The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-03-10
Hon, Ben Harper's Private Residenc

One more credit mark for Ben Harper.
No man in Rock Island has done so much
or the improvement Of this city as Mr..
Harper. He has been resident for the
past q years, in which time he has built
from Is to SO buildings, prominent among
which is the Harper House. one of the
most commodious and elegant hotels in
the west.
Last October Mr. Harper sought the
counsel Of Mr.. l. N. Holmes, our excel
lent home architect (who is Mr.. Harper's
right hand man in the building line, he
having been the architect and superin- |
tendent of the construction of the Harper |
House and other prominent buildingsl as
to plans for the remodeling of his pri- |
vate residence on Eighteenth street, and
those who take look at the premises will
be convinced that he acted wisely in secur
ing the services of Mr.. Holmes. Few other
men could have remodeled the old house SO
elegantly, with everything in such unity
and exquisite taste The house is Of
brick and was two stories in height, the
main portion being 22x42 feet 10 dimen-
sion; the wing 1896 feet, and the kitchen
l2xl6. The latter has been torn down
and new kitchen built 26x27 feet in
size The tower,Sx feet, ON the southeast
corner has also been rebuilt and is now
lOxlO feet, In place of the hipped roof
a mansard looms up adding another
story. eleven feet in height, to the main
building. The appearance of the main
house has been improved by an entirely
new cornice. The finish of the mansard
is especially handsome, with semi-circular
and gable cornices over the dormer win
dows of the first mansard story, and oval
and diamond windows in the second story
of the mansard towers.
For shade, outside, il summer, ample
provision is made. The one story bay
window in rear of the parlor has cornice
connecting with large new verandah, ex,
tending across the south side of the dining
and sitting rooms. The other verandahs,
on the north side Of the sitting room. and
the front porch will remain as they were,
with the addition of iron balustrading
and cornice on the porch
Now for look inside. 10 the parlor on
the southwest corner of the first floor spac-
ious bay windows have been built out from
its front and rear making It's length 90
feet instead of 10 feet. The library on
| the northwest corner, a room the same
size the parlor was, has an addition of one
bay window built out in front. The same
could not be added to the rear as veran-
| dab and the sitting room, an apartment;
II by Is feet, are directly behind it.
Back or east of the sitting room is the
dining room, l6x22 feet now. This room
was formerly divided by folding doors into
two rooms. It's present unity is acquired
by the removal of the folding doors which
makes,it a recipient Of light from the
north and south windows.
The kitchen, that all important room, is
on the east or rear Of the house and is ad,
mirably arranged. It's internal economy
embraces a space of l6xl6 feet with store
room SxlO and a china closet SKIS feet
which last is on the first floor of the tower
The inside space of the old kitchen wa'
only llxl4 feet and as it had no auxiliary
pantries it was too confined From tht
kitchen, stairways lead down to the celia
and up to the second story.
The old stairway leading up from oppo
site the front entrance has been torn dowl
and new one put up in its stead with ele
| giant heavy newell and balusters and it i
4 also heightened by a stairway of the sam
type leading to the mansard story.
Those two bay windows in front of tn
parlor and library run up the entire heigh
of the house and terminate in the roof, fin
lshed with mansard towers which are tippe
: with ornamental ratings, the ridge of tn
r roof being crested with similar ornament
I A mansard tower also completes th
y south tower and its fat lookout or obserJ
! atOry is reached by neat stairway.
e On the second story, over the dinin
d room, there used to be two chamber
e These are now thrown into one room and
! hall at its south side, from which go stall
to the third floor.
The mansard story is finished in room
corresponding with those of the. secou
floor of the main building and wing, givir
e a clear addition of four large dwellir
rooms.
l. A great deal has been done in tt
plumbing line. The house formerly W;
providedswith CRATES and mantels. The
y will remain as means of ventilation. b
IS the entire house will be heated with stea
by one of Rowe's patent boilers. locate
K in the cellar, operating throughout by Z
y rect radiation.
, On the first floor, connected with plum
# ing in the sitting room, is a permane
wash basin conveniently located in mich
d The second story of the rebuilt tower CO
10 tains bath room, with tub and two clio
cts. The two front rooms of the secor
ID floor of the house have each a water clos
:, y and permanent wash basin. These room
it is understood are to be used as que
" chambers.
re The family chamber, over the sittiI
le room, has a new wash basin, and dire
= communication with the bath room in Il
;, tower. With hot and cold water in eve
J. room, two bath rooms, two water closet