The County of Passaic proposes a new project entitled Dey Mansion Garden Restoration Phase II at the Dey Mansion Washington’s Headquarters.
The County of Passaic owns and oversees several public open spaces within the Passaic County Park System, as well as several historic sites within their boundaries. This service area includes Lambert Castle (historically known as “Belle Vista”)—located in Garret Mountain Reservation in the City of Paterson. Lambert Castle was constructed in 1892 and was once the home and showplace of silk manufacturer Catholina Lambert. Four years later, Lambert added an art gallery and observation tower. The expansive home was designed so that Lambert could comfortably showcase his antique and art collections that he curated throughout his life. The 53-acre estate originally included the mansion, gatehouse, carriage-green house complex, and formal Italianate gardens. The estate is also one of several rare examples of the fully developed form of castellated residential architecture in America, designed and built to mimic the castles of Lambert’s birthplace in Great Britain.
The site of Lambert Castle cannot be interpreted without its landscape. Landscape design at the turn-of-the century complimented estates and were intended to serve as an escape from industrial and city life. This movement and ideology would later pave the way for the American Parks Movement. The County would later redesign the landscape in the 1930s with the help of the Olmsted Brothers firm, who were commissioned to design and build the Passaic County Park System. The County has embarked on a full restoration project of the Lambert Castle estate, including its carriage house complex which has not been opened to the public since the County took ownership in 1927, and its landscape. The County is seeking grant funding to assist in its preservation efforts by restoring the natural environment surrounding the estate.
This project will focus on the historic and cultural landscape surrounding Lambert Castle and will include an enhanced planting area to serve as a buffer between the historic property and parking area, a restored irrigated lawn, reconstruction of the trellis structure walkway, statuary exhibit space, and accessibility features to provide access to visitors of all abilities. The goal of landscape restoration and improvements is to ensure that this area becomes reflective of the historic landscape that would have existed around Lambert Castle as originally intended. Improvements to the area surrounding the Castle will also ensure that the estate adheres to the historical and environmental preservation measures as outlined by City of Paterson, Passaic County, and state guidelines.
A full concept plan showing the proposed changes and a preliminary cost estimate can be found at: www.passaiccountynj.org/dcha