Upon its completion in 1868, Orchard Lawn began as an impressive eleven acre working estate situated on a hill overlooking the industrious city of Mineral Point, founded 40 years before. Built by Cornish immigrants Joseph and Sarah Gundry, it boasted gardens, an orchard, tennis lawn, outbuildings (including a barn, carriage house, woodshed/icehouse and a hothouse used to nurture seedlings and tender plants) and a fine Italianate mansion made of locally quarried sandstone. Three generations of this merchant family lived, worked and played at Orchard Lawn in grand style.