July 8th, 2015 8:09 PM by Teresa Molina
A small shrub took root and flowered into an 8,000-square-foot mansion sporting 12 classic Greek columns in the town of Essex, CT.
Well, not exactly. But a plant—witch hazel—is what led to the expansion of this grand $3.25 million house now known as the Dickinson Mansion.
The Dickinson family made its fortune in selling E.E. Dickinson Witch Hazel, an astringent made from the witch hazel bush. E.E. Dickinson bought this home in 1888 and greatly expanded it over the years, including the addition of distinctive columns in 1921, designed to mimic the famous Flagler Mansion in Palm Beach, FL.
http://www.realtor.com/news/unique-homes/dickinson-mansion-in-connecticut/