Walter Deane (1848-1930) Papers; Journal Jan-Dec 1901. Botany Libraries, Archives of the Gray Herbarium, Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, Mass.

24 Trip to Salem, New York. 1901 July 2

The long-expected trip occurred to-day to the home of Miss Marcia R. & Miss Florence Audubon. The intense heat of the past week was as fierce as ever. We left Boston at 9.30 A.M. reaching Eagle Bridge (Fitchburg RR) by 2.33 nearly. The mercury in the parlor car ranged between 95° & 100° during all this time. It was first 100° in the tunnel and it ranged nearly 100° most of the time. At Eagle Bridge we changed and ran north for an hour through Cambridge and Shushan to Salem. While waiting at the Bridge I heard a Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Indigo Bird. West of Greenfield three plants were very abundant, the Wild Parnsip (Pastinaca sativa), Bugloss, (Echium vulgare) and (Melilotus alba) White Melilot. There was a beautiful contrast of color. I saw a rounded hill white with the wild Daisy and sprinkled evenly over with Bugloss, the stalks arising above the Daisies. It was a very beautiful sight.

At Salem Miss Maria Audubon met us at the station and we walked through the village streets to the house. The building is of brick painted creamy white, standing near the street on a lot of about two acres. The house is over 100 years old, and a few years ago Miss Audubon made an addition containing a large sitting room with rooms overhead. We shall examine the house later. We had a hearty welcome from Miss Florence, Miss Harriet Audubon a half sister, and Miss Young, the two latter

25 Salem, N.Y. 1901 July 2 (2)

visitors. After a talk and a rest we supped and then wandered over the place examining the flower & vegetable beds. Miss Maria takes charge of the flowers and Miss Florence of the vegetables. The ground slopes towards the end to a beautiful brook in which even in this drought, much clear water is running. Where we stood the brook was at least 10 ft. broad bordered by trees & shrubs.

Large Rock Maples and Elms shade the house, behind which is a large stretch of lawn. The elms on the lawn are 3 to 4 feet through and over 100 years old. The Rock Maples are nearly 3 feet through.

We sat under the trees in the clear moonlight and talked. When we reached the house, the mercury was 94° in the shade, but the air was fresh. We shall retire early as we have had a rather hard day.

In our room overlooking the lawn behind the house is the famous original oil painting by the great John W. Audubon of the White Wolf. The canvas is about 2 feet square. It is a fascinating piece of work. There are oils on the walls by John W., the son J.J. Audubon, a large picture of two cows by John W., a deer by John W., a squirrel John W., & some palms by Victor, and by Victor also a tropical scene of palms and a river, with two herons. The White Fox is crouching & snarling over a bone by an abandoned camp fire. What a privilege to look and look at this.

26 Salem, N.Y. 1901 July 3

Very hot day, mercury ranging one or two degrees on either side of 90° during the day. No clouds no signs of rain — Drop to 74° in the evening —

We have spent the day almost entirely in the house. It has been very delightful, looking at the pictures and hearing the stories about them by the sisters. At one time we sat in the front hall getting a little air that came in through the open door from the north and enjoying delightful talk. In the large library over the fireplace is the original oilpainting of James J. Audubon sitting, with gun and dog (See ). This picture was sent to New York at the time of the unveiling of the Statue of Audubon. In the same room hangs an oil painting of Scott copied from an original, by John W. Audubon who painted the picture of his father, above mentioned. John was father of Miss Maria & Miss Florence. Near the fireplace is an original water color of the American or Black Rat, by John J. Audubon. In the parlor leading off from the hall and connecting with the library by a small room call the "Alcove", are more valuable works. [1] The Wolverine an original water color by J.J. Audubon etc. a large oil [2] by John & Victor. The former painted the cows and the later the landscape, and there is also a colored [3] portrait about a foot square of John. J. Audubon by the great Cruikshank who inscribed on the back. There is also an original water color of a Fox (head pointed up) by J.J. Audubon.

27 Salem, N.Y. 1901 July 3 (2)

In the hall is another original water color by V.J. Audubon of a WildCat, and on the stairway hangs framed a large copper plate of Ardea occidentalis, Great White Heron, one of the few plates rescued from a fire years ago and presented to Miss Audubon by Mr. Cowles [Coles] of Ansonia, Conn., who secured about eighteen of them and inlaid them in one of his rooms. From this plate all the impressions of this bird were taken for the great elephant folio Birds of North America. These plates were stored with the set in a storehouse in New York City.

In the dining room which connects with the parlor is an original water color of the Canada Lynx by John J. Audubon and beneath hangs a frame containing the original water color by J.J. Audobon of birds, each size of life, Evening Grosbeak, Townsends' Bunting, Ground Dove & Amer. [American] Dunlin. Here also is an oil by John W. Audubon of his father. This picture is reproduced as a frontispiece by Miss Audubon in her Journals of her grandfather. An oil of two deer by John W. Audubon hangs over the side board. We have not examined yet the 2d story except our room which I shall describe later. The birds I shall describe later also.

After tea this evening we took a walk along Oudawa Creek and back along Broadway. By the brook grow Echinus, Veratrum, Lilium canadense, yellow & red forms, Lysimachia ciliata , Angelica atropurpurea , etc. Then Miss Florence, M. & I walked through the village shopping.

28 Salem, N.Y. 1901 July 4

The mercury dropped last night and early this morning it was 62°, risen to 84° in the afternoon Clear in the morning, cloudy in the afternoon. As on yesterday we spent most of the day in the house for the sun was very hot after breakfast. I am glad to be so much in the house. I forgot to mention in my sketch of yesterday that in the dining room in another sketch of John Audubon by Cruikshank who inscribed on the back "to the merriest companion I even knew." Miss Audubon says her father was always full of humor. In the hall is a very large oil painting made by an artist at the order of King Geroge III of England. The painting was made in India of an Indian Rajah of high rank and as King George did not pay for it, it was finally offered for sale and bought by J.J. Audubon who admired it. On each side of the picture hangs a pistol inlaid with Indian work given him in Texas. I have compared the originals of Audubon on the lower floor with the illustrations in Audubon & Bachman's Quadrupeds of {North} America. The Black Rat, Wolverine , Canada lynx & Wild bat works of the grandfather John J. Audubon.

I walked with Miss Florence to the Post Office this morning and saw the Hand Steam Fire Engine.