Shack Mountain Final Report
Shack Mountain Final Report
Shack Mountain Final Report
A Landscape Study
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Part 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART 1:
THE HISTORY & DEVELOPMENT OF SHACK MOUNTAIN
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Profile of Marie Goebel and Sidney Fiske Kimball
1.3 Kimballs Restoration of Lemon Hill, Philadelphia
1.4 A Second Home in Charlottesville,VA
PART 2:
KIMBALL THE ARCHITECT AND LANDSCAPE DESIGNER
PART 3:
THE END OF AN ERA: THE PASSING OF THE KIMBALLS
PART 4:
THE PHYSICAL LANDSCAPE
4.1 Evolution of the Landscape 1955-2010
4.2 Spatial Organization: Character and Description of the
Current Landscape
4.3 Then & Now
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to express my deepest
Committee for allowing me the opportunity Melinda Frierson, Jane Moores longtime
to work on this project with special thanks
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PART 1
THE HISTORY & DEvELOPMENT OF SHACK MOUNTAIN
Figure 1.1. Location of Shack Mountain, property boundary in yellow, not to scale, 2012.
1.1 Introduction
The Historic Places Nomination for the
property considers Shack Mountain to be
one of the finest examples of Jeffersonian
Classicism in the United States, inspired
by Jeffersons plan of Farmington (VHLC
1976, 4).
Using his skills as an architect,
restorationist and preservationist, Fiske
Kimball designed it as a retreat and
retirement home. His last project as an
architect, the house and grounds reflected
his lifes work by employing a classical
design based on the work of Thomas
Jefferson1 while incorporating modern ideas
of construction.
Joseph Dye Lahendro, architect and
Kimball historian, states in his masters thesis
Fiske Kimball American Renaissance
Historian, Kimball pays homage to
Jefferson and classicism during the 1930s
when this movement had given way to
modern architectural styles.2 Indeed,
Kimball referred to Shack Mountain as
an unexecuted design of Jefferson.2 He
also improved on the livability of the
past by addressing the needs of twentieth
century life such as air conditioning and a
modern kitchen.3 He creates authenticity
in his design using architectural elements
from Jeffersons drawings and local
12
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Figure 1.1.1. Farmington: house (study plan), 1802 or earlier, by Thomas Jefferson. N15; K184 [electronic edition].
Thomas Jefferson Papers: An Electronic Archive. Boston, Mass.:
Massachusetts Historical Society, 2003. http://www.thomasjeffersonpapers.org.
1.1
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Figure 1.1.3. Photograph of Shack Mountain displayed next to Monticello (see Figure 1.1.4) revealing Kimballs use of Jeffersons
architectural style as seen in the triple sash windows, brick cladding, portico, and geometric form, 2012.
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1.1
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Figure 1.2.1. Fiske Kimball at his desk, ca. 1913, Print Department Records, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Archives.
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1.2
17
18
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1.2
19
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1.2
21
22
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1.2
23
Figure 1.3.1. Lemon Hill, front (north) elevation, Historic American Buildings Survey [HABS PA-51], Jack E. Boucher,
photographer, 1995, memory.loc.gov, accessed June, 2012.
section
1.3
25
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Figure 1.3.3. Interior view, First Floor, South Oval Room from
east, HABS PA, 51-PHILA, 234-27, http://www.loc.gov/pictures (accessed June 2012).
section
1.3
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27
Figure 1.3.5. Aerial view, looking north, 1956, HABS PA,51-PHILA, 234-32,
http://www.loc.gov/pictures (accessed June 2012).
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Part
1.31
29
Figure 1.3.8. Plot Plan for Lemon Hill by Fiske Kimball, 1925, (Courtesy of the Fairmount Park Archives).
30
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Part
1.31
Figure 1.3.9. Planting Plan for Lemon Hill, by Fiske Kimball, 1927, (Courtesy of the Fairmount Park Archives).
31
Figure 1.3.10. Aerial view of the Philadelphia Art Museum taken 1966, HABS PA, 51-Phila, 335-2,
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/pa1065.photos.138253p/ (accessed August 2012).
