Landscape & Garden

“Maple Lane” Hyde Hall’s Original Entrance Drive

Glimmerglass State Park, East Springfield, New York

This drive, or “Maple Lane,”, was part of the original mile-long entrance to Hyde Hall as planned by George Clarke (1768-1835). The drive would have provided the traveler with a diversity of visual stimuli as it wound through Clarke’s estate.  Views of open fields, stream crossings, densely wooded areas, and a glimpse of Clarke’s formal garden would all have been seen by the visitor before arriving at the limestone country home. 

2012 Photograph by Michael Reynolds

A View of Lake Otsego from Hyde Hall

Hyde Hall, East Springfield, New York

There were many reasons that George Clarke (1768-1835) chose the site of Hyde Hall as his seat:  fertile farmland, access to Lake Otsego, and close proximity to Shadow Brook for powering grist and saw mills, but most likely also the amazing views of the picturesque landscape.  This is a view that George Clarke and those visiting Hyde Hall would have enjoyed on a daily basis as they sat on the porch of the Stone House.

2012 Photograph by Michael Reynolds

A View of Hyde Bay

Hyde Hall, East Springfield, New York

This is a view of Hyde Bay and Glimmerglass State Park from the terrace lawn of Hyde Hall. Much of the land surrounding the bay was acquired by George Clarke (1768-1835) to preserve the natural landscape from being developed, including “Shad Cam,” a point at the base of Mount Wellington, which was purchased by Clarke from the Cooper family in 1818. George Clarke Jr. (1822-1889), the son of the elder George Clarke, was also responsible for many land purchases in the vicinity of Hyde Bay.

2012 Photograph by Michael Reynolds