Home » Blog » G is for Grey Towers and Gifford Pinchot, A to Z Challenge 2013

G is for Grey Towers and Gifford Pinchot, A to Z Challenge 2013

Grey Towers Milford PA
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Grey Towers Milford PA, home to Gifford Pinchot(1865-1946). Photo by Wayne Stratz.

 

G is for Grey Towers, the home of Gifford and Cornelia Pinchot(1881-1960)and built by Gifford’s parents James and Mary Pinchot in Milford, PA.  Grey Towers is now a National Historic Site. Gifford Pinchot had a passion for forestry and is a father of sustainable forest programs in the US, and also served two terms as governor of Pennsylvania.  Note the majestic mustache.

Gifford Pinchot
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Gifford Pinchot

Cornelia Pinchot campaigned for women’s right to vote, child labor laws and after her husband died, ran for the governorship, as well as for Congress.

Grey Towers, Dining Room Finger Bowl
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Grey Towers, Dining Room Finger Bowl. Photo by Wayne Stratz.

Stratoz and I had driven by the signs for Grey Towers many times but it was closed for renovations;  finally we stopped in 2002 when it had reopened and took a tour. It rises up like a miniature castle, made of PA bluestone.  Beyond it’s formal appearance, we discovered the Cornelia’s sense of playfulness, with the outdoor dining room table called the Finger Bowl.  Guests passed the dishes afloat.

The Archives at Grey Towers, Milford, PA
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The Letter Box at Grey Towers, Milford, PA. Photo by Wayne Stratz.

The Letter Box was an office for Gifford Pinchot and archive of his papers, which are now at the Library of Congress.  At the end of a reflecting pool was the Bait Box, a playhouse for the Pinchot’s son.  There was some larger than life Maple Leaf wallpaper inside the mansion, and I discovered that Gifford’s father made his fortune in wallpaper.

 

A to Z Blogging Challenge April 2013

5 comments

  1. Snowcatcher says:

    A fascinating history. Now I know more about the Gifford Pinchot National Forest than just it’s location!

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