Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-02-15
Mistellaneolts.
THE DEACON HOUSE.

the "Neck." WhOSOever has ridden up
town in "Red Line" omnibus, or any of
the variously colored horse cars which in
cessantly move southwark through the
principal avenue to the Highlands, has
seen between Concord and Worcester
streets lonely, lofty, French rooted man
sion, partly hidden by a high brick wall,
which inclosed and marked the boundaries
of the estate, and partly by a score or two
of young but thrifty looking shade trees
which gave hint OF possible semirural
felicity on the part of the privileged occu-
pants of the secluded dwelling place.
Had it not been for the graceful architec-
ture of the building and the esthetic init
nations of the shade trees, the place might
have been suspected to be the county jail.
The high brick wall surrounding the lot
seemed well adapted to prevent either
egress or ingress, and its monotonous sur
face was nowhere broken by gate OF por-
tai or visible sign of welcome TO or inter
course with the world without. Whether
it were inhabited or not. few had know
ledge, and if there We're an owner and
occupant, the wherefore of his mysterious
seclusion fewer still could tell. The sub
stance of the information gathered was
that the house was built in the French
style. and that its owner and for some time
occupant was named Deacon, and pro-
nounced his name by preference with the
emphasis on the last syllable
But the spell o secrecy and sequestration
is broken at last, and the public are per-
mitted to inspect the interior and CRAFTY
their long pent up curiosity. Those fa-
miliar with its history become voluble in
the presence of newspaper reporters, and
the latter in possession of n unique local
item are expected to dilate thereupon.
1t was about the year 1910 that Colonel
Edward Preble Deacon, from whom the
estate takes its name, met Miss Parker,
the daughter of the late Peter Parker, Esq.
at Saratoga, where the acquaintance was
made which led to their marriage year
or two afteward. Colonel Deacon was a
man of aristocratic and somewhat re-
served feelings, and was never well
known in Boston, on account of his short
residence here. He was a native of Mary
land, and was the son OF Commodore
Deacon, in his time well-known officer
in the United States navy. He derived
his title Of Colonel from having served in
the army against the Indians, and it is
said that at one time he was engaged in
land operations in Michigan. Soon after
his marriage with Miss Parker they went
abroad, where they remained several
years. 1t is well known that the late Mr..
Parker was gentleman of great wealth,
and it seems that, upon the return OF Col.
Deacon and his' wife, it was determined
that residence should be erected for
them after their own tastes and preferen-
ces. The South End, where the site was
selected, or rather the Neck" as it was
then called, was just beginning to be built
up, and old residents remember very well
how different locality it was from the
South End of 1870.
The mansion, which was built strictly
in the French style of the period, was
completed about the year 1913, and it is
noted as being the first building in Bos-
ton to have the "Mansard" roof, which
has since become SO common. Mr. G. j.
f. Bryant was the architect, but French
decorative artist, M. Lemouliar, was en-
ployed to cross the ocean and superintend
the arrangement of the interior. Every
thing about the structure was put together
in the most substantial manner, and Mr..
Deacon evidently designed to make him.
self home in which he should spend his
life amidst all the magnificence and lux
ury OF French palace, while enjoying all
the privileges and satistactions of citizen
ship in a land of social equality and politi-
cal freedom. His plan does not seem to
have been carried out without great diff
Guilty, for, having purchased in France a
complete outfit for his residence in accord
ance with his tastes, he procured its ship
ment to New York, where every particle
of it was destroyed by fire in the ware
house in which it was stored. He imme-
diately returned to Paris, where, the
throne having been torn from beneath the
feet of Louis Philippe by his subjects,
Colonel Deacon was enabled to procure
from the deserted royal palaces such works
of art as his taste led him to select. All
the woodwork of the interior, as well as
the furniture, pictures, and other adorn-
ments, came from Paris, and is of the
costliest description. After the compile
ton of the establishment Colonel Deacon
! lived in it with his family for short time,
but soon went abroad again, where he
died about the year 1912. His name
does not appear in the Boston directory
after the year 1851. Mrs. Deacon, thus
left widow, had three children, all of
whom, as well as herself, are still living.
She returned to the city after her husbands
death, and resided in retirement at the
mansion for some time, but in 1860 she
| NCHl W ISuiopC NhoiN S"N AA'''
since remained. Her health has been
very poor, and she has lived in Paris in
care of an attendant; but on account of
the siege she has been compelled to leave
the city, and was quite recently in Havre.
One Of the sons, of whom there are two,
lived in the house for short period after
the war of the rebellion, but the building
may be said to have had no settled tenant
since 1860 eXceDt the two servants who
have had it in charge.
To enter upon a detailed description of
the interior of the mansion, its furniture
and adornments, is unnecessary at the
present time, as the sale by auction of all
the movable appurtenances of the build
ing, which takes place tomorrow, will be
fully reported. The apartments are emu
merated as follows: The hall, the bill
lard room, the library, the salon, the
Marie Antoinette boudoir, the Montmo-
renci salon, the dining room. the blue
room, the large blue room, the dressing
rooms and chambers. The Montmorenci
| SALON &c oil lal tbn "a