Boston Herald American Magazine cover featuring Comley's rhododendrons on the grounds of the Francis B. Hayes estate also known as Oakmount Castle. The article is a feature on the 100 year history of the rhododendrons and the ongoing battle for conservation of the landscaping of the grounds after the castle was torn down in 1941.
Gallery of James Comley
1885
Merriam Hill, Lexington, Massachusetts
James Henry Comley poses with a group on The Francis B. Hayes Estate also known as Oakmount Castle in the Merriam Hill section of Lexington, Massachusetts. Comley was the Grounds Superintendent and responsible for the landscape design and the famous, award winning rhododendrons on the property.
Gallery of James Comley
1886
Merriam Hill, Lexington, Massachusetts
The Rhododendron Show under a tent at The Francis B. Hayes Estate also known as Oakmount Castle in the Merriam Hill section of Lexington, Massachusetts. James H. Comley was the Grounds Superintendent and responsible for the landscape design and the famous, award winning rhododendrons on the property.
Gallery of James Comley
Wiltshire, England
Map for the Bowood House and Gardens in Wiltshire, England. James H. Comley was an apprentice from 1850 to 1854 (age 15 to 19) at Bowood House in Derry Hill, Calne to the Horticulturist for Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, the 4th Marquess of Lansdowne.
Bowood has been the Lansdowne family home since 1754.
James Henry Comley & family - back row: Joseph John Comley (aka J.J. Comley), James Henry Ridgway Comley (aka Henry R. Comley), Norris Fines Comley
front row: Eliza Comley, Harriet Ridgway Comley (wife of James H. Comley), Harriet Elizabeth Comley, James Henry Comley, John Ridgway Comley
James Henry Comley poses with a group on The Francis B. Hayes Estate also known as Oakmount Castle in the Merriam Hill section of Lexington, Massachusetts. Comley was the Grounds Superintendent and responsible for the landscape design and the famous, award winning rhododendrons on the property.
Among Lexington's most prosperous late 19th century residents was Francis Brown Hayes, railroad official, lawyer, state senator and U.S. Congressman, who purchased a home at 45 Hancock Street (no longer extant) in November 1861 and used it as a summer home. Over time he acquired additional small farms extending over Granny Hill to beyond Grant Street, encompassing nearly 400 acres. In 1870 Hayes hired prominent floriculturist, James Henry Comley, to design the landscape and become the Grounds Superintendent. Comley cultivated the famous rhododendrons that still remain in clusters in Merriam Hill.
In 1883-4 Hayes built a 32-room fieldstone mansion "The Oakmount Castle" on what is now Castle Road (it was torn down in 1941). By 1900 only 6 of the 400 acres remained, the rest was sold as houselots.
The Rhododendron Show under a tent at The Francis B. Hayes Estate also known as Oakmount Castle in the Merriam Hill section of Lexington, Massachusetts. James H. Comley was the Grounds Superintendent and responsible for the landscape design and the famous, award winning rhododendrons on the property.
Boston Herald American Magazine cover featuring Comley's rhododendrons on the grounds of the Francis B. Hayes estate also known as Oakmount Castle. The article is a feature on the 100 year history of the rhododendrons and the ongoing battle for conservation of the landscaping of the grounds after the castle was torn down in 1941.
Map for the Bowood House and Gardens in Wiltshire, England. James H. Comley was an apprentice from 1850 to 1854 (age 15 to 19) at Bowood House in Derry Hill, Calne to the Horticulturist for Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, the 4th Marquess of Lansdowne.
Bowood has been the Lansdowne family home since 1754.
Connections
Son: John Comley
1930
Bedford, Massachusetts
John Ridgway Comley - Founder of the Bedford Grange #283 of the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry. The grange is an organization in the United States that encourages families to band together to promote the economic and political well-being of the community and agriculture.
My Visit to Japan; Its Chrysanthemums and other Flowers
(Transactions of the Worcester County Horticultural Societ...)