32
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1.3
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Figure 1.4.1. Group Portrait, West Lawn, Monticello, standing on the west lawn are from left to right: Milton Grigg, Fiske
Kimball, and Board members Frank Houston, Henry Johnston, and William S. Hildreth, (courtesy of the Thomas Jefferson
Foundation at Monticello).
section
1.4
35
Shack Mountain
Charlottesville VA
Figure 1.4.2. Google Earth imagery showing the location of Shack Mountain relative to Charlottesville,VA, 2012.
36
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1.4
without a house. I am
pretty good at faking
an old house myself.41
Shack Mountain
With the decision
made to build, the search
for a site was narrowed
to mountaintop locations
around Charlottesville and
near UVA.42 Unfortunately
for the Kimballs, this area
was also popular with other
UVA professionals looking to
purchase property near the
Figure 1.4.3. Google Earth topographic map of Shack Mountain, 2012.
university.43 Time was of the
Marie Kimball worked tirelessly over the
essence as desperate landowners who were
next month and a half, handling the details
deeply mortgaged had to sell family lands
of finding a site, negotiating the price, and
that otherwise would have not been on the
finalizing the contract. The story of Shack
market. Land was being purchased quickly
Mountain unfolds in lines of correspondence
due to the drop in land value attributed
between the Kimballs during the spring of
to the depressed economy, the increase of
properties for sale, and improved accessibility 1935. It becomes evident that Marie Kimball
is not only the force behind choosing
due to the advent of the automobile
Charlottesville, but it is also her desire to
(Hosmer 1980, 12:20-1).
retire to the area. Kimball is aware of his
The Kimballs recognized the need to act
wifes ambition, reproaching her in a letter
quickly and to maintain their anonymity
because he feels that she is lingering in
in order to keep the prices down.44 Many
Virginia when she should be Philadelphia.47
desirable locations went under contract
In response she writes that, as much as I
as soon as they became available and the
love my Virginia, I love you more and soon
Kimballs realized it would be necessary to
hoped to be on her way to Philadelphia.48
stay in Charlottesville until they closed on
Marie Kimball wrote letters daily to her
a property.45 Kimball was called back to
work in mid-April 1935, leaving his wife to husband, describing the details of her
continued search and eventual success in
continue the search alone while he advised
locating their mountaintop retreat.
her from Philadelphia.46
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Figure 1.4.4. Photograph of the entry road to Shack Mountain, June 2013.
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1.4
Existing Drive
Figure 1.4.5. Overlay of Shack Mountain boundary and 1937 aerial survey adapted from [boundary information is courtesy of
PMA Archives; Aerial survey, Charlottesville & Albemarle Orthophotography, 1937, from the University of Virginia, Geospatial
and Statistical Data Center: http://fisher.lib.Virginia.edu/collections/maps/aerials/aerialindex (accessed August 5, 2012)].
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Figure 1.4.6. View of the Blue Ridge Mountains taken from the north patio of Shack Mountain, June 2013.
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1.4
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41
NOTES
PART 1
1 A Brief Biography of
Thomas Jefferson, accessed
August 8, 2012, http://www.
monticello.org/. Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) was born
in Albemarle County,Virginia. Jefferson was a lawyer,
statesman and delegate to the
Continental Congress, governor of VA, associate envoy
to France,Vice President of
the United States (17961801), and President of the
United States (1801-1809).
Kimball provides evidence to
support that Jefferson was an
architect in his book Thomas
Jefferson Architect, 1916 and
42
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Ibid.
10
Ibid.
11 According to Carlhian,
the Ecole des Beaux Arts
style atelier (studio) teaching system was introduced
into the United States in the
late 1800s. Classical proportions, scale, balance, beauty,
and a deep understanding
of architecture from the ancient world down through
the Renaissance was stressed.
Students took classes on
aesthetics, history, technical
and studio courses, rounding their education. Jean
Paul Carlhian, The Ecole
Pnotes
art 1
43
of Landscape Architecture
1911-1935, Landscape Journal,
25(2): 169-186. Contemporary theory has shed light on
certain subjects, redefining
the study and examination of
history. Hohman acknowledges the accomplishments
of Theodora Kimball by
using gender theory as the
device to communicate her
contributions. She discloses the relationship between
siblings extending beyond
the bonds of family into the
realm of their professional
endeavors suggesting the influence they had upon each
other throughout their lives,
both personally and professionally, as documented in
their personal correspondence.
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notes
40 F. Kimball to H. T.Van
Nostrand, 10 August 1931,
Series III, Subseries I, FKP,
PMA.
