Felsengarten facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Felsengarten
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | SE of Bethlehem on Lewis Hill Rd., Bethlehem, New Hampshire |
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| Area | 14.8 acres (6.0 ha) |
| Built | 1896 |
| NRHP reference No. | 73002296 |
| Added to NRHP | June 18, 1973 |
Felsengarten is a special old house in Bethlehem, New Hampshire. Its name means "stone garden" in German. This two-story house was built between 1896 and 1900. It was the summer home for a famous German-American music conductor named Theodore Thomas and his wife, Rose Fay.
Theodore Thomas was very important in bringing classical orchestral music to people in the United States during the 1800s. The house and its beautiful garden were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. This means they are recognized as important historical places.
What is Felsengarten Like?
Felsengarten is located south of Bethlehem's main village. It sits on a large piece of land, about 15 acres, on a hillside that faces southeast. The house itself is built on a flat area that was made by carving into the hillside. There's a strong wall behind it to hold the earth back.
The house is made of wood and covered with wooden shingles. Its foundation is built from local stones. The outside of the house looks a bit like Dutch Colonial Revival architecture. This style often has special dormer windows with sloped roofs on each side of the main roof.
Inside the House
The inside of Felsengarten has not changed much over the years. Some small updates were made, like adding electricity and plumbing. Today, the house holds a huge collection of books and papers that belonged to Theodore Thomas. The gardens that he and his wife designed are still visible around the property.
The History of Felsengarten
Theodore and Rose Thomas built Felsengarten as their summer getaway. They worked on it between 1896 and 1900. Theodore Thomas was an immigrant from Germany. He started the famous Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He also helped introduce many different kinds of classical music to the American public.
His wife, Rose Fay, was well-known in Chicago society before they got married. She wrote two books about their time and experiences at Felsengarten. This house was a special place for them to relax and enjoy nature.
