From Reverend Richard Mather (1596-1669) to Stephen Mather, the “Mather” line spans nine generations. But that, quite literally, is only half the story. As each Mather male married, their wives grafted their own histories and genealogies into the steadily and sturdily expanding family tree. We devoted an earlier blog to Michael Floy, the great-grandfather of Jane Thacker Floy, Stephen’s wife. Michael was a renowned horticulturist whose nursery spanned several acres in uppe

A visit to the Homestead should include a walk or drive by The Mather Cemetery (private, not part of the Mather Homestead property),...

Nine months after Stephen T. Mather’s death, the National Life Conservation Society organized a Tree Planting at the Mather Homestead in...

On a bookshelf at the far end of the Keeping Room is a hardcover copy of Gift From The Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh, a Darien resident, and the wife of aviator Charles Lindbergh. Tucked in the pages of the book is a two-page handwritten note from Anne Lindbergh to Stephen Mather’s daughter, Bertha Mather McPherson. In its entirety it reads… January 19th 1958 Scotts Cove Dear Mrs. McPherson, I have meant

In the Mather attic is a scrapbook simply titled “175 Reunion Data.” Within the scrapbook, a wealth of materials offer us a glimpse at...

The bookshelf at the end of the Keeping Room holds a small hardbound book, “A Systematic View of Divinity; or The Ruin and Recovery of...

In past blogs we’ve looked at Stephen T. Mather’ wife’s family (Roots and Seeds). We looked at Joseph Wakeman Mather’s wife’s family...

John D. Rockefeller Jr. was a champion and great benefactor of the National Parks and was an advocate for parks in the Eastern United...

In April 1927, the First Pan Pacific Conference on Education, Rehabilitation, Reclamation, and Recreation was held in Honolulu, Hawaii. ...

Having found the materials relating to the 175th Anniversary in the Homestead attic, it seemed impossible to think that there was not a...

An earlier blog (The Tie That Binds) looked at the life of Edward Walker, Stephen Mather’s maternal grandfather. Edward Walker emigrated...

On the top shelf of a bookcase at the end of the Keeping Room is a small book with a label: “S.T.M. from S. Turner Sigma Chi Kamp July 4,...

In a cardboard box in the Homestead attic, there is an envelope upon which is simply written “Sutcliffe Letters.” Within are eight...

In a small metal box in an oriental chest in the Mather attic are eight handwritten pages setting forth an argument to be delivered at a...

By far, the most famous Bible at the Homestead is the 1793 Bible of Deacon Joseph Mather. But it is not the only Bible. In the attic...

On the second floor landing near the bedroom with the Delft tiles is a plain 6-shelf wooden bookcase. It holds approximately 120 books,...

As a matter of taste, perhaps the two Victorian Parlor Domes in the Homestead attic should stay in the attic. However, as curiosities and...

Deacon Joseph Mather, who built the Homestead in 1778, had, with his wife Sarah Scott, eleven children. One died in infancy, the other ten, 7 girls and 3 boys, lived to adulthood. Deacon Mather lived to age 86; Sarah Scott Mather to age 85. The seven daughters shared similar longevity, averaging a lifespan of 87 years, ranging from 77 to 97 years.

In 2017 The Huntington Library acquired a unique 10-volume edition of “The Life and Writings of John Muir” that incorporates 260 original...

Southeast of the Homestead, across Brookside Avenue, is the Mather Cemetery. Stephen Mather’s father, Joseph Wakeman Mather is buried...