Browsing by people, organizations and landmarks: people, organizations and landmarks:
1953/09/16: Sterling Morton to The Trustees of the Morton Arboretum (3.101894)
Date: December 14 1954Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Sterling Morton to the Trustees of the Morton Arboretum.
The architectural firm of Holabird & Root & Burgee are working on an addition to the Administration Building, to include laboratories, offices, and an adjoining propagating greenhouse. He feels this would be a suitable memorial to our late Chairman. Feeling that the active members of the Board of Trustees should in addition to their general duties, have special interest in particular phases of the work I am appointing committees as follows: Finances and Investments: Mr. King and Mr. Zurcher - Grounds, Roads, Plantings. etc. : Mr. Peterkin and Mr. Zurcher - Building and House Committee: Mrs. Zurcher and Mr. Baker. The duties of the first two committees are, of course, obvious. The third committee will have general supervision of the furnishings, decoration, etc. of the Administration and Thornhill Buildings. In addition, it will from time to time inspect all other buildings of the Arboretum, make recommendations on their usefulness. maintenance, repairs, etc. It will also be its province to recommend new structures, if needed, and to consult on the design thereof.
He welcomes recommendations of a suitable person to fill the vacancy of Chairman, and he spells out the qualifications to include residence in the Chicago area and interest in the basic objectives of the Arboretum.
Extent: 2 sheets
1955/03/18: Sterling Morton to C. E. Godshalk (3.104943)
Date: March 18 1955Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Sterling Morton to C. E. Godshalk returning the memos from the Salt Producers Association and Mr. Larson. He trusts that the salt treatment will save many elms, and it will increase the use of salt. They should encourage Mr. Larson in his experiments, but the Arboretum staff shouldn't put much time and effort into it. Morton has been laid up during the major part of his trip to Chicago, so he probably won't be able to make it out to the Arboretum. However, Ed Baker and the Zurchers have given him a general idea of what is going on. While laid up, he went over the final plans from Holabird & Root. He thinks that the Building Committee has done an excellent job straightening out the details. He thinks that the road and housing projects are under good control. The tollway location is still indefinite. He is glad Godshalk has completely recovered from his illness.
Extent: 2 sheets
1959/08/20: Sterling Morton to C. E. Godshalk (3.105065)
Date: August 20 1959Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Sterling Morton to C. E. Godshalk relating that they had to cancel their trip to Africa due to Mrs. Morton's digestive issues. Martha and Fritz have gone on the trip. Godshalk has received copies of the letters Morton wrote to Ed Baker and Holabird referring to the items of repair work he think should be done. He agrees with Godshalk that the details omitted from the bid should be covered. He told Godshalk to update Bob Ward on these matters if he hasn't already done so. Morton believes it is important to have air conditioning in the big room as well as the other classrooms. Morton is waiting on the terrace wall until he can see it staked out. He thinks the large black and white pebbles in the pebble concrete will look best. He asks Godshalk's opinion on using crushed stone instead; maintenance would be much less. He agrees that granite steps would be ideal, but much more expensive than the Lannon stone. He agrees with Godshalk that wooden steps, replaced at regular intervals, would be best. He is glad Godshalk agrees with adding a low wall to the south terrace at Thornhill. He asks Godshalk's opinion on the wall specifications. Morton is glad the work is going well on the new road. He thinks there will probably be a wait for the steel beams if Godshalk doesn't already have them due to a possible company showdown. Morton goes on to say that Godshalk should suggest to the media that they discourage visitors to the Arboretum this fall due to all the construction going on. Morton hopes Godshalk has provided for adding trees to the parking lots; Old Orchard's parking lot looks good. Morton hopes to get to Chicago for a short visit before too long, but they may need to stay in Santa Barbara if Mrs. Morton needs surgery.