50 H. T.Van Nostrand to
F. Kimball, 30 April 1935,
Series III, Subseries I, FKP,
PMA.
41 F. Kimball to H. T.Van
Nostrand, 27 March 1935,
Series III, Subseries I, FKP,
PMA.
42
Ibid.
63 B. Chamberlin to
F. Kimball, 19 November
1935, Series III, Subseries I,
FKP, PMA.
43 B. Chamberlin to M.
Kimball, 16 May 1935, Series 52 F. Kimball to M. Kimball, 30 April 1935, Series III,
III, Subseries I, FKP, PMA.
Subseries I, FKP, PMA.
44 F. Kimball to H.T.Van
53 M. Kimball to F. KimNostrand, 1 January 1935,
ball, 1 May 1935, Series III,
Series III, Subseries I, FKP,
Subseries I, FKP, PMA.
PMA.
45 H. T.Van Nostrand to F.
Kimball, 5 April 1935, Series
III, Subseries I, FKP, PMA.
Kimball was very interested in the top of Stillhouse
Mountain but it was already
under contract.
Ibid.
56
M. Kimball to F. Kimball, 5 May 1935, Series III,
Subseries I, FKP, PMA.
46 M. Kimball to F. Kimball, 23 April 1935, Series III, 58 M. Kimball to F. KimSubseries I, FKP, PMA.
ball, 1 May 1935, Series III,
47 M. Kimball to F. Kim- Subseries I, FKP, PMA.
ball, 8 May 1935, Series III,
Subseries I, FKP, PMA.
48
Ibid.
59
Ibid.
60
Ibid.
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PART 2
KIMBALL THE ARCHITECT AND LANDSCAPE DESIGNER
Figure 2.1. Rendered SketchUp model of Kimballs landscape plan for Shack Mountain, August 2013.
OF SHACK MOUNTAIN
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2.1
49
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2.1
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SCHEME A: BELLEVUE
52
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4
4
6
7
1 Portico
2 Central Hallway
3 Drawing Room
4 Bedroom
5 Library
6 Dining Room
7 Kitchen
Figure 2.2.1. Key map for Kimballs 1935 plan for Shack
Mountain labelled Bellevue (Series III, Subseries I, FKP, PMA
Archives, with labels by author).
AA
Figure 2.2.2. Bellevue, the first scheme for Shack Mountain (Kimball, 1935, Series III, Subseries I, FKP, PMA Archives).
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SCHEME A
House Site
Old Wood Road
House Site
54
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Circulation
The drive entered the property from Old
Barracks Road at Lambs gate, then followed
the existing Woodland Road, diverging
slightly east to towards the site. The road
terminated with a circular drive at the front
entry of the house.
section
Garden Design
Terraces formed the architectural base of the
house outside of the dining room and living
room (a), extending the living area of the
house. The garden was located on the north
side of the house, accessed by steps from
the drawing room terrace or by one of the
three entrances (b) in the center of each wall,
with the north entrance marked by a trellis
aligned with the central axis of the house. A
stone retaining wall formed the rectangular
platform of the garden with square parterres
(c) used as planting beds flanking the east
and west sides of the grass lawn. A wall
extended from the southeast and southwest
corners of the terrace disappearing into the
woods.
The terrace was below the main floor
of the house so not to obstruct views, but
still providing a protected area to enjoy the
outdoors, safe from the intrusion of animals
in the pasture. The terrace would have been
shaded because of the north facade.
Kimball proposed to keep existing trees
where they did not interfere with the house
plans. He also called for grass on the north
terrace and planting beds. The terrace could
have been viewed from the drawing room
but would have been hidden from the other
parts of the house while the trees were in
bloom. The terrace would have provided
views of the north side of the house and a
panoramic view of the landscape.
2.2
b
b
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SCHEME B
Date: July-August 1936
Estimate: 22,293
Scheme B was introduced in 1936 with
the footprint based on Jeffersons Plan for
a City Dwelling. While it shares many of
the same elements as Bellevue (two levels, an
octagonal drawing room and a geometric
shaped plan), the rectangular house now
has octagonal rooms on the east, west
and north sides. The house sits on top of
the ridge with a south facing entrance
level.
