiful places n Delaware to cool off on a steamy afternoon.
The Glade Garden at Winterthur
July 13, 1849, Evelina du Pont Bidermann, the first owner of Winterthur, wrote to her son and daughter in law in Paris: We have a delightful Spring near the garden where the water continually wells from the ground and which is so cold as if it had been put in the ice. I often visit it and we intend this autumn improving the way to it that Gabrielle and Marguerite may enjoy going there as it is the rendezvous of various birds & tortoises who go to drink. I often fancy our dear children’s little footprints in the lawn and in the alleys and long to transplant these little living flowers to our shores or rather our woods of Winterthur where I hope they will share the happiness that they will give us.
July 22, 1941 H.F. du Pont, the last private owner wrote to W.A. Brooks: I am here [Winterthur] from Southampton for my every other week visit and am thankful that is has finally got dry enough so that we can thresh our wheat. A few more wet days and it would have sprouted in the fields and you know what that means to a farmer.
July 1942 to Albert Ely Ives: We have been here all summer and it has been very pleasant. Everybody else is staying home also.
July 18, 1845 Evelina Bidermann to her son in Paris: I wish I could send you in this letter some of our flowers trees and grass of our garden and also the bright blue sky without a cloud we have today , the moaning of a refreshing breeze throught the foliage the cooing of doves the livelier chirping of little birds and the many rural sounds which surround me as I write by the open window.
July 18, 1941 to Mrs. Chamberlain Chanler, HF271: After a long draught here, it is raining its head off and everything is rotting away. The trials of a gardener are manifest!
July 21 1902, Pauline du Pont to her sister Anna: We have had some delicious water-melons and pretty good peaches and lots of white raspberries.
July 23, 1943 to Bessie Andrews: Everyone is gardening furiously, freezing and putting up all kinds of vegetables for next winter. With the help of several boys we manage to keep the place looking quite nicely. The poor despised farmer has at last come into his own! We have beef cattle, sheep etc. and o our own slaughtering, so we don’t bother with those terrible rationing coupons.
July 29, 1854: Evelina du Pont Bidermann to her son and daughter in law in Paris about her grandchildren: I wish they were here to see a new flower I have, a Japan lily It is in bloom now and very beautiful. My night blooming cereus is going to have four large blossoms.
