Manning, Robert

• Known for his gardens off Dearborn Street in North Salem, Robert Manning (Sr.)(1784-1842) was an enterprising and successful fruit grower, or pomologist. In 1822, he bought three acres of land and laid out his garden, which he called "The Pomological Garden." He built a house at #33 Dearborn in 1824 for his bride.

• He obtained trees and scions through European growers, to test for their adaptability to this country. He grew pears, apples, plums, peaches and cherries. He wrote several books on fruits with John M. Ives.

• Following Manning's death in 1842, his son, Robert Jr. continued his work, winning medals for his pear and apple varieties. He became librarian and secretary of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society and wrote many books on horticulture. After the death of Robert Jr., who remained unmarried, their sister Rebecca (youngest of the four children) continued to care for the garden. She was the last Manning to occupy the Dearborn Street home.

• Robert Manning's sister was Elizabeth Clarke Manning, who married Capt. Nathaniel Hawthorne. Their son was the author Nathaniel Hawthorne.

• The Manning Cottage at 26 Dearborn, built for Nathaniel Hawthorne's mother Elizabeth, sits across from the family home, having been moved across the street in 1852. Nathaniel and his mother lived there just after he graduated from Bowdoin College, from 1828-1832.

• The ancient beech tree next to the Manning house (corner of Dearborn and Orchard) was taken down on Dec. 10th, 2018, due to disease. The owners believe it was planted in 1825.

See Also

• New England Book of Fruit by R. Manning, 1847

• "City's oldest neighborhood featured Naumkeag settlement in 1629" Salem Evening News, Dec. 8, 1999, p. A3

• Old Salem Gardens Salem Garden Club, p. 18-19

• Architecture in Salem Bryant F. Tolles, p. 265

• Vertical File in Salem Collection - Manning, Robert and Rebecca

• "Historic tree to see new life at Artists row" Salem News, Dec. 11, 2018, p. 1