The main living area is on the first
floor and the bedrooms are on the
second floor. Both floors of the house
are above ground with a portico outside
the main entrance and a circular stair
just inside the entry. The rooms on
the first floor are accessible through
the entry hall. A large drawing room is
located on the north side of the house with
a high ceilings extending to the second floor.
The library faces east and dining room faces
west. The kitchen is next to dining with
the stair off the hallway in the southeast
corner of the house leading to the upstairs
bedrooms.
1 Portico
2 Circular Stair
3 Entry Hall
4 Library
5 Drawing Room
6 Dining Room
7 Kitchen
* Bedrooms Located on 2nd Floor
Figure 2.2.7. Key map for Scheme B, drawn by Kimball, 1936,
with notions by author (Series III, Subseries I, FKP, PMA
Archives).
56
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Figure 2.2.8. Scheme B, first floor plan, 1936 (Series III, Subseries I, FKP, PMA Archives).
Figure 2.2.9. Scheme B, second floor plan, 1936 (Series III, Subseries I, FKP, PMA Archives).
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SCHEME B
House Site
Old Wood Road
Vehicular Circulation
A new road replaces Woodland Road slightly
east, with a service road branching towards
the garage on the west side of the house.
The circular drive ends at the front entry
and a service road branches left towards the
kitchen. A path extends from the garage to
the portico.
58
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Garden Design
The entry to the house was similar to
Bellevue in that it did not feature formal
landscape elements; rather, the focus was on
the architecture. The landscape plan evolved
from the rectangular Bellevue terrace.
Existing trees were kept where they didnt
interfere with the building and road, and the
garden was on the east and north sides of the
house. A soapstone-paved terrace was located
on the north side of the house, level with
the drawing room, allowing for the
best views.
Kimball surrounded the house with a
semi-circular stone wall with gates; this
may have been intended to keep cattle off
the property or to add additional privacy if
they subdivided the property. Brick steps
spaced at three, six and nine oclock led
down to a second semi-circular grass terrace
encompassing the north side of the house.A
second set of steps mirrored the first, leading
through the embankment, down to the
2.2
59
SCHEME C
Date: February 1937
Scheme C was proposed six months after
scheme B was suspended. Kimball, concerned
with money, scaled down house size by
introducing an elongated T footprint.
A walkway leads to the portico which
is almost the width of the house. The
main bedroom, bath and kitchen are
on the southwest side of the house
closest to the road. The dining room,
bath and secondary bedroom are on
the northeast side of the house. The
basement houses the servant quarters
and storage.
By 1937, the heat was causing
Marie Kimballs fainting spells,21 and
is most likely the reason for locating
the master bedroom on the main
floor at the same elevation as the
service road. Kimball also added
air conditioning I know, however,
that I can afford the house (it is a
question of what I can afford in the way of
equipment-for instance, you see that I am
considering air conditioning), and I want to
go ahead meanwhile.22 The excavation for
the home was nearly complete when Lee
received a telegram from Kimball to suspend
construction and wait for a revised plan.23
7
4
1
3
5
7
8
7
7
1 Portico
2 Entry Hall
3 Stair
4 Drawing Room
5 Dining Room
6 Kitchen
7 Bedrooms
8 Servants Quarters
Figure 2.2.14. Key map for Scheme C (Kimball, Scheme
C, 1937, Series III, Subseries I, FKP, PMA Archives, with
notations and rotation of plan to current alignment of house
by author).
60
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Figure 2.2.15. Scheme C, drawn by Kimball, 1937 (Series III, Subseries I, FKP, PMA Archives).
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SCHEME C
House Site
Old Wood Road
62
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2.2
Garden Design
The house and
landscaping had been
reduced dramatically
from the previous two
schemes with budgetary
concerns as the most likely
cause. The landscaped
area consisted of an upper
terrace to the front of
the portico similar in size
to the secondary axis or
upper part of the T-shape.