Extent: 3 sheets
1959/08/31: [Sterling Morton] to Robert Ward (3.105066)
Date: August 31 1959Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter from [Sterling Morton] to Robert Ward (Holabird & Root) stating that the plans for the proposed terminal building on the Hedge Garden vista have been sent to Mrs. Zurcher for her comments. He goes on to give his opinion of the plans. He would like to do a mock-up before proceeding with the construction. Using mock-ups at his home was very successful in crystalizing their plans. He asks if the Library Room walls need patching. He agrees that the stockroom should be re-plastered after the other work has been completed. He is willing to go along with the recommendations of their Structural Department regarding the outside. He is glad to see that the vestibule for the double doors can be put inside Thornhill. He would prefer regular doors to the Ellison doors.
Extent: 2 sheets
1954/08/26: C. E. Godshalk to Sterling Morton (3.84475)
Date: August 26 1954Creator: Godshalk, Clarence E.
Type: Document
Description:Letter from C. E. Godshalk to Sterling Morton updating him on events at the Arboretum. Mrs. Zurcher has approved the plans for the window at Thornhill and the plaques, describing them to Morton. The housing is at a standstill. They applied the grub control at the correct time. He also plans to treat for weeds. They are patching the roads, and he hopes to get approval from Ed on the method of handling their fencing program along the new land. They will not be attending the Shade Tree Conference in Atlantic City this year. Kammerer and Eickhorst ate taking the station wagon and going on a collecting and study trip out east. Mrs. Watts wants to go to a conservation meeting at Louis Bromfield's place. These trips should about use up their travel fund for the year. He discusses a possible treatment plan for fire blight and the sick elms. He proposes a fix for the porch roof of his house.
Extent: 3 sheets
1955/02/10: C. E. Godshalk to Sterling Morton (3.84480)
Date: February 10 1955Creator: Godshalk, Clarence E.
Type: Document
Description:Letter from C. E. Godshalk to Sterling Morton updating him on changes in the new laboratory wing. He also spoke of their preference for the position of the new toll road. Godshalk drew up a plan to eliminate left turns at the Route 53 entrance which he passed along to Powills. He encloses a suggested plan for the roads in the Arboretum's interior which could be carried out as soon as the Arboretum acquires the Jones land. The housing project will be moved 200 feet south giving a deeper screening area from the road. Godshalk may attend the National Shade Tree Conference this year, also visiting some experimental areas around the conference location. The have almost closed out the farming operations, selling the steers for a profit of $3968.85. They should have over $35,000.00 to transfer to the Arboretum after using the equipment sale money to modernize a lot of the Arboretum's older equipment. They are installing a new septic system for the Administration Building.
Extent: 2 sheets
1955/05/05: C. E. Godshalk to Sterling Morton (3.84485)
Date: May 5 1955Creator: Godshalk, Clarence E.
Type: Document
Description:Letter from C. E. Godshalk to Sterling Morton saying he has been busy with spring work and checking the drawings from Holabird and Root. The contract was given to Carroll Construction Company; he thinks they will do a good job as they did good work on the Thornhill Building. Jones has accepted a down payment on the eleven acres. The Arboretum is at least two weeks earlier in the blooming season. They have started test fertilizer and mulch plots. They are also running tests with salt on grass and trees. They have started an area showing the public how to grow fruit trees and bushes. They had one of the largest crowds ever this past Sunday. They took pictures to show what the traffic is like during busy times. He had to get after the Howard Fischer outfit, as not much seemed to be getting done. Having the equipment they need is a great advantage.
Extent: 2 sheets
1960/01/13: C. E. Godshalk to Sterling Morton (3.86075)
Date: January 13 1960Creator: Godshalk, Clarence E.
Type: Document
Description:Letter from C. E. Godshalk to Sterling Morton where he encloses a study of the control houses he made for Morton's critique. The overhead bridge at Ogden and Route 53 is being rebuilt over the coming summer. He asks Morton's opinion about giving fill for the project if they clean and deepen Lake Marmo as well as create a large settling basin to the west of the lake. The recent three inches of rain was a good test for the new lake.
Extent: 1 sheet