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Samuel Bowne Parsons (1819–1906) was an American horticulturist who established the Parsons Nursery in Flushing, in the New York City borough of Queens in 1839, located in present-day Kissena Park. He was also a participant in the Underground Railroad, and the father of architect Samuel Parsons. Parsons Boulevard in Queens was named in his honor.
Life edit
Parsons was born to Quaker abolitionists Samuel Parsons (1774–1841) and Mary Bowne Parsons (1784–1839) and had five siblings; James Bowne Parsons, Mary Bowne Parsons Jr., Robert Bowne Parsons, William Bowne Parsons, and Jane Parsons. Samuel Parsons was a minister who married into the Parsons family. The couple passed down their abolitionist beliefs to their children, inciting the involvement of their son, Samuel, and two of his siblings, in the Underground Railroad.[1]
Parsons Nursery of Flushing edit
Parsons founded the Parsons Nursery of Flushing in 1839 within Kissena Park.[2][3]
He traveled extensively to find rare, non-native plants to place there, such as Japanese maples (Acer palmatum), and the weeping beech (Fagus sylvatica). He also sent collectors to Asia and Europe. He enlisted the aid of Frederick Law Olmsted (1822–1903) and Calvert Vaux (1824–1895), who helped order many of these rare trees and plants for his parks.
As the city obtained more land over time, the boundaries of Kissena Park were reestablished in 1950.
After the Parsons Nursery was rediscovered in 1981 by Shelly Stiles, it was cleaned and preserved. Today, the nursery is known as the Historic Grove and contains many of the rare species it originally held in a 14-acre plot of land. It is now located at Rose Avenue and Parsons Boulevard.
Death edit
Parsons was survived by his son, Samuel Parsons Jr., who became a prominent landscape architect and founded the American Society of Landscape Architects.
Parson Boulevard, located in Queens, New York City, was named in his honor. It runs through Kissena Park.
References edit
- ^ "The Parsons". Bowne House. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
- ^ "Kissena Park". New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
- ^ "Kissena Corridor Park: Kissena Corridor East". New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Retrieved May 28, 2018.