Browsing by people, organizations and landmarks: decade:
1954/12/28 : Clarence E. Godshalk to Sterling Morton (3.101778)
Date: December 28 1954Creator: Godshalk, Clarence E.
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Clarence E. Godshalk to Sterling Morton who is in Santa Barbara, California. They had the staff Christmas party and invited wives of all employees, since some live on the grounds. The farm sale brought in $8000. He details the equipment sold and kept for the Arboretum. He mentions the livestock, which is being fed out. Some of the equipment not sold was upgraded in a trade-in deal. Afterwards they should have $30,000 - $40,000 in cash from Lisle Farms. They are cementing in fencing posts along the Lacey property and can add the wire before spring. They have torn down the hog house, the chicken house and the horse barn at the home farm. Plans are underway for the new South Farm buildings and the housing development. Ed Baker will be challenging the proposed routing of the Toll Road. Once the weather is cold enough they will move the pines. Thanks from all of the staff for adding to the Christmas season.
Extent: 2 sheets
1954/09/27: Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk (3.101930)
Date: September 27 1954Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk. He comments at length on various ongoing projects. He approves the sale to Mr. Scott of the lands and 2 buildings north of the quarter section line. He approves tearing down unnecessary farm buildings, but will discuss in more detail when they meet on October 20. He approves the transfer of equipment from Lisle Farms which the Arboretum can use, and to keep 3 men on the Lisle Farms payroll until clean up is completed next March. He approves of the general project for 12 houses, including a well, which should be located and dug as soon as possible. He is prepared to enter into an arrangement with the Herboths which would give the Arboretum their property and the Ackley property. He has signed the proposal from Lord & Burham, which can proceed. He likes the new Ford tractor which could save labor costs if properly operated and maintained. He approves of the suggested arrangement with White and his son in law. White is of more value to the Arboretum than doing the farming. He is glad that Ed is working to acquire the McMahan property and the Jones property. He offers the suggestion that they might consider selling some of the outlying properties to raise the money. Any balance in the Lisle Farms account should go toward cleaning up South Farm. He comments on politics in Washington.
Extent: 3 sheets
1954/10/02: Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk (3.101932)
Date: October 2 1954Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk. He likes the plan for changes at South Farm. He wants to inspect the residence to determine if it should be torn down. He wonders whether the old greenhouse could be salvaged as an auxiliary to the new greenhouse. Will the demolition yield usable lumber for the alterations in the service section? On Assessment Plat #1 of 34 acres, he feels there are too many lots, and he suggests that 24 lots is a better size, with the fire reservoir in the "park and play area". He is interested to see which lots would be for staff houses and which for labor houses. Further discussions when he returns to Chicago.
Extent: 2 sheets
1954/12/28: Clarence E. Godshalk to Sterling Morton (3.101941)
Date: December 28 1954Creator: Godshalk, Clarence E.
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Clarence E. Godshalk to Sterling Morton, in Santa Barbara to update him. They invited the wives of all employees to the Christmas party. There were 45 people in all. He details the results of the farm equipment sale, which brought in $8,000. The sheep and steer are being fed out. Some equipment was kept for Arboretum use. After the sale they used $5,700 to pay the difference on equipment that was traded-in, which he itemized. Ed Myers, the mechanic, will overhaul the cub tractors, which will be traded-in later for newer models. Ever after modernizing the Arboretum equipment, they should have between $30,000 and $40,000 cash to turn over from Lisle Farms. The posts are cemented for the cyclone fence along the Lacey land, and they can put the wire on before spring. At South Farm they are tearing down the corn crib, the old hog house, the chicken house and the horse barn at the home. Fischer's man is gathering data for the South Farm improvement and housing development, which will later go out for bid. Ed Baker will tell the Toll Road Commission that their plan is not acceptable, namely through the center of the University of Illinois land, the SE corner of the Arboretum and the N side of the Public Service line.
Extent: 2 sheets
1955/08/25: E. H. Baker to Sterling Morton (3.104965)
Date: August 25 1955Creator: Baker Jr., Edward H.