A lower terrace leading
down to the pasture
extended from the upper
terrace northward; while
Figure 2.2.18. Plot Plan for Shack Mountain, by Kimball, 1937, (Marie Goebel Kimball
Papers, ca. 1920-1955, Accession #5232, Special Collections, University of Virginia
it was the same width as
Library, Charlottesville,VA., north arrow notation by author).
the upper terrace, it was a
ease of maintenance uniting the house and
slightly smaller in length. The garden style
was no longer reflective of the previous two garden as complementary spaces for living,
designs and was instead functional, extending while respecting the native landscape (Treib,
53). This style used patios as an extension
the footprint of the house to include an
of the house, native landscaping, potted
outside paved terrace which does not
appear on axis. This is a modernist landscape planters and small gardens for ease of utility
and maintenance. Kimballs landscape design
approach; a minimalist solution based on
for this plan represented a departure from
budgetary concerns but also reflective of
his earlier ideas, yet reflected a modern and
modern ideas towards landscape design
progressive style for landscape design and
in the 1930s with a concern for space
economy.
rather than pattern, deriving a model from
contemporary architecture (Lockwood and
Garden Club of 2000, 1-9). The movement
began in California and brought forth
simplicity of design, functionality and
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SCHEME Q
Date: March 1937
Drawing Room: 18 x 43-10
Scheme Q is crossed out on the
tabulation sheet with the only difference
between this and the final plan being the
size of the drawing room.24 The house now
resembles Jeffersons Farmington plan, with
the addition of more space and reintroduces
the octagonal drawing rooms and changes
the design of the front entry. This scheme
was modified to form the current plan of
Shack Mountain.
6
7
3
5
4
1 Portico
2 Entry Hall
3 Stair
2
1
4 Drawing Room
5 Dining Room
6 Kitchen
7 Bedrooms
* Servants Quarters Located in Basement
Figure 2.2.19. Key map for Scheme Q (Kimball, Scheme Q, 1937, Series III, Subseries I, FKP, PMA
Archives, with notations by author).
64
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AA
SCHEME D: FINAL
Date: March 1937
Finished Sq. Ft.: 1,870
Baement Fin. Sq. Ft.: 1,156
The revised design for
Shack Mountain is similar
to scheme Q but with
a smaller drawing room
and the elongated T-form
with octagonal ends.25 The
excavation was completed
using the notations from
Scheme C, with Kimball
reducing the footprint from
Scheme Q in order to align
with the excavation.
Figure 2.2.20. Site plan of Shack Mountain, Fiske Kimball, 1937 (Albert and Shirley
Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia).
Figure 2.2.21. West Elevation of Shack Mountain, Fiske Kimball, 1937 (Albert and Shirley Small Special
Collections Library, University of Virginia).
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SCHEME D
House Site
New Drive
Old Wood
Road
Vehicular Circulation
The road followed the existing drive and
featured an oval, side entry drive curving to
the north of the portico.
Figure 2.2.23. North Elevation of Shack Mountain, Fiske Kimball, 1937 (Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library,
University of Virginia).
66
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2.3
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2.3
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Plan A
The following is an analysis of the final two conceptual plans for Shack Mountain highlighting the
components of each that makes up the final Kimball landscape.
Plan A is closer in appearance
to the current landscape of Shack
Mountain. The terrace extended
from the middle of the house to the
portico on the north, and out equally
distanced on the east and west sides.
The north terrace slopes down with
steps aligned with the axis off of the
center window of the dining room
and living room, leading to a crossshaped pathway. A semi-circular
hedge encloses the path with an
opening at the northern entrance
leading to the meadow. The steps on
the northeastern side of the patio
extend beyond the back of the house
to a terraced garden area.
The patio on the south side of
the house is level with the road, and
a semicircular hedge extends from
the corners of the patio aligning
with the southernmost window.
There is another semicircular
shape within the first with sharp
edges indicating a different surface.
Stairs lead from the center of the
southeastern side of the patio
descending towards the eastern end
of the house to the terraced garden
area. The terraced gardens feature
parterres with a path. The terrace is
70
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Figure 2.3.1. Plot Plan for Shack Mountain drawn by Fiske Kimball, undated, 1937 (Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections
Library, University of Virginia).
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PLAN A
Kimballs LANDSCAPE Plan OVERLAID ON
THE Current Landscape Plan of Shack
Mountain
Figure 2.3.2.
72
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73
Plan B
Plan B is a much rougher sketch,
drawn with a heavier hand, and not as
precise as Landscape Plan A. The plans
are similar but have a few differences,
the 1st of which is the drive, a major
point of dissension between Kimball
and Gillette. The drive in Plan B still
follows the entry road but branches in
front of the southern garden area with
the eastern road terminating at the
parking area. The main drive leads to the
house in the form of an oval, continuing
around towards the western downslope
with parking adjacent to the front
entrance. The other difference is that
the southern garden area is no longer a
patio but rather a garden with parterres.
