Kingwood

After our tour at Malabar Farms, we headed over to the Kingwood estate in Mansfield itself.  The house was free to walk around.  Unlike Malabar however, the residence has been changed quite a bit since it was a home.  For example, several rooms have been turned into offices or libraries.  Also, since there wasn't a tour, we didn't learn much about the house or the family (might explain why I can't remember their history at the moment...)

The gardens were much more satisfying even if the peacocks were off somewhere (the attendant in the house said they even go off property at times!).  I always like finding water lilies.  Moving water (aka fountains) is also a favorite diversion.

from a nearby hill lookout

In the 1920's and 30's, Louis Bromfield was one of the top authors in the world, possibly even more famous than his contemporary Hemingway.  He was a Pulitzer Prize winner in 1927 for his novel Early Autumn.  He was Hollywood's go-to guy for screenplays.  He had married a New York socialite and even lived in France for a time until the outbreak of WWII.   Therefore, his decision to buy farmland in the heart of Ohio and settle down there with Mary, his three daughters, and quite a few boxer dogs may have seemed like a bit of a surprise for those who didn't know his interest in productive farming techniques.  Until his death in 1956, Bromfield would balance between writing for money and interest and spending time between Hollywood and Malabar Farm.