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Edward H. Baker, Jr. to Sterling Morton about South Farm Buildings. Howard Fisher has prepared detailed plans and specifications for the buildings. Baker suggested we only submit these to Carroll Construction so that we might learn from the results before we submit to multiple bidders. Enclosed is a sketch. He details each of the 10 buildings, its purpose and the amount of remodeling needed. Buildings 1, 3, 8 and 10 involve new construction. The bid from Carroll Construction was for $170,830.00 and involved site work, paving and parking lot. Baker feels that prices for buildings 1, 8 and 10 were reasonable. The rest was excessive. Carroll specializes in new construction with known costs. In remodeling he had to build in extra funds for unknowns. Based on this, Baker met with Howard Fisher and they decided: 1) Have Godshalk with Arboretum men and equipment prepare for construction of buildings 1, 8 and 10. After this construction is complete, he can finish the site work for the remaining buildings. 2) Negotiate a contract with Carroll Construction to build the shells for buildings 1, 8 and 10. 3) Negotiate a bid for the mechanicals and pay Carroll 5% for supervising their installation. 4) After new construction is finished, have Clarence do the remodeling of buildings 7 and 9. 5) Hold the remodeling of buildings 2, 4, 5 and 6 and construction of building 3 until later. Baker thinks that Clarence's time and efforts should go into managing the Arboretum and planning for future programs. A small contractor could be hired to oversee the remodeling of buildings 7 and 9. Baker would like construction on buildings 1, 8 and 10 to be complete before winter. Building 8 will hold the heating system for buildings 7-10. Building 10 will have the hydraulic lift and machine shop. He is requesting the Trustees to appropriate $80,000 for construction and mechanicals for these 3 buildings.
Extent: 4 sheets
1955/08/31: Clarence E. Godshalk to Sterling Morton (3.104969)
Date: August 31 1955Creator: Godshalk, Clarence E.
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Clarence E. Godshalk to Sterling Morton. When the Gravely tractor arrives, he will have the local representative bring out the attachments they want to try. Sunbeam sent one of their tape crawling sprinklers out to try. He wants to compare it to National Manufacturing and General Tractor. The Sunbeam features: 1) a dial to set the diameter of spray from 5-50 feet. 2) anchor the tape out 100 feet and the sprinkler will follow and shut off when it reaches the anchor. 3) strong pulling power on the hose. 4) at large diameter the spray arches over shrubs. 5) it will not go in curves, as the tape must be straight. The first floor concrete has been poured for the Administration Building, and the chimney has been taken down to the second floor ceiling to prepare for the roof. Sites for South Farm building are prepared. He is making a study of the entire Arboretum because permanent boundaries could be near, for the first time. He has a map to present to the Trustees, but wants to discuss it first with Morton. Godshalk and his wife will not be able to attend the dedication of the building at Northwestern, but he looks forward to seeing it at a later date.
Extent: 3 sheets
1955/09/13: Clarence E. Godshalk to Sterling Morton (3.104970)
Date: September 13 1955Creator: Godshalk, Clarence E.
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Clarence E. Godshalk to Sterling Morton. Updates on construction: in the Administration building, the second floor of lab and offices are ready to pour; new roof is covered with boards; no work yet on South Farm (with no union men working there yet, he has a man doing some demolition.) They are hauling a lot of fill to the Lacey land, where the tree filling experiments are being made. The mowing and paths are done for fall visitors. Mr. Rex in New Jersey has studies of elm nutrition, but makes no connection with Dutch elm disease. He cites Mr. McCoy who says that nutrients in the leaves vary greatly with the time the leaves are collected, therefore the Arboretum will need to set up consistent standards. He is waiting for replies from Dr. Banfield and Dr. Swingle before sending Web to Davis, California. Web is learning about different flame photometers. Godshalk is trying various crawling sprinklers. The Gravely tractor has not yet arrived.
Extent: 2 sheets
1955/09/03: Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk (3.104972)
Date: September 3 1955Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk. Southern Pacific are picking up the tractor today. It will come in 3 parts which you can assemble. He gives further details on shipping charges and wood packing. Thanks for your copy of your talk out here. People are still talking about the Arboretum. Dr. Carter is working on a link between soil nutrients and Dutch elm disease. That would be wonderful if Morton Arboretum could be connected with that. Ed Baker wrote about the plans for South Farm. With the high cost, he suggests that Carroll handle new construction only. Godshalk's men can take care of demolition and interior remodeling. He doesn't want outside people to be paid more than Morton staff. He'll leave any higher paid work to a contractor, even if he has to pay the contractor more.
