Much of the estate was swamp and marsh when Mr. Butler made his purchase, but nearly all has been reclaimed and the whole estate laid out and beautified with great taste. There are large lawns surrounded with many stately trees and for nearly a mile along the bank of the river Bronx stretch many acres of woodland, through which run several small tributary streams*, and a beautiful drive is thus afforded entirely within the limits of the estate. The " Fox Meadow Garden " ocejipies the low land facing the post road and is very picturesque, with its many long graperies and flower-beds and well-kept lawns and shrubberies. It is an interesting coincidence that the "Fox Meadows" should now be occupied by a brother of the late Hon.
Benjamin F. Butler, Attorney-General of the United States under Presidents Jackson and Van Buren, who was one of Vice-President Tompkins' most intimate and valued friends. Just previous to the purchase of the estate, in 18.53, the mansion of Caleb Tompkins was occupied by his son, Jonathan G. Tompkins, grandson of the former J. G. Tompkins, who, like his grandfather, was prominent in the town, occupying the office of supervisor during the years 1847 and 1848. Adjoining the "Fox Meadows " on the south is the "Locusts," for almost a century the residence of the late William Sherbrooke Popham and his youngest son, Lewis C. Popham, who now occupies the homestead. The mansion was built in 1784 by William Popham, Sr., who made it his home, with the exception of a few years sjjent in the city of New York, until 1835, since which date his son and grandson have resided here.
The mansion stands a few rods west of the post road, in a small valley surrounded by a grove of locusts, being a few hundred feet south of the Varian tavern.