Sewickley -- Beeches

The area was settled circa 1790 by soldiers from the Revolutionary War who were compensated with land to farm. Descendants subdivided their properties during the 19th and early 20th centuries, and eventually there were residences and a 9-hole golf course on 40 acres that had been rich farmland. In the 1930's the golf course was converted to residential properties, and this property's slightly more than one-half acre were the first and second holes of the old golf course. The Beaux Arts red brick house has both neoclassical and Italianate features that are complemented by renovations to the house and gardens by the current owners. The property was densely shaded by white pine, hemlock and Norway spruce; about 28 trees have been removed. Existing square brick pillars with globular finials and an acanthus leaf design were replicated and six unadorned pillars were erected on the street side of the property among pleached copper beeches. A hedge of false cypress along the driveway leads to a wooden fence with old and new pillars at either end and new garages. The main entrance is at the side of the house and was remodeled with neoclassical features, as was the rebuilt two-story porch at the rear of the house. A brick freestanding wall opposite the main entrance has Italianate arched insets with topiary shrubs pruned to fit as well as small statues of cherubs.

An existing medallion shaped swimming pool had to be fenced to conform to local codes so graded beds were added and planted with shrubs that eventually will disguise the ornamental wrought iron picket fence. These include hybridized hydrangeas in purple and pink, tree peonies, boxwood and white azaleas. Outside the fence the graded beds are filled with serviceberry, ornamental cherries, Japanese maple, leucothoe, and serviceberry under original hemlocks and pines; and in one corner there is an understory of witch hazel. These beds separate the pool from the rest of the garden. An arbor and gate that is the egress from the pool garden is painted white to match all the trim on the house and planted with clematis and climbing hydrangea. Two espaliered pear trees and a pruned peach tree grow against the new brick wall that separates the pool garden from the driveway. At the back of the property a row of rainbow knockout roses adds color.

Persons associated with the garden include: Peter J. and Gertrude T. Hannaway (former owners prior to October 2006); Brandon Smith (architect, circa 1931-1935); and Elise E. Keely (landscape designer, 2008).