Extent: 2 sheets
1956/09/03: Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk (3.104995)
Date: September 3 1956Creator: Morton, Sterling
Type: Document
Description:Letter from Sterling Morton to Clarence E. Godshalk. He is pleased to hear of the progress on the new building. If a few items are left unfinished before the meeting, that will help people see the progress that has been made. Victor Zurcher was impressed with the efficiency of the new work center at South Farm. He is pleased that Godshalk will be able to cover the work on the trees at $10 per tree in the regular budget. He hopes the new climber will be a positive addition. Test holes where he would like to build another lake show the soil is just what the highway department will want for fill. Godshalk should work with Zurcher and Ed Baker to get a good price for it. He would not be upset if the lake only fills to the level of the river, but doesn't want to see any of the dirty river water enter the new lake. He details other measures connected to the new lake, including putting in a new dam. Because of the dire need for a solution to Dutch elm disease, he is willing to try any effort. Mrs. Zurcher reports Dutch elm disease on a tree on the Lake Forest property. Morton recommends that it be tested, as it might be drooping because of the 17 year cicadas. He will condense his speech to 10 minutes for the meeting so that guest will be able to give full attention to the main speaker. Help from Argonne Laboratories to trace the circulation within trees with radioactive materials would give insight in the Dutch elm problem.
Extent: 2 sheets
Two men observing transplanting of maple tree near shops at South Farm (3.33489)
Date: 1957Type: Photographic image
Description:Two men observing transplanting of maple tree near shops at South Farm
Extent: 1 negative
Looking west at South Farm entrance prior to moving large Norway maple (3.33492)
Date: September 1957Creator: Gall, Richard
Type: Photographic image
Description:Looking west at South Farm entrance prior to moving large Norway maple during tree transplanting
Extent: 1 negative
General view of area south of South Farm shops prior to planting Norway maple (3.33495)
Date: September 1957Creator: Gall, Richard
Type: Photographic image
Description:General view of area south of South Farm shops prior to planting Norway maple
Extent: 1 negative
South Farm buildings behind parking lot full of cars (3.38473)
Date: 1950sType: Photographic image
Description:South Farm buildings behind parking lot full of cars
Extent: 1 filmstrip
1954/09/22: C. E. Godshalk to Sterling Morton (3.84477)
Date: September 22 1954Creator: Godshalk, Clarence E.
Type: Document
Description:Letter from C. E. Godshalk to Sterling Morton stating he recalls that Morton preferred the house project plan where it ultimately ended up at South Farm. He will send Morton a copy of the plan. He prepared a map of the proposed changes for Ed (Baker) and his committee to present to the rest of the trustees. Proposals include:
Selling two parcels of land to Mr. Scott to straighten out the north boundary of the Arboretum.
Henry White will lease the rest of the available farm land for $12 per acre. He will remain a full-time Arboretum employee, and his son-in-law, who is a farmer, will work on the land with him.
Godshalk ordered a new Ford tractor with a back hoe on the back. It cost $5460. He details how they will use the new piece of equipment.
He will send Morton a map showing the following:
New staff houses
Four labor houses and who will live in them. The South Farm house should be torn down and two more labor houses will be needed.
If four more labor houses are built in 1956, they can clean up four old houses.
They will tear down the farm buildings and the big old South Farm house, and he propose building a new shop.
The Herboths at one time said they would deed their land to the Arboretum at their deaths. Herboth bought the Yackley land. Ed Baker proposes that the trustees buy both pieces of property now, giving the Herboth’s a life lease. Herboth and his wife seem agreeable to that proposal but want some time to think it over. Godshalk would like them to sell the Arboretum the Yackley property outright and keep the life lease on their current property. They are still working on purchasing the Jones and McMahon properties.
Godshalk would like to use the Lisle Farms operation bank balance for the improvements at South Farm.
Extent: 4 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
1955/10/19: C. E. Godshalk to Sterling Morton (3.84496)
Date: October 19 1955Creator: Godshalk, Clarence E.
Type: Document
Description:Letter from C. E. Godshalk to Sterling Morton complimenting him on the success of his Garden Club Meeting talk. He's glad Morton is impressed with the Johnson land. Godshalk plans to assist nature on that land keeping it a beautiful place to walk on created paths, giving visitors the effect of a natural undisturbed woodland. Areas will be marked off for Mrs. Watts to study. The plan for Morton's place seems to fit the site perfectly. Godshalk would like to see it someday. The foundations are being poured for the greenhouse and the South Farm buildings. The flame photometer arrived. He is beginning to get things ready for the upcoming trustees meeting.
Extent: 2 sheets