The Fells
Encyclopedia
The Fells, in Newbury, New Hampshire
, was originally the summer home of John Milton Hay, a 19th-century American statesman.
in various capacities in a career that lasted over 40 years. He was Abraham Lincoln
's private secretary during the Civil War
and later a diplomat and a journalist. He became United States Secretary of State
in 1898, serving in that position until his death in 1905.
In the late 1880s New Hampshire
farms were becoming less profitable, due to more Western competition. As a result, the state of New Hampshire stepped in and encouraged America's wealthy elite to buy up the farms and keep them afloat. In 1888, Hay bought 1000 acres (404.7 ha) along the shore of Lake Sunapee
, with the hope of establishing a summer colony for his group of friends, known as the "Five of Hearts". After Henry Adams
' wife, Clover, committed suicide, Hay reconsidered those plans. Instead, he used the land as a retreat to put distance between him and the stresses of Washington
. Hay named his property "The Fells", a British term for a rocky upland pasture, due to his Scottish ancestry.
The first cottage on the property was constructed in 1891 under the direction of architect George Hammond. In 1897, a second guest cottage was added beside the original. The main entrance of the primary cottage faced the lake, as the Hay family arrived by boat. After Hay's death in 1905, the property was handed down to his son, Clarence Hay. Clarence and his wife Alice (née: Appleton
) began to transform the rustic summer cottages into more of a lakeside mansion. Starting in 1915, under the supervision of local architect Prentice Sanger, Clarence and Alice had the house renovated into the Colonial Revival style. The breezeway connecting the two cottages was transformed into a formal hallway, so that the two cottages became part of one house. A garage was later added to accommodate the growing use of automobiles. Clarence died in 1969, but Alice continued returning each summer until her death in 1987. After Alice's death, the remaining land became the John Hay National Wildlife Refuge. Renovation of the house and land began in the 1990s. In 1996, "The Fells," a not-for-profit organization, was created to manage the house and surrounding lands. In 2008, The Fells bought the lands surrounding the main house from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, through a land swap at Lake Umbagog
in Coös County, New Hampshire
.
, which rejected colonizing China. Teddy Roosevelt visited The Fells in the summer of 1902, during a campaign trip. A maple tree was planted in what is now the veranda, during his visit. The tree is now referred to as the Roosevelt Tree.
The remaining one-third of the property continues as the John Hay National Wildlife Refuge, comprising 80 acres (32.4 ha) of hardwoods and softwoods, a small meadow, Beech Brook, fens, and vernal pools. Management is focused on resource conservation, primarily for migratory birds and native habitats. The refuge also protects approximately 3100 feet (944.9 m) of undeveloped shoreline along Lake Sunapee.
The refuge is open to the public year-round during daylight hours. Recommended activities include wildlife observation and photography, and environmental education and interpretation. The 0.9 miles (1.4 km) John Hay II Forest Ecology Trail offers a self-guided hike through the forest and along the shore of Lake Sunapee.
Newbury, New Hampshire
Newbury is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,072 at the 2010 census. Newbury is home to part of Lake Sunapee, including Mount Sunapee State Park Beach. Mount Sunapee Resort, a ski area in Mount Sunapee State Park, is in the west...
, was originally the summer home of John Milton Hay, a 19th-century American statesman.
History
John Hay served the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in various capacities in a career that lasted over 40 years. He was Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
's private secretary during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
and later a diplomat and a journalist. He became United States Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
in 1898, serving in that position until his death in 1905.
In the late 1880s New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
farms were becoming less profitable, due to more Western competition. As a result, the state of New Hampshire stepped in and encouraged America's wealthy elite to buy up the farms and keep them afloat. In 1888, Hay bought 1000 acres (404.7 ha) along the shore of Lake Sunapee
Lake Sunapee
Lake Sunapee is located within Sullivan County and Merrimack County in western New Hampshire, the United States. It is the fifth-largest lake located entirely in New Hampshire....
, with the hope of establishing a summer colony for his group of friends, known as the "Five of Hearts". After Henry Adams
Henry Adams
Henry Brooks Adams was an American journalist, historian, academic and novelist. He is best known for his autobiographical book, The Education of Henry Adams. He was a member of the Adams political family.- Early life :He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of Charles Francis Adams Sr...
' wife, Clover, committed suicide, Hay reconsidered those plans. Instead, he used the land as a retreat to put distance between him and the stresses of Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. Hay named his property "The Fells", a British term for a rocky upland pasture, due to his Scottish ancestry.
House
Appleton Farms
Appleton Farms is a park in Ipswich, Massachusetts, that is owned and maintained by The Trustees of Reservations.-References:*...
) began to transform the rustic summer cottages into more of a lakeside mansion. Starting in 1915, under the supervision of local architect Prentice Sanger, Clarence and Alice had the house renovated into the Colonial Revival style. The breezeway connecting the two cottages was transformed into a formal hallway, so that the two cottages became part of one house. A garage was later added to accommodate the growing use of automobiles. Clarence died in 1969, but Alice continued returning each summer until her death in 1987. After Alice's death, the remaining land became the John Hay National Wildlife Refuge. Renovation of the house and land began in the 1990s. In 1996, "The Fells," a not-for-profit organization, was created to manage the house and surrounding lands. In 2008, The Fells bought the lands surrounding the main house from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, through a land swap at Lake Umbagog
Lake Umbagog
Umbagog Lake is a wilderness lake located in Coös County, New Hampshire and Oxford County, Maine. It is one of the most pristine lakes in the state of New Hampshire. It lies in the towns of Errol, New Hampshire, and Upton, Maine, as well as the townships of Cambridge, New Hampshire and Magalloway...
in Coös County, New Hampshire
Coos County, New Hampshire
-National protected areas:*Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge *Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge *White Mountain National Forest -Demographics:...
.
Historical Connections
The Fells is where John Hay wrote the Open Door PolicyOpen Door Policy
The Open Door Policy is a concept in foreign affairs, which usually refers to the policy in 1899 allowing multiple Imperial powers access to China, with none of them in control of that country. As a theory, the Open Door Policy originates with British commercial practice, as was reflected in...
, which rejected colonizing China. Teddy Roosevelt visited The Fells in the summer of 1902, during a campaign trip. A maple tree was planted in what is now the veranda, during his visit. The tree is now referred to as the Roosevelt Tree.
Today
Today, The Fells is maintained by a large group of volunteers, as well as a garden staff and administrators. The house and surrounding lands are still open to the public. The Fells hosts many cultural and educational events.John Hay National Wildlife Refuge
Established in 1987 for migratory bird conservation, the John Hay National Wildlife Refuge was split in 2008. The northern two-thirds of the property (containing the buildings and surrounding grounds) was transferred to The Fells in that year in exchange for lands in northern New Hampshire which were added to the Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge.The remaining one-third of the property continues as the John Hay National Wildlife Refuge, comprising 80 acres (32.4 ha) of hardwoods and softwoods, a small meadow, Beech Brook, fens, and vernal pools. Management is focused on resource conservation, primarily for migratory birds and native habitats. The refuge also protects approximately 3100 feet (944.9 m) of undeveloped shoreline along Lake Sunapee.
The refuge is open to the public year-round during daylight hours. Recommended activities include wildlife observation and photography, and environmental education and interpretation. The 0.9 miles (1.4 km) John Hay II Forest Ecology Trail offers a self-guided hike through the forest and along the shore of Lake Sunapee.