The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-05-04
FOR the Mddlcbury Register.
"reminiscences of Week in Boston and
its Environs.-No. 8.

Woodvalc, whose located-the house as you
approach it - the gateway-lodge-out
buildings-thc interior ofthe mans ion-its
size-the hall-library- and
dining rooms-size of the farm-barns
and yards-what stock is kept-profts of
cows-number of men employed-rules
and regulations for the men-farm manage
ment in general.
"Woodvale" is situated in Lincoln, IL
miles from Boston, township remark
able for its picturesque and romantic
scenery, and containing some of the fin
est farms in the state. A ride of ten
minutes from the depot, on the Fitch
burg Railroad, or fifteen minutes from
the depot at Lexington, will bring you
to this place, which is located midway
between the two Railroads, nd in some
respects surpasses all others | have seen,
in the neighborhood of Boston The To-
cation is truly magnificent The house
stands on an elevated plateau, backed by
wooded hills on the north and cast, and
commands an extensive prospect of the
surrounding country. Spread out i'm
mediately around and in front of it,
there is fine natural park and lawn of
IS acres, with an undulating surface,
pleasantly varied by hill and dale.
There is an abundance of trees and
shrubbery scattered here and there in
groups and singly, over it, consisting of
almost every variety of forest trees, from
the small round.headed pine, to the
stately oak and elm. A well gravellcd
approach road winds through the lawn
to the house, and at the point where it
DIVORCES from the highway there is
handsome granite gateway, and a pretty
lodge, in the English cottage tyle,which
is the residence of the gardener,or super
intendent. The house is in the Italian
villa style, broad verandas, bold bracket
ted roofs, ornamented chimney tops, and
a tower overlapping and bringing the
whole pile into harmony, and imparting
peculiar dignity to the building The
effect, as you approach it from the en-
trance lodge, is exceedingly striking
and beautiful All the buildings
are in good keeping. The carriage
house struck me as a triumph CT archi-
tectural design: This and all the other
buildings are strongly expressive of pur-
pose, and they all group beautifully,
showing that all we're executed with
reference to well digestcd general
plan.
The interior of this elegant mansion
does much credit to the proprietor
good taste and judgment Nothing
seems to be done for effect, and yet ev.
crything is so arranged as to produce
the best possible effect. Comfort and
convenience appear to be the only object
sought in the interior plan and arrange
ments, and yet everything is rich, beau
tiful and effective The rooms are large
and we'll ventilated. The chambers have
bathing and dressing rooms attached
with copious supply of hot and cold
water, by means of lead pipes. All the
wash-stands are permanent fixtures Of ma
tive black walnut, with Vermont mar,
BILE tops So is the side.board in the
, dining room, and much of the other
furniture. The cntrance-h hall and Ii
bFary deserve particular notice-the for
mer being spacious and well lighted
: with rich stairway in the old Englsl
style, and the latter most home-lik'
and commodious room. All the book
cases are built into the walls. Every
thing in the room is oak, and it has
5 separate porch or entrance. The parlo
q and dining room are large, beautiful a
partments, look as if they were intend
ed to live in. They both front on tn
!, terrace, which oyerlooks the fower-gar
' den. The body of the house is so fee
by 40, two stories, with an l. running
back into the orchard, (some of tn
trees of which have borne fruit for owe
100 years,) making the library-front II
n feet. The establishment has an air o
n cultivated taste, and generous, liberia
hospitality, such as would be expected
from the we'll known character and am
c pie means of the accomplished proprie
tor. This gentlemen. has marked gu