The cross axis path is surrounded by a
semi-circular hedge mirroring the north
side. This plan lists plant species along
with water requirements and prices.
74
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AA
Figure 2.3.6. Landscape plan for Shack Mountain drawn by Fiske Kimball, undated (Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections
Library, University of Virginia).
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PLAN B
Overlay of Kimballs Plan and Current
Landscape Plan of Shack Mountain
Figure 2.3.7.
76
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2.3.8. Rendered SketchUp Model of Kimballs landscape Plan B, western view, 2012.
Figure 2.3.9. Clay rendered SketchUp Model of Kimballs landscape Plan B, Oblique view south, 2012.
78
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2.3
Figure 2.3.10. Rendered SketchUp Model of Kimballs landscape Plan B, Oblique view north, 2012.
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NOTES
1 H. T. Van Nostrand to F.
Kimball, 2 May 1935, Series
III, Subseries I, FKP, PMA.
2 R. E. Lee to F. Kimball, 39 April 1935, Series
III, Subseries I, FKP, PMA; F.
Kimball to R.E. Lee, 2 May
1935, Series III, Subseries I,
FKP, PMA.
3 R.E. Lee to F. Kimball, 21 June 1937, R.E. Lee
Papers, Special Collections,
UVA
4 M. Kimball to F. Kimball,
5 May 1935, Series III, Subseries I, FKP, PMA.
5 Plan drawn in pencil labeled Bellevue, Shack
Mountain,VA, 1935, Series
III, Subseries I, FKP,
6 R.E. Lee to F. Kimball,
19 June 1935, Series III, Subseries I, FKP, PMA.
7 Kimball did not date
or sign most of his drawings,
nor did he indicate site orientation or use a scale for
reference. As Kimball gained
an understanding of the site,
he modified the architectural
design to reflect economy
and site; this is also true for
the landscape.
80
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notes
21 F. Kimball to R.E.
Lee, 15 July 1937, R.E. Lee
Papers, Special Collections,
UVA.
30
81
PART 3
THE END OF AN ERA:
THE PASSING OF THE KIMBALLS
Figure 3.1. Photograph of Shack Mountain, ca. 1955 (Private collection; photograph courtesy of Osborne Mackie).
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Part
3.1
1
Figure 3.1.1. Jane and Bedford Moore, 1963 (Private collection; photograph courtesy of Osborne Mackie).
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85
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3.2
Figure 3.2.1. Shack Mountain north view, 1963 (Private collection; photograph courtesy of Osborne Mackie).
87
Figure 3.2.2. Map of Kimballs instructions for Marie Kimballs burial in a letter sent
to Lee, March 1955, (Papers of R. E. Lee and Son, Inc..., Accession #7615,-a,-b,
Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville,VA.).
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3.2
89
90
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3.2
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3.3
Figure 3.3.2. Shack Mountain showing the original front entry pavers, ca. 1955 (Private
collection; photograph courtesy of Osborne Mackie).
Figure 3.3.3. A photograph of the kitchen entrance to Shack Mountain just after the
Moores purchase, showing the terrace and limited plantings surrounding the house, ca.
1955 (Private collection; photograph courtesy of Osborne Mackie).
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93
Figure 3.3.4. An early photograph of the tree giving an approximate location of Marie Kimballs grave, ca. 1958-1960 (Private
collection; photograph courtesy of Osborne Mackie).
94
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3.3
Figure 3.3.5. Jane Moore with one of the family dogs, ca.
1970-1980 (Private collection; photograph courtesy of
Osborne Mackie).
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95
Figure 3.3.7. View from north terrace of Jane Moores cherished paulownia
tree, undated (Private collection; photograph courtesy of Osborne Mackie).
96
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3.3
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3.3
Figure 3.3.9. Google Earth satellite image defining the boundaries of Shack Mountain and Ivy Creek Natural Area as of 2012,
not to scale.
Figure 3.3.10. Ivy Creek, undated (Private collection; photograph courtesy of Osborne Mackie).
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3.3
Figure 3.3.11. Jane Moore on the lower terrace in the gardens, 1986 (Private collection; photograph courtesy of Osborne
Mackie).
