The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-04-18

A MAGNIFICENT MANSION.
The HandBomest Private Residence in the
South AIinutely Described-Mr. G. W.
willialns's Newly Erected Establishment
In Charleston.
Probably the handsomest and most
complete private.residence in the South,
aud one of the handsomes. in this coun
try, is now nearly completed. Reference
is had to the magnificent building on the
east side of Meeting street, near the Bat
terry, designed mainly by Mr.. w. P.
Russell for Mr.. 6. w. Williams. By the
hard times since the war our people have
been debarred from exercising their taste
in the building of palatial dwellings,,
and have had little opportunity of seeing
modern displays of magni6cence. On
this account, and because the structure
is an ornament to the city, it has been
thought that somewhat full description
of it will prove of interest.
The building faces west, and stands in
lot which fronts on Meeting street one
hundred and thirty.six feet, running
back two hundred aud forty feet east to
Church street. The house itself fronts
seventy feet, is one hundred and twenty
six feet deep, and fifty-five feet in height
from thelground 70 the caves, comprising
three stories, o basement, and an attic
fourteen feet high. If the reader will
imagine himself Tor herself) standing di-
rectly opposite for moment, he will be
soon taken inside. First, however, he
will take a look at the exterior of the
building whose proportions shave just
been given. 1t is constructed of pressed
brick. From the centre there is pro-
| lection, built of the same material, six
teen feet wide, and four feet in depth
from the main wall. The corners of this
projection, and of the house itself, are
ornamented by slate quoins, (the square
pieces used to protect and support the
external angles of buildipgs.) This is
the only house in the world in which
slate is used for this purpose. Against
this projection is built portico having
three floors, each floor being protected
by broad, low balustrade, and support
ed by Corinthian pillars. The house is
surmounted by Corinthian cornice in
the full details of that order of architec-
ture, the roof being plain and slated,
which meets in the centre on tympa-
num or triangular space, elegantly en-
riched with elaborate ornamentation in
carved wood. Upon each floor of the
portieo just mentioned is large folding
door, each door being hanked on each
side by classical twin windows, composed
of four lights of plate glass one-quarter of
an inch thick, and having walnut Vene-
tian blinds inside, the dimensions being
on the first floor thirty nine by forty
seven, on the second thirty-nine by forty
three, and on the third thirty-nine by
thirty-6ve. The. angles of these win
dows are ornamented with quoins of
black brick, connected with these at the
angles of the house and projection by
betting courses, or rows, of black brick.
The tops, or mullions, of the windows
supply their keystones, and their heads
being covered by scroll and ornamental
carving in wood. On the south side of
the house is three.story piazza, twelve
feet wide by fifty feet deep, with low
balustrades' and supported by Corinthian
columns
Having inspected the front, the reader
will now walk across the street. Crossing
a broad pavement composed of white
and blue marble squares, he reaches an
iron gate forming, by a quarter turn,
in the iron fence, an alcove. In one of
the granite pillars (the stone being from
Winnsboro) is little copper knob. A
touch upon this starts electric bells ring.
ing, the workings of which will be de-
scribed hereafter. While waiting for an
answer to his ring the visitor will have
time to notice and admire the four foot
pavcments of the alcoye, which is form
ed of encaustic tiles, beautifully made.
apd laid; also the flower garden, which
has sprung forth as if by magic. The
gate being open, he steps upon similar
tile pavement eight feet wide, and
branching off to the right and left plat
forms of the portico. Up each side Of
this portico is short fight of solid slate
steps, eight feet long, laid in common
with the platform and floor of the por-
tico in marble and variegated slate tiling.
The front door is folding, and made Of
solid black walnut, eleven feet high and
six feet wide. It is surmounted by q
large plate glass transom, and enriched
with rope moulding, the panel jams be-
ing also decorated with carved mould
ings.
The RECEPTION RooM.-The ceiling
of this is panelled and beautifully fres-
coed in modern Italian, aud is further
ornamented by egg and dot mouldings,
tipped with gilt, and an artistic Egyptian
centre piece from which depends a glass
and silver chandelier. The cornice from
walls to ceiling is deep, and in the full
details of the Corinthian architecture.
At the south end of this room large
plate glass window slides up almost at a
touch, giving an exit six and half feet
high upon the piazza. This sash weighs
one hundred and sixty-fve pounds, but
is so delicately balanced on either side
by lead weights as to be lifted with ease.
From the reception room another door
opens into the main hall, which is four
teen feet wide, fourteen feet high and
sixty-6ve feet in length. The ceiling of
this hall is alone subject for days
study. At each of its four corners is a
fresco representing one of the four Sea-
sons, and the main portion is frescoed in
panels which surround an eliptical Ro-
man centre-piece.
From the hall OH the north side, the
visitor next goes through pair of wal
nut.sliding doors, ten feet in width by
eleven in height, into the drawing room.
By simple and ingenious arrangement
within the wall these doors are so made
as to rebound when forcibly pushed back,
and close themselves again. The draw
ing room is twenty By thirty-e light feet,
and on its northern side is deep bay
window, directly opposite the door, light
ed by large plate glass twin window,
with side lights hanking it. On either
side of the door and the recess of this
window is q Corinthian pilaster of solid
cherry, supporting heavy cherry beam
running across the apartment from north
to south. The cornices are Corinthian,
o,d ,o rrod IN oo1id obarrv Tho uoipc