North East -- Grimshaw Glen

This property has been owned by members of the Grimshaw family since the Civil War and has been the site of a water-powered woolen mill, a cider mill, and a winery. The one-acre garden still has mature nut and locust trees planted by previous generations but their fruit trees and plants have been replaced by more than 200 varieties of rhododendron and azaleas and a hosta collection that thrive in the dappled shade. Ivy-draped ruins of industrial buildings remain as does the Craftsman-style family home that was built in stages using wood from the property. In 2015 the current owners purchased the adjacent hill, four acres of vineyards and a winery that were part of the original holding. The tailrace of the old mill has become a bog garden planted with marsh marigold, yellow flag iris, Joe Pye weed, primula and ligularia. Wildflowers border the banks of the creek that runs through the property.

In 1845 a water-powered wool mill was built and business thrived until the mill burned down in 1883. A water-powered cider mill was built on the same location, and due to the proliferation of local concord grape vineyards the business turned to making wine by 1906. Production was halted by Prohibition in 1919 when federal agents were said to have dumped 50,000 gallons of wine into the creek.

Persons associated with the garden include Benjamin and Sarah Grimshaw (former owners, 1864-1873); William and Jane Grimshaw (former owners, 1873-1911); Robert and Beulah Grimshaw (former owners, 1911-1976).