Transactions of the Worcester County Horticultural Society
By Worcester County Horticultural Society, Worcester, Mass
22d February, A. D. 1894.
ESSAY by JAMES H. COMLEY, LEXINGTON, Mass.
Theme :My Visit to Japan; Its Chrysanthemums and other Flowers.
James Henry Comley (1835-1902) was a pioneer in horticultural science. Comley's studies of agricultural, horticultural and floricultural methods of potting, irrigation techniques and soil research in cultivating plants year-round in hothouses and greenhouses are documented in over 200 journals for the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. Born in England, Comley apprenticed at Bowood House in Derry Hill, England before moving to Boston,MA in 1854.
Background
James Henry Comley married Harriet Elizabeth Ridgway and they had seven children. His four sons all trained and became successful in floricultural professions in New England opening their own florist, landscaping, plant nursery, and/or gardening businesses.
children:
James Henry Ridgway Comley aka Henry R. Comley
Antoinette Jane Comley
Joseph John Comley - aka J.J. Comley
Harriet Elizabeth Comley
Eliza Grenville Comley
John Ridgway Comley
Norris Fines Comley
George Arthur Comley was still born.
Education
1849 to 1854 (age 14 to 19) Apprentice to the Horticulturist, John Spencer, at Bowood House in Derry Hill, Wiltshire, England. Bowood House was the home for Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, the 4th Marquess of Lansdowne.
Bowood House sits within 100 acres of beautifully landscaped ‘Capability’ Brown Parkland and has been home to the Lansdowne family since 1754. Bowood is currently home of the 9th Marquess and Lady of Lansdowne.
https://www.bowood.org/bowood-house-gardens/
Career
In 1854 Comley immigrated to Boston, Massachusetts, United States and began working as a flower merchant. His knowledge of horticultural science and flower farming with his keen artistry of floral aesthetic attracted the attention of many hospitality establishments in Boston. He co-founded the florist company Evers & Comley with Gustav Evers in 1855. Evers & Comley was an award winning florist company and had the honor of decorating many hotels, estates, parades and special events including the floral designs for the Paul Revere House when Edward VII, Prince of Wales, visited Boston's North End in 1860 as part of his Royal Visit.
Comley's work in the year-round cultivation of plants and vegetation in hothouses and greenhouses and his soil study research, various methods for potting and irrigation combined with his success in producing distinguished seedling roses, rhododendrons, and other plants, added to his reputation as an ardent horticulturist scientist. Comley was a frequent exhibitor at the shows of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society and his exhibits of rare and curious flowers and plants won numerous awards.
In 1870 Comley was hired by Francis B. Hayes as the Grounds Superintendent for the Hayes Estate known as Oakmount Castle. The rhododendrons Comley planted for Hayes in 1878 were imported from Asia. The particular imported strains were called R. Fortunei and R. Catawbiense. What remains of the original garden is a 40-foot swath of purples, whites and pinks which rises more than 20 feet in the air for nearly 200 feet up a hillside. Their endurance over 120 years is, in part, attributable to Comley's early care. Within a year, the plants had taken hold and they thrived almost immediately. In 1879, one horticulturist called the collection "probably the best in the country." In 1884, Comley’s work was recognized with several citations and 41 prizes from the Massachusetts Horticultural Society Rhododendron Show.
In 1892 Comley took a trip to Japan and on his return brought back with him many rare plants and seeds. His essay on his trip to Japan and his entry to the Tokyo Imperial Palace Garden was featured in The Transactions of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. His admittance to the private palace grounds is the earliest known mention of a Westerner's visit to the Imperial Gardens.
Comley’s other writings of his work in the study of horticulture and floriculture appeared in journals, florist magazines and other news outlets. He was recognized by American Florist Magazine with the Pioneer Award in the fields of Horticultural Science and Floriculture. He was a noted expert in regard to cultivating flowering plants and shrubs in the cold weather climate of the Northeast. His last exhibition was at the Massachusetts Horticultural Chrysanthemum Show in the fall of 1901, when he was awarded a silver medal.
