The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-03-01
Webster's Home.
SOMETHING CONCERNING THE MARsHFIELD
MANSION THAT WAS BURNED.

The Boston Traveller has the following
conserving the mansion of Daniel Webster,
situated in the southeastern part of the town
of Marshfeld Mass, which was totally de-
stroyed by fire on the morning of the 14th
ult "The building was owned by Mrs.
Fletcher Webster, who, with her lson, was
the sole occupant, and was insured in the
| Massachusetts Mutual insurance company
| for Sc, 200. The lady and her son. upon dis
covering that the destruction of the mansion
was only aquestion of time, set heroically at
| work, and in the short time allotted them
succeeded in rescuing a quantity of the sill
| yer plate, pictures and some other articles,
priceless as mementoes of Mr.. Webster 1t
was thought that the valuable library had
| been destroyed when the intelligence FIRST
spread among the residents of the neighbor-
hood, but investigation showed that it had
| been removed some time since. The build
ing was quaint and after no especial style Of
architecture, the various additions being ad-
ded with more regard to the taste and con.
veuience of the owner than general effect.
The mansion set back from the road some
800 yards, was painted white and nearly
hidden by the elms which have become so
| famous.
"The original owner was Captain John
Thomas a near and dear friend of Mr..
Webster, and it is related that the latter
upon visiting the spot became charmed
with its great natural beauty and entered in
to negotiations for its purchase. Captain
Thomas became, however, financially embar-
rassed, and upon the urgent request of Mr..
Webster, he and his wife occupied room in
! the house until his decease. The house was
surrounded by a wide piazza and to the
west of the old building Mr.. Webster had
constructed an L., after peculiar Gothic
; Pattern for his library. This room was light
) ed by colored glass, which made it favor
te resort of all who paid the mansion visit.
f Adjoining the library were the drawing
, room and small reception room, To the
I rear of these apartments was the immense
d dining hail. some fifty feet in length. To
j the