The Stevens-Coolidge Place

Lovely park to take a picnic and relax for a while. We had the place to ourselves on a recent Sunday morning, and while the gardens were past their prime by mid-​October, they were still beautiful. I can only imagine how colorful it must be come springtime. If you’re looking for walking trails, you’re better off going up the road a couple miles to the Ward Reservation. The grounds here are much smaller and the focus is on the gardens, but if you are looking for a peaceful spot to sit awhile or entertaining an avid gardener then this place is not to be missed.

Photographer Alert!
I was in complete awe of this place, with its well-​manicured grounds, bountiful gardens, interesting architecture and immense/​old trees (with low-​lying branches). The Senior Photo session I photographed there came out amazing and the client really loves the photos!
Everything is great, right?! Well not quite. I have given this location 3 stars because of 1 simple issue. Since the property is owned and directed by a Board of Trustees, it is not considered North Andover public property. Instead, it is private and as such has created a property use agreement specifically for photography.
The photography/​use agreement asks for:
Weekends — $ 100 for the first hour and $ 50 for each additional
Weekdays — $ 50 for the first hour and $ 25 for each additional
This applies to all commission photography work, ranging from a single individual (Senior Portraits) and up to 20 people + photographer for micro-​wedding use. If you are interested in taking hobby-​related photos of the place, feel free so long as you don’t plan on selling them.
I’m not against the SCP making money to maintain the grounds, but I feel that the fee is unreasonable when applied to a single individual portrait session. I feel there should be a tiered system for: 1 – 5 people and 6 – 20 people so photographers can be encouraged to use the premises for small family photo sessions and/​or senior portraits.

Steven Coolidge has been a favorite of mine since I discovered it almost 15 years ago. The grounds are beautifully manicured and I find myself stopping by here every June to see the rose garden. There is a nice open grassy area perfect for picnicking with your kids, and a small wishing well on the backside. Don’t forget to peek into the green house which is always full of exotic and beautiful flowers and plants.
If your looking for a peaceful place to walk around, this is the place you want to visit. Keep an eye out (or ask one of the extremely friendly maintenance people) for the plant and flower seedlings that they sometimes have available to purchase.

Absolutely gorgeous!
This little place in my hometown is a must-​see when in the area. It was built by relatives of Thomas Jefferson and Isabella Stewart Gardner.
The grounds are perfect for casual walks, summer naps, or cute picnics. Some of the highlights of the gardens include the frog pond, rose garden, fountains, and the bird watching. You can also take a tour of the mansion (which I’ve never done) during the summer.
There is convenient free parking located across the street and the hours are from sun up til sundown. The Common and Old Center are a little bit down the road if you’d like to continue your lazy day with a casual stroll through history.

Beautiful little known area in North Andover, this place is wonderful. We took family photos here one day and the setting was great.
They offer house tours and garden tours and the grounds are open daily. You can find parking across the street. I assume that there are probably some interesting birds and plants in the grounds also, but haven’t been there long enough to investigate.
Oh, and PS, Mr. Coolidge was nephew to Isabella

I love the well-​kept secrets (they make me feel all special) and this place probably qualifies. I grew up 3 miles from here and didn’t even know about this place till last summer, probably the best result of my quarter-​life «rediscover your home» crisis (which probably isn’t over yet). As soon as I did, I started gushing to everyone I knew about it, and hello, I was far from being the only one who’d never heard of it.
Stevens-​Coolidge Place is a charming little farm estate in North Andover (I think once owned by a relative of Isabella Stewart Gardner), well-​maintained with beautifully manicured lawns and some beautiful small gardens. The house I haven’t toured — it’s only open 1 or 2 days a week I think, but admission to the grounds is free, open sun up to sun down. You just walk in and out as you please… it’s like the place is yours. Bring a picnic or a nice fat book. The place just cries out lazy summer afternoon. Sit. Relax. Things we all could probably do more of!