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The Yard & Garden
The Horace M. Gilbert family arrived in the Yakima area to make
its home in this newly released land. Coming from Illinois, they
brought among other belongings starts for the American elm trees
and planted them 100 years ago on this property. As soon as the
sagebrush land was cleared, an apple orchard was planted and the
house was started. The necessary garden was planted north of the
house as well as a peach and a cherry tree. Living conditions improved
when amenities were added like the small lily pond south of the
house, and it is said that Mrs. Gilbert always stopped to look at
it when she went to the mailbox near by.
In 1925 a landscaper was hired to draw up plans to make the home
area look more like an estate. Although not all his plan was carried
out, many of his suggestions were used and remain today such as
lilacs, roses, and other shade trees, making a pleasant setting
for the house. The original arbor near the street has been reinforced
to support the old wisteria and a rose bush. The grape arbor by
the back door was also straightened and reinforced by the present
volunteers. Right in back of the wash house, Mrs. Gilbert had the
clothesline, but it had to be taken down.
After Mrs. Gilbert's death in 1951, the house was uninhabited for
a year, and of course, the once lovely yard deteriorated. Then Tiny
and Bill Donelson moved into the house. They loved the place and
worked diligently to not only restore the house, but they took on
the huge task of bringing the yard back to its beautiful setting
for the home. They planted the boxwood hedges to set off the large
flower beds of colorful golden rod, daisies, tulips, etc. The growth
of vinca was encouraged as a needed ground cover around the house.
The area between the driveway and Yakima Avenue was planted to enhance
the property. One of the last projects carried out by the Donelsons
in 1980 was the cement sidewalk which goes from the back entrance
to the house to the front driveway, and their names are still imprinted
there. In 1982, after Tiny's death, Bill married Ted Robertson,
and she gave up "the dear old house". In that year, the
house became a part of the Yakima Valley Museum, and the "Friends
of the Gilbert Homeplace" was organized to help restore and
maintain the house and yard.
One of the first needs was weeding, so volunteers were quickly
put to work. The experienced gardeners on the grounds committee
decided on short and long range goals to keep the yard compatible
with the Victorian house. Rhubarb and gooseberry bushes were saved
as was the snowberry bush by the fireplace chimney, and additional
plantings have been chosen with care to always have attractive color
throughout the growing season. There were structural needs, and
with this group's help projects were done such as widening the driveway,
installing a brick walk through the yard north of the house, placing
a bench for a quiet place near that walk, and building a seat around
one of the large elms. Other projects to make the yard setting appropriate
for the old house were white picket fencing and rose arbors which
may have been there originally.
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