Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-10-13
Improvements at The Residence
and Grounds of Gen. III. II.
Baxter

Improvements at the Residence
and Grounds of Gen. III. IL.
Baxter.
Our citizens generally, though cogni-
zant of the fact that extensive improve
ments are being made by Gen. II. Henry
Baxter, upon his residence and grounds
at the upper end Of Grove street, yet few
are aware of how extensive these i'm
proyements and alterations are, and for
the benefit Of the remainder We viii state
briefly as we can what we observed in re-
lstion to them in a recent tour Of the
premises.
To begin with, the former mansion has
been completely unroofed, and has been
OF is to be in great measure Quilted ofits
former partitions and internal arrange
ments, which are to give place TO more
commodious and convenient ones. To the
north end Of the building has been made
an addition of 5Gx27 feet, and the whole
is now surmounted by a handsome French
or Mansard roof of tin and slate, forming
third story in height, which story is
lighted by II rounded top double win
dows, so set in carved castings as TO be very
attractive. Then on the east side is sn
extension of some 7x12 feet and one story
high to the dining hall, surrounded by
extended versndahs, and on the left is an
additional alcove some 8 feet square,
while all of the old veraadahs, balconies,
&C., have been permitted to remain, with
the exception that they have been length
ened and widened. Above the south front
has been raised magnifcently finished
tower and observatory, from which fine
view of the surrounding country can be
obtained, there being no less than ~ win
dows in it, and above the west front is 2
smaller tower, but from which an equally
good view can be had. These are the gem
eral exterior arrangements and alterations
which have been or are TO be made on the
mansion. When these are completed,
most of the interior is to be remodeled,
and will be divided somewhat as follows:
The first floor into parlors, drawing room,
reception rooms, library, dormitories, din
ing room, kitchen, wash rooms, bath
rooms, pantries, etc, etc; the second into
parlors, sleeping rooms ,of which we be
lieve there will be some %, toilet rooms
and library, and the third floor into
servants apartments and a billiard
hall, store rooms, etc. The roof OF the en-
tire building and towers is TO be edged
with an iron railing, and the entire build
ing piped and plumbed for gas, steam and
water. The cost Of the contemplated i'm
provements is not yet definitely known,
but must range from $4,000 70 $4,000.
The whole work upon the buildings Is IN
der the supervision of Mr.. p. 3. johnson.
architect, of this place, and though many
of the plans are still IA embryo, the work
thus far accomplished speaks highly for
him as professional architect and build
er. Among others Of this gentleman's
works in this place Is the construction Of
the fine residence of Col. L. G Kingsley
and Sprague & Kingsley's Block on Mer-
chants Row. Other buildings in process
of erection on Ger. Bakers grounds are
a residence, fronting on Garden street, and
with access to the grounds, to be occupied
by George r. Bottum, Esq, cashier Of the
| Baxter National Bank also a, new cottage
east of the mansion, to be occupied by the
gardener and his family. Then we IN
derstand a new grapery and green house,
TO be heated by steam, $50 feet long by20
feet wide, is to be put up and the old one
to be remodeled.
As 70 Improvements On the grounds,
we noticed that a new fence Of marble is
being constructed around the south and
west lines of the home enclosure proper,
and we were informed that insiieo of this
Is to be set a thick hedge # arbor vitm,
which cannot help add TO the otherwise
beautiful appearance Of the premises.
When we visited the grounds a large
force of workmen and teams were en-
gagged in grading the lawn on the west
side of the house from the north to the
south line upon gradual grade, sloping
from the eminence on which the house
stands to the highway. From the gate
at the south entrance to the lawn il to be
circuitous carriage way 10 the house
and around a circle Of sone $50 20 400
feet, in the center Of which amid numer-
GUS trees is to he a fountain Of living
water. From the west or Grove street
gate to the barns and around the house
on the east side has been constructed
substantial stone and gravel c8rriage way
running by half curves, ana In front of
the coach house describing a perfect
circle, affording an easy method Of turn
ing horses and carriages 10 the barns,
either gate or either door Of the house.
These are but few of the contempt tied
improvements upon the grounds. which
are being done under the supervision #
that accomplished landscape gardener,
William Rice,in whose hands We have no
doubt the plans will be fatty carried ont.
iDgs and grounds have been completed.
ar we understand they will be by Nay
1st. 1871, General Baxter will have ~
handsome, if not the bandsomest residence
and grounds ia Vermont, which RutIaud-
ers and his acquaintsnces generally pray
that be may long live TO enjoy.
SUICIDE.-Mr. David Parker. a very
wealthy citiz IN of Londonderry, committed
suicide last Friday night, Sept. 80, by
hanging himself in his bedroom with the
end of his BEDFORD, which he fastened 70