The New York herald., 1877-03-19
NEW PORT.
Descriptive Sketches of the Cottages
Built. this Season.
COTTAGE IMPROVEMENTS AND ALTERATIONS
Gossip About the Architecture
and the Owners.

Since tho season o 1876 but little building has been
done at this arstocratic watering place compared with
past seasons From various causes several gentlemen
who contemplated building, and who in fact had the
plans drawn, did carry out their intentions; but
now that times better and tho Presidential problem
Is solved II is expected that they will carry out their
original intentions and add to the numerous ''cot-
tages at this delightful summer resort.
The two finest houses. though not finished as yot
are those belonging 10 Mr. A. A. Low, a wealthy tea
merchant OF New York, and TO Mr. William c. Rvcs,
Of Boston, who married into tho famous Sears family
OF thar city. Mr. Sears represented this country In
France as Minister several years ago.
THE HOUSE OF Mr.. RivEs.
Mr.. Rives' house Is located on Red Cross avenue,
part Of the Sears estate. Tho house. which is of
brick Is a nne, massive structure and is tastefuly
broken In its lines, particularly In the manner In
which the lower roots managed. Its style Is
Gothic aud It is three stories high, with gable roof
and tower The dimensions of the house are
00x55 feet, with l. 2sx40 feet. 1t has a
1ns open porch. with North River tagging,
and granite steps and butresses, with brick rail.
ing, capped with neat stone. The exterior trim
mings all OF Ohio sandstone. The foundation has
tiled drains all around 1t, and about two feet
Of stone has been filled in all sides
Tho basement is very neatly arranged and
contains large laundry, with setubs. made OF
Boapstone. drying room, &c. Tho rooms the first
noor are elegantly finished in hard wood, and It is
doubtful II there are any handsomer mantes In any OF
the villas that have been erected here of late years
The paror is 1Sx20 fect and is finished butternu
with easement windows opening on to the piazzas
that extend along the south aud west sides OF the
house. This room has handsome cornices, and, with
the tastetully carved mantels Of the Jacobn STYLE
presents very fine appearance. 1t has oak noors
tov Ni1oA hnu-t 49,
the principal rooms the first floor. The morning
room, which connects with the paror by folding
doors, Is Is feet long by 20 feet wide, and
has three large windows. 1t is finished in
walnut and has mantels Of the same
style as those in the paror. The dining room
Is lSx20 fcct has four windows, and is finished in ash
II has massive but peculiar brick fireplace. with
tile facing and hearth 10 match II has win.
dows which open out on TO the piazza Tho mantei In
his feet high and is elegantly carved.
The room is asefully wainscoted Gvc tcet from the
door, and has moudings of very pattern
china closet fourteen feet square opens OF the
dining room and is finished on in pine and shelac.
The hall is 81 feet long Dy II feet wide, with staircase
hall IL feet square, the latter being shut OF from the
main hall by three carved arches. Tho main hall is
wainscoted five feet from The floor in ash, and the
ceiling handsomely panelled with tho same material
The staircase is ono OF the finest in the place. and
tends from the nrst floor tho attic. The stairs are
feet wide, with platforms oil finished In ASH and ON
reaching the second story II overlooks the hall and
has three finely carved arches either side. The
outer vcstbule OF the front entrance finished In wal
nut aud the inner in ash the doors to the former hav
Ing stained head and side lights and the latter plate
glass; and fact, all tho window glass In the house is
plate Midway in the hail. at the foot Of the staircase
there is elegantly carved Gothic arch overhead
rom which drapery will suspend, In order to shut of
portion OF the space the hall should be desired
The kitchen, which is 14x17 feet fitted up with all
thc modern improvements, aud has large pantry
nected with it, Out Of tho Kitchen n servants hall,
16 feet square, and "man's room," the latter
ninc large, airy rooms besides bathrooms all Of
which are being finished in pine and vanished. On
this floor thero also six servants In tho
third story thero arc four large guest chambers,
oil having handsome brick replaces tile hcarths and
hard wood mantels, with largo dressing rooms and
closets connecting. There is one room in tho towcr
and trunk and tank room in the peak. As you de-
scend you will lind each landing elegant stono case
Incnt windows, looking east, fitted with stained glass
windows. In each thcro are three lights tho dimen-
sions Of those on the sides being feet long and 2
feet wide, and these are surmounted by oval
feet in diameter All the principal rooms the FIRST
over
the doors there stained headlights which is some-
thing unusual The dining room, morning room, par
lor and library walls to be hung with chintz, whie
all the other rooms In the house being handsomely
frescoed. II great pity that such 1ne house
this IS not located in q commanding spot The
land s low and wet, and the Wow is unnvlting as
can imagine, from the SOUTH in which direc-
tion nothing but tho trees Mr.. Rves grounds can
be scen An experienced engineer from Boston has,
however, drained the land after outlay OF largo
sum Of money. The drives and walks have been cut
down some two feet and filled in with crushed stone
and covered with Somerset gravel The grounds have
bcon handsomely laid out, and the whole reflects no
little credit upon the engineer, carpenter and urchi-
tects. Mr.. Rivcs proposes to build stable after tho
style OF tho house, but It will not be commenced this
season The cost OF the house and furniture IL is
said, will bo about $4,000, which. added to the
vauc Of tho six acres Of lana comprising the estate
will make 1t Of the valuable places in this
City OF Cottages" It's fortunate owner is very fond
OF Newport and ne has occupied rented house hero
for several seasons.
A. A. LOWS HOUSE.
The house for Mr. Low is OF the largest and most
expensive houses that have been hu for tho past
three years. It is located lot ten acres in
extent and known tho "Pont Of Trees just or the
shore road and opposite to Fort Dumplings In TACT
II is far away on the other sido OF the city,
tho cliffs at the mouth OF the harbor and beyond tho
limos OF Fort Adams, romantic but nevertheless n
lonesome locality. Tho only summer houses in that
section of tho city those owned by Mrs. Edward
King, Quincy A. Shaw, Arthur Bronson, Thomas WI
mans and Professor Alexander Agassiz The site
from the knoll In tho centre OF the lot
upon which tho villa stands and tn cn falls 10 the
water, which In that vicinity is from ten TO twenty-five
ythoms deep. To the right Is Fort Adams
(sccond only TO Fortress MonrocJ the city and
the beautiful Narragnnsctt Bay, studded with It's
numerous Islands. In front the rocks IN Conan.
cut, which extend along that surf beaten coast as far
as the lighthouse on Beaver TAIL where so many vcs-
sells have been wrecked and so many precious lives
lost. The house was planned with reference to It's
surroundings, ana although Mr. Low has been the
owner VI the lot for several years he delayed building
until the present time IL presents very broken and
picturesque appearance, with its wings, balconies, ga
Dies, oricl and bay windows. Tho dimensions oil the
main house arc 57xl3 cc and the addition 31x34 foet
with projecting octagon which up stories IL
required upward OF $4,000 fect oil lumber to frame tho