THE HUME ESTATE

 The Hume estate occupied probably at least fifteen acres. It ran from Piedmont Grammar School almost to Brandon Street and three quarters of the way to Rose street.  All of the houses between the school and behind Brandon Street were once the Hume estate. The main entrance was on Brandon street and had a stone marker which is still there. The driveway led to a large three-story mansion well back from the street.  It then snaked past a 9-hole private golf course, over a creek, past a date tree orchard and on to the exit on Piedmont Avenue.

We rented a small house at the entrance of their estate on Brandon Street. I believe it had been their caretaker’s home before the depression.  1767 Brandon street is still there. As a consequence, the wonderful Hume family gave me the entire run of their estate.  It became my backyard. I played with their dog Sadie, retrieved golf balls for Bill Blanchfield (their golf pro) and spent hours playing in their creek.  I also used their property as a short cut to go to school.  

            After WW2 the Hume estate was developed into many homes accessed both from Piedmont Avenue and Brandon Street via Gleneden Street. All of the homes now between the school and the back side of Brandon street are on what was once the Hume Estate.