101
102
shack mountain
section
3.4
shack mountain
103
Top Right
Bottom Right
Bottom Left
104
shack mountain
section
3.4
Top Right
Middle
Bottom Left
shack mountain
105
Bottom Left
106
shack mountain
section
3.4
Top Right
Bottom Right
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107
Bottom
108
shack mountain
section
3.4
Top Right
A close up of the
retaining wall leading to
the field.
shack mountain
109
This Page
The building of the steps off of the east side of the lower terrace leading to the sloped
field below.
110
shack mountain
section
Part
3.41
View of
the vegetable
garden on
the southern
garden terrace.
Bottom Right
above
Enlargement
of the flowers
growing on the
fence.
shack mountain
111
Bottom Row
112
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section
3.4
shack mountain
113
Top Row
Bottom Left
114
shack mountain
section
3.4
Top Right
Bottom Right
shack mountain
115
(undated)
Bottom Left
A close-up of Gip.
116
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section
3.4
Right
Left
Above
117
Unknown woman
and the Moores dogs, ca.
1955-1960.
Right
Bottom Left
118
shack mountain
notes
NOTES
1 F. Kimball to General Vandegrift, 13 May 1953,
Series III, Subseries I, FKP,
PMA.
2 Jane Moore, interview by Bill Beiswanger,
Jack Robertson, and Chad
Phillips, October 20, 2005,
Shack Mountain, Charlottesville, VA, from the audio-visual archives, Jefferson
Library Special Collections,
courtesy The Thomas Jefferson Foundation, Inc. (hereafter know as: Jane Moore,
Interview, 2005.)
3
Ibid.
Ibid.
18 Ibid.
responded, The Kimballs
kept up with us pretty well,
Jane Moore, Interview, 2005. 19 Burial in the cemetery
at Monticello is limited to
lineal descendants of Thomas
10 Hohman, Theodora
Kimball, 25:181n27. Kim- Jefferson. The Monticello
Association. Graveyard Hisballs sister had also shown
similar symptoms before she tory. Accessed March 12,
2013. http://www.monticeldied but it is not known if
lo-assoc.org/hsitory
this was hereditary.
11 Marie Kimballs funeral instructions, 1951,
Series II, Subseries C, FKP,
PMA.
12 F. Kimball to General Vandegrift, 13 May 1953,
Series III, Subseries I, FKP,
PMA.
13 F. Kimball to G. Barkley, 3 June 1953, Series III,
Subseries I, FKP, PMA.
17 F. Kimball to B. Lee,
26 January 1955, Series III,
Subseries I, FKP, PMA.
20 J. Lippencott, Jr. to B.
Lee, 29 March 1955, R.E.
Lee Papers, Special Collections, UVA; J. Lippencott,
Jr. to B. Lee, 19 April 1955,
R.E. Lee Papers, Special
Collections, UVA.
21 F. Kimball to B. Lee,
March 1955, R.E. Lee Papers, Special Collections,
UVA.
22 Jane Moore, Interview,
2005.
23 Marie Kimball funeral
program, 1951, Series II,
Subseries C, FKP, PMA.
24 Jane Moore, Interview,
2005.
25 Jane Moore, Interview,
2005.
26 J. Lippencott, Jr. to B.
Lee, 29 March 1955, R.E.
Lee Papers, UVA.
27 F. Kimball to P. Montague III, Esq., 5 May 1955,
R.E. Lee Papers, UVA.
shack mountain
119
36 Jane Moore, Interview, nantly black and lower-middle income group of occu2005.
pants. Fleming v. Moore,
37 Ibid.
275 S.E.2d 632, 221 VA. 887
(VA. 03/06/1981), Virginia
38 Ibid.
Coalition for Open Gov39 Jack Robertson, in a
ernment (hereafter cited as:
telephone conversation with Fleming v. Moore).
31 Heyward was an archi- the author, January 25, 2013. 45 Agriculture zoning altect with a practice in Char- 40 Ibid.
lowed 1 unit for every 2.15
lottesville VA, called Baker,
acres.
Heyward, Lorens, Architects. 41 Osborne Mackie, in a
telephone conversation with 46 Fleming v. Moore, 887.
