Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-08-09
Beecher's PeeksklIl Home.
THE NEW TwENTT-FIvE THOUSAND DOLLAR
MANSION OF TLYMoUIHs PAsToR-ITs Ar
ciIITFCTUKF AND SURROUNDINGS.

THE NEW TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLAR
MANSION OF TLYMoUTHs PAsToR-ITs Ar
CHITECTUKE AND SURROUNDINGS.
reekskill Letter TO the Tribune.
Where the beauty of mountain, field and
river is unsurpassed. Just out of the pleasant
village OF Peekskill, overlooking the Hudson,
the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher has built him.
self new house. 1t has long been his
dream, he says, 10 build dwelling that i'll
every detail should fifty embody his ideas of
a home. Il shall leave piles OF sermons be-
hind me which no onell read, but they'll
live in my house" A stroll through the
rooms, which are handsomely decorated re-
yeals exquisite taste on every hand. The
impression given by the decoration with ma
tive woods OF the windows, doors and man
telpieces, and the papering, and the arrange
ment of bric-a-brac, is that of perfect har-
mony Of tint. The house, looking from the
back yard, has the appearance of cottage
in front of a mansion. The architectural
style is that OF no one period. The ROOT Ie-
minds one of the domestic English Gothic
manner. The lower part OF the house is OF
granite, the upper of buck There Is a yer
andah on the east and south fronts ten feet
deep. On the first, the main floor, are the
library, parlor. dining-rOom and bedroom
Cherry wood is used throughout this story
The hall entrance by the vestibule is tiled ;
the sides are covered with paper embossed
anG in imitation Of feather The hall is
about % feet long and IL feet wide. The
second story is made of black ash. There
isn't drop OF paint IN the house. Several
attic rooms are finished in white pine. The
two main stories are papered, and are fine
specimens of what can be done with paper
Mr.. Beecher has said he never saw nry work
of that character more skilliully executed
Extrayngant stories have been told OF the
size ana cost of the house. The two main
stories in all have ten rooms instead OF thir
ty-fve and the house proper, without fur
nltuTe and auKlliaTles, cost S25, 600. instead
of s65, 600 as reported.
The site is 600 feet above the river, ON the
side of high range, a sort of spur shooting
from the Highlands. On the opposite side
at the head OF the Tappan Zee. is apparently
an inland lake, as seen from the house. The
foothills OF the Highlands form a wide range
of horizon Inland from the river, extend
ing round, are beautiful rolling hills, cultiva-
ted OF studded with trees, making an inland
landscape seldom equalled. Mr.. Beecher is
very proud Of his trees. There were none
when he took the place, except some naples
Now there are over 5000 There are more
thana hundred species Of eyergreens. Mag
nolias and rhododendrOns are IN profuse
abundance. The grounds form almost an
arboretum Of everything that will grow in
this climate. Cultivated flowers abound
Peonies ,honeysucbles, fine shrubs and foliage
plants are grouped in the garden in n rus
tic way not in parterres. Many flowers are
in experimental beds, to see if they can stand
the temperature. Almost all kinds of elem
ats are under cultivation, and dozens of
species Of honeysuckles. "But think more
of my trees, says Beecher than do of my
house, and more of my house than OF my
self There were only few ground spar
rows On the land originally, but what with
covering the hill with forests, ornamental
trees, shrubbery, abundance of strawberries
aud other small fruit, and making it death
for any man TO shoot a bird on the place, the
birds have increased in number to great mul-
Gtudes. The other day one of Mr.. Beech
er's little girls, grandchild, found thirty
birds nests in minutes walk from the
house.
Mr.. Beecher remains at Peekskill until
the middle of August, when he goes to the
White Mountains to escape hay fever OF
the thirty-siE acrGs, some are Welding
abundance of hay, which goes to feed some
fine Alderney cattle and two ponies, Rose
and Nellie, which are lot only half sisters to
Dexter, but go like swallows over the road,
travelling as prettily as horses ever did. Mr..
BeecheT's family come out every summer,
and at present his sons. William, Herbert
and Colonel Beochor, every night. The bulk
OF his large library will not be moved from
Brooklyn ior years. only such as summer
reading may demand. when all the tones
are brought up the river. it will he" says
Beecher, when I'm not fit for any thing else,
and must settle down here"