James Henry Comley died at work in one of his rhododendron greenhouses on February 1, 1902 in Lexington, Massachusetts. His career spanned five decades.
(Transactions of the Worcester County Horticultural Societ...)
1894
Membership
Comley was a longstanding member and served as committee, executive chair, and in other leadership roles in various horticultural societies and clubs from 1856 until his death in 1901.
Massachusetts Horticultural Society
,
United States
1856 - 1902
Society of American Florists
,
United States
1861 - 1902
Gardeners and Florists Club of Boston
,
United States
1855 - 1901
The National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry
,
United States
1862 - 1902
Lexington Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry
,
Lexington
1862 - 1902
Personality
James Henry Comley always dressed like a proper English gentleman. He always wore a flower in his lapel and was never seen without a tie or ascot, even when working on soil research in the greenhouses.
James Henry Comley (1835-1902) "was born at Derry Hill, England. From 1849 to 1854 (age 14 to 19) he apprenticed to the Horticulturist for Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, the 4th Marquess of Lansdowne at Bowood House in Derry Hill, Wiltshire, England. It was at Bowood that Comley was introduced to Joseph Priestly’s discovery of photosynthesis. Comley took Priestly's concept of plants and vegetation repairing the air as the basis for his horticultural science work and his pioneering use of hothouses and greenhouses in New England. He believed in the restorative properties of plants giving off oxygen.
Quotes from others about the person
James H. Comley's obituary states , "with the instinct of a true gardener, he loved a plant for itself rather than for its money value"
Connections
James Henry Comley (1835-1902) "was born at Derry Hill, England. From 1849 to 1854 (age 14 to 19) he apprenticed to the Horticulturist for Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, the 4th Marquess of Lansdowne at Bowood House in Derry Hill, Wiltshire, England.
Comley married Harriet Elizabeth Ridgway in 1861. The couple had seven children.
American Florist
American Florist, Volume 18 - article about the Historical Rhododendron Shows on the grounds of Oakmount Castle the estate of Francis B. Hayes that were designed and maintained by James Henry Comley
1902
American Florist
Obituary for Horticultural & Floricultural Pioneer, James Henry Comley
Burlington Retro
blog - “J.H. Comley was born in England and had the advantage of an apprenticeship under John Spencer on the estate of the Marquis of Lansdowne in England. He trained his son Norris who took over for him in 1892 when J.H. Comley accompanied F.B. Hayes to Japan where they imported much Japanese flora. They brought back the first Japanese cut-leaf red maple, iris, many varieties of chrysanthemums as well as many varieties of rhododendrons, etc.”
1980
Merriam Hill Modernist Property – ModernMass.com | The Janovitz + Tse Team | ModernMASS
Francis B. Hayes, a railroad official, lawyer, state senator, and U.S. congressman, was Lexington’s most prosperous resident in the late 19th century. Over time, he acquired additional property extending over Merriam Hill and to the east of Grant Street, encompassing nearly 400 acres and hired James H. Comley to do landscape design and work as Grounds Supervisor.
American Florist Pioneer in Floriculture 1895,
United States
American Florist Weekly magazine recognized James Henry Comley for his groundbreaking work in agricultural and horticultural methods for potting, soil research and irrigation techniques in year-round cultivation of rare plants in hot houses and greenhouses. He was awarded the American Florist Pioneer in Floriculture in 1895
American Florist Weekly magazine recognized James Henry Comley for his groundbreaking work in agricultural and horticultural methods for potting, soil research and irrigation techniques in year-round cultivation of rare plants in hot houses and greenhouses. He was awarded the American Florist Pioneer in Floriculture in 1895
Massachusetts Horticultural Society,
United States
Comley won numerous awards from the Massachusetts Horticultural Society over his five decades long career.
Comley won numerous awards from the Massachusetts Horticultural Society over his five decades long career.