These images of the estate of Isabel Weld Perkins Anderson and her husband, Larz, known as "Weld" come primarily from our glass-slide collection and slides donated by the Anderson/Riley family. Augustus (Gus) Anderson (no relation) was Isabel's private secretary for over forty years, working both at the estate and at the downtown office at 19 Congress St. He was born on the estate and continued to live there. His daughter, Betty Riley, also grew up there and has given the Society these images of the estate before it was given to the town in 1948. When Betty was ten they moved to the bottom of the hill at 71 Avon St. After the death of Isabel in 1948 they lived at 29 Avon St., a stucco house on the estate which still stands.

After the death of the Andersons and the gift of the property to the town of Brookline a number of items were distributed to the people who had worked there. Gus received the bronze eagle from the Japanese garden and, in 1954, donated it to Boston College where it has remained the most visible representation of the school mascot.