Heywards wife Jane Heythe author, 2013.
ward and Jane Moore were
47 Ibid., 894.
good friends.
42 The narrative is com48 Ibid.
piled from several sources:
32 Minutes, FKP, PMA.
Osborne Mackie, conversa- 49 Ibid., 887
Water from the City was
tion, 2013; Catherine Burimminent because of the
50 Ibid.
ton, Conversation, 2012;
High School being built at
the bottom of Road 29 ne- Eleanor Kuhl, conversation, 51 Jane Moore was de2012; Dave the manager at
gating the lack of water for
scribed as, a very strong
the house-sites proposed by Van Yahres Tree Company, person who also had pretty
conversation with the author strong opinions about things
Kimball.
at Van Yahres Tree Compa- but was always extraordiny, July 2012.
narily diplomatic in com120
shack mountain
notes
Ibid.
54
Ibid.
shack mountain
121
PART 4
THE PHYSICAL LANDSCAPE
shack mountain
section
4.1
shack mountain
125
shack mountain
section
4.2
Pasture
Dry stacked stone wall
Oval drive
Parking
Service entrance
Chapel area
Figure 4.2.3. Outline of the road, showing the oval drive and side entry parking, and house,
AutoCAD drawing, 2012.
shack mountain
127
Circulation
A small path leads from the
parking to the kitchen entrance; the
area is completely shaded by mature
red oaks and maples surrounding
the house. The soapstone pavers
are dark gray and rectangular in
shape, placed in an offset pattern,
surrounding the northwest half
Figure 4.2.5. Path from the kitchen to the parking area, 2012.
of the house. A hole is cut in the
pavers for a large Chestnut Oak tree,
from the road leads to portico steps. Due to
with limbs growing precariously over the
the dense vegetation, the vista is not visible
house. The tree is centered on the dining
from the portico but only from inside the
room window, pushing its way up through
drawing room or from the terrace on the
the patio displacing the stones and cracking
north side of the house.
the steps. Camellias follow the semi-circular
pattern of the terrace on the south side of
the house; the edges of the bed below the
Camellias hold white and some pink Tulips,
and Mountain Laurel.
The main entrance is impressive from the
oval drive, forcing the gaze slightly upward
in order to see the portico. A brick path
shack mountain
section
4.2
paths
Figure 4.2.7. The solid black areas are walkways/garden paths put in by the Moores, 2012, not to scale.
shack mountain
129
Figure 4.2.8. North view looking from the drawing room, 2012.
130
shack mountain
section
4.2
Figure 4.2.9. Entrance to the pasture at the north end of the oval drive, 2012.
Figure 4.2.10. View of Blue Ridge Mountains from the north patio, 2012.
Figure 4.2.11. Same view as figure 4.2.7., taken while standing on the north
terrace, showing the vista above the semi-circular hedge, 2012.
shack mountain
131
The Gardens
A semi-circular English
boxwood hedge beginning at
the rock wall and ending at
the corner of the pool hedge
provides a sense of enclosure
between the formal garden
and the pasture.
Figure 4.2.12.View of north elevation of Shack Mountain, 2012.
132
shack mountain
section
4.2
The remnants of an
apple orchard form the
north end of the second
terrace with a small seating
area enclosing the garden.
133
134
shack mountain
section
Figure 4.2.24. The Chapel area, view from north entrance, 2012.
4.2
Outbuildings
The Moores built a
small service area, to the east
of the house, hidden from
view by a fence and the
surrounding landscape. This
area was most likely built
around the same time as the
gardens during the 1960s
and it was in place during
the 1976 Garden Tour. The
simple wooden structures
are utilitarian housing: a
garden shed, wood shed,
garage, compost area, dog
run and parking. A series of
maintained paths lead toward
the house, terraces, and
woods.Virginia blue bells
are plentiful in the shaded
areas between the house and
Chapel.
Notes
1 The Chapel is a garden
shed named by Jane Moore.
2 Jane Moore, Interview,
2005.
Figure 4.2.25. The Chapel area, view of woodshed on the right, 2012.
shack mountain
135
2012
136
shack mountain
section
shack mountain
4.3
137
138
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section
shack mountain
4.3
139
Figure 4.3.3. Rendered SketchUp Model of Shack Mountain, current landscape, 2012.
140
shack mountain
section
shack mountain
4.3
141
shack mountain
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