Gropius House

Landscape Tour Stop 8

Map showing Eustis land taken for the creation of the Blue Hills Reservation, 1893. Courtesy of Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation Archives.

 

When the Eustis Estate was built in 1878 at the base of the Blue Hills, the hills were primarily private property, known locally for their natural beauty. When the Blue Hills Reservation was created in 1893, the Eustises lost approximately 118 acres of land through eminent domain. Another 812 acres were taken from the Hemenways and other neighbors. This map shows the land that was taken. Today the Blue Hills Reservation encompasses more than 7,000 acres.

The tradition of farming continues at the Eustis Estate. Historic New England leases five acres of farmland behind the house to a local farm that produces organic vegetables. Brookwood Community Farm is a both a working farm and an education center that promotes sustainable agriculture, fresh local food, and increasing access to healthy food.