Sean's Cultural Tour of Ohio - Day 5

I felt very bad about getting Sean up so early on her last day, but we were expected at Stan Hywet at 7:30 am.

Stan Hywet is an enormous Tudor Revival estate that was built by the Seiberling's, the founders of Goodyear Tire and Rubber (Akron was the rubber manufacturing capitol of the world, and it is still the location of the hangar for the Spirit of Goodyear Blimp). Sean and I were going on an early morning walk of the grounds, a private event they host occasionally, before the estate is open to the public for tours at 9 am. It was a rather chilly, overcast, gray day, and it looked like the sky was thinking over whether or not it should rain on us now or later.

But, the house and the grounds are lovely. I especially like the secluded English garden with its reflecting pool, and the vista from the lookout of the back patio. Sean thought the view must be amazing in the fall and winter, because the amazing amount of deciduous trees that the house looked out over. I promised to come back and take a photo for her. One of my other favorite areas was the birch allee, a long "hall" lined on either side with birch trees. This allee culminates at two tea houses, which overlook a man-made lagoon.

We were also allowed to go down into the Japanese garden, which is not part of the regular walk, but time has not been kind to this Japanese garden. The plants have gone wild, and are out of size, and to compensate they had introduced (temporarily, thank goodness) an odd assortment of tropical foliage, that is certainly not Japanese. I am hopeful that this garden too, will be restored, as funds permit.

After the walk, we went back to the carriage house where we were served coffee and bagels. And, joy of joys, there was a penny squishing machine in the gift shop! Sean found a little stuffed William Shakespeare Christmas ornament that she thought I should have, and I agreed. I pointed out to her how clever I had been to start her visit with Shakespeare and to end it in a Tudor mansion. Nothing like closure.