Willowdale Estate

The Willow Dale property expanded throughout Bradley Palmer's lifetime. At the peak of its operation, more than thirty buildings, primarily relating to agriculture or husbandry, but also a garage, a pump house, reservoir, and homes for staff. Records kept by the Topsfield Historical Society state that the addition of these buildings took place intermittently between 1902 and 1915.[7] By 1915, Palmer had come to view his "modest summer home" as a bit too modest. His rapid financial success, shown by tax records stating the amount he paid increased from $15,645 in 1908 to $128,574 in 1923, meant a need for a home that could entertain guests beyond just a few intimate friends. For the job, Palmer again hired Cummings, who added a significant addition to the house's southern wing. The entrance changed from the north wing, directly under Palmer's bedroom, to the western face of the house where it still is today. In the south wing, the stable became a formal dining room, while the coach house became a ballroom, complete with an orchestra balcony, though the exterior of both remained the same. The dining room became an eclectic mix of classical, medieval, and even Central American artwork, while the ballroom resembles a medieval great hall. The interior of the mansion became more elegant with the addition of a number of stained glass windows and the replacement of small, tile fireplaces with ornate, Italian marble ones. Italian artisans were hired to do the design work on the fireplaces as well as the woodwork in the ballroom and new entrance.

Ballroom added in 1915 Renovation

1902

2017

Eastern White Pine in front of Willowdale Estate, 1902 and 2017

Palmer meticulously oversaw the landscaping of his new summer home. He imported plants to the estate from across the America, but especially his native Pennsylvania and New Hampshire.He consulted widely with botanists and gardeners in the Boston area, who recommended nurseries both domestic and foreign. One of his most remarkable influences was Scotland, where he not only got plants for his garden, but also his gardener. A series of letters held by the Topsfield Historical Society from the first two decade of the Twentieth Century document his extensive communication with Ben Reid & Company, Ltd. of Aberdeen, Scotland, now known as Ben Reid Nursery & Garden Centre. Palmer believed that, owing to the shared harsh climate of Scotland and New England, Scottish plants were well suited for his idyllic retreat. When Palmer visited the Ben Reid nurseries, the company arranged a meeting between the local Aberdeen gardener William Keith and Palmer. The story goes that Palmer was impressed by Keith, but, despite being a bachelor himself, Palmer had a policy that his employees be married. Palmer suggested that if Keith found a wife in the three days before Palmer sailed, he was welcome to take the job in Massachusetts. Keith apparently took this to heart, and three days later he and his new wife embarked with Palmer back to Topsfield. After twenty years of happy marriage, Mrs. Keith passed away at Willow Dale. Soon after, Bill Keith, evidently worried that this violated the terms of his employment, quickly wrote his wife's sister back in Scotland, asking for her hand in marriage. She accepted, moved to Willow Dale, and the two remained married the remainder of Keith's life.[8] The Scottish connection carries throughout Palmer's home, not just in the landscaping. The prominent Cross of St. Andrew on the library mantelpiece demonstrates this, as well as the numerous Jacobean elements of the mansion.

After Bradley Palmer's death in 1946, the land around Willow Dale became what is now Bradley Palmer State Park, while the State of Massachusetts began using the mansion as a civil defense training academy in 1949. The formal dining room became a recreation room with a ping-pong table, while the once grand ballroom was used for drills and the occasional conference. Due to lack of funds, the building fell into disrepair over the next fifty years, eventually being deemed unfit for use for anything besides storage. The mansion was added to the Department of Conservation and Recreation's list of threatened historic properties.

In 1994, the DCR began its Historic Curatorship Program designed to restore properties threatened by neglect and vandalism. In the program, a curator leases a property rent free from the DCR for a duration of twenty or more years, agreeing to front the money for the restoration and open the property to the public on at least a biannual basis. In doing so the "DCR secures the long-term preservation of threatened historic sites and Curators exchange their hard work and unique skills for the opportunity to live or work in a one-of-a-kind location."[11]

Pergola Before Forsythe-Fandetti Restoration

Pergola After Forsythe-Fandetti Restoration

In 1999, the Forsythe-Fandetti family signed a fifty-year lease with the DCR with the intent of turning the property into an events venue. The Forsythe-Fandettis had already restored multiple historic properties in Cambridge, Massachusetts and gave management of the company to their daughter Briar Rose Forsythe. In 1999 they began restoring the property, a process that would last nearly a decade. Besides of having to get the building up to code as an events venue, including installing modern plumbing, electricity, and heating, the building was in terrible disarray. The roof was in danger of collapse, thus a new red slate roof had to be installed.

Finally, in 2007, Briar Forsythe opened her own events, catering and planning company calling the property "Willowdale Estate". Willowdale Estate hosted its first event, a wedding, on 7-7-2007. Today, the estate offers full service events planning for both corporate and private events. A full-time catering staff is present along with events coordinators. Willowdale Estate has been awarded numerous awards including the 2016 A-list "Best Wedding Venue" award for the greater Boston area.