New-York tribune., 1873-09-15
AN AUTHOR-FARMER'S HOME.

TX NARyEL'S NEW HOUSE AT EDGEW00D
raiE FARM AND IT'S NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. AND
CONSTRUCTION OF THE HoUsE-vIEws FROM IT'S
WINDOWS AND CHANCES AT IT'S INTEmoR-A
HOME OF IDEAL BEAUTY AND COMFORT
frRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT THE TRiBusEl
NEw-HAvEN, Conn., Sept. 6.--Readers of
that charming prose Idyi The Reveiies OF Bachelor
as well as those Of the nearly charming II more
realistic and practical volumes " Ny Farm at Edge
wood" and Rural Studes." will doubtless be inter
eed to learn that a5 last the author whose nove ha'o
delighted them In days of old has home thar mis- nsoNn
ideal OF fitting abiding place for an authorisrmer A
the house just completed upon the beanlilu huse"oou
farm. distant the flies but two miles from our
city's center Mr. Donald G. Mitchell has carl1eu OUT
the aspirations OF his early volumes ana WIN s"sn'
changes the details OF the plan OF country house de-
scribed in the Rural studies" Ia the pehef that
description thereof afford some useful mntS 10
Others contemplating bGildng as well as interest INC
MANY headers and friends OF Tx Marvel this letter s
written.
The Edgewood farm mainly situated upon ridge OF
land that rising from the village of Wesvlle under the
shadow of West Rock runs nearly due south TO the
Derby turnpike Near the northern edge OF thus upland
aud about midway the farm from cast to west the lana
sopng away eastward into level plain through which
anew street has lately opened, greatly shortening
the distance from the city, stood close on TO the
highway the old farm house that has been the
authors home ever since he purchased the place,
nearly twenty years ago. 10 former days IL had
belonged TO a wealthy West Indian merchant. and
village tradition hath that the beauty of his dark
haired daughters, and the flavor of Ids Canary and
MADEIRA. made the hospitable mansion fayorte
resort alike CAV young Yalensons and city mer-
chants The daughters all married and the place passed
into the hands Of broken-dOwn manufacturer, and
when the author who had long sought for farm that
should unite an attractive prospect with good soil and
prospective building lots found in this halfruined man
soa thickly-wOoded hillside and weed-grOwn pasture.
his IDEAL villagers sneered at the "fancy farmer and
estimated the number OF years in which he would be
CLEANED out" But when they that the hand that
had gracefully welded pen could at need swing an
AK or guide pow that the that had retained all
that most charming and picturesque In Ola world
scenery had brought 10 the farmer most choice
TASTE they ceased murmur and began to admire NOW
that under Mr.. Mtchels ownership the Edgcwood farm
has become noted and has advanced the values OF the
adjacent properties. its owner is very popular among
the villagers
During previous years his occupation the owner has
made the old farm heuse serve homestead and de-
voted such spare time his double profession
author and landscape gardener-eit him to the deye-
opment of the place itself-not much farm.
although even in this respect his work has not been
frutless but in making its two hundred acres OF dyers
hed woodland, hillside and meadow the most attractive
ground in the limits OF the Elm City. How he has done
this By draining here clearing undersrush there,
mspurng yonder, cutting down trees TO open up vista
in this place setting trees shrubbery and flowers an
that until every nook and corner OF the farm reveals
beautiful view in direction, or quiet and coy
nook in which forget the hustle and noise OF the ad
jacent city, would need volume to describe Has it not
already indicated in the published volumes of the
Edgewood series last the time came when the long
thought Of house could be built, and during the past
Winter and Spring the work pushed forward and
completed.
The new house stands little to the north and some
rods TO the rear Of the old, which has been torn
down leaving an unObstructed view OF the new from
the highway. In building. Mr.. Mitchell's first consld
erations have been convenience aud adapabiy to the
wants Of his family subject so the dictates of
choice TASTE but without special reference to any con-
ventonal OF architecture Hence it has frequently
required most fixed purpose to enable him to overcome
the prudices architect carpenters, masons, &C. The
house faces east full stories ana cottage roof
The walls Of the first story are built OF the rough
stones found the farm, the owner thus putting into
practical execution his published and favorte theory
that this material only too accessible to nearly every
farmer should be thus utilized In the pres
ent instance the stone from rough powders OF granite
trap, sandstone and gneiss. For the windows brick
trimmings have been used, which pleasantly relieve the
dark over the front entrance. in piece of light
Ohio stone. is cut the owners monogram d. c. NJ. The
second story Is constructed OF pine wood and is
mounted by the somewhat abruptly receding slated cot
tage roof. The ehimneys combination of brick and
small chips OF the stones found the place. pretty
little ventlator uts up from the roof from the different
windows of which those charming views that have made
EdgewoOd famous all DO enjoyed. Due east, New
Haven lies a surface level as Runnymede, while
its stately spires climb upward and their golden
glitter the Summer Southeast your eyes sweep
across the level fats that boundary of the
In that direction and beyond West Haven you the
beautiful harbOr crowded with shipping while due south
you catch gmpses Of the Sound the trees Of Matby
Park and the smoke OF the passing locomotives the
Eew-York road ten miles away. South west and
west your eye follows the winding Edgewood
road over the crest and among the grand
old elms and oaks upon the hillside, while
due north rises West Rock, towering the little vii
lage which sleeps its base. and smiling in the sunlight
across the intervening plain to its twin brother East
Rock. which guards the city on the northeast These
lovely views OF which the eye tires be enjoyed
frou the stories. and it is of Mr.. Mitches
greatest that every living in his new house
has at least window from which the beautiful
TO the south Of woodland and meadow, with the blue
Of Long Island Sound in the distance be OBJ
tained and enjoyed accomplish this it necessary
to project the northern section of the house beyond the
other both front and On tie north corner
Lwas built with side entrance. This contains large
Kitchen with three sleeping above for servants,
whose quarters thus entirely by themselves sud
Gen slope OF the land the west Of the house affords
spacious basement, wherein is laundry and sleeping
room for the man and gives ample light TO the
large and weLafranged cellar Water Is supplied 10 the
house from reservoir the farm, and large reserve
ia kept IN tank in the garrett Externally the house is
painted yeIowish brown. with dun-colored facings
But we must pass inside to appreciate thoroughly the
charming character OF the innovations against conven
tionaiism made by the owner Pausing moment on
little front portico, observe that the entrance to
house is through heavy door made in two halves, and
composed of chestnut, black walnut and butternut,
which, like nearly every piece OF wood Of kind used
in the house, grown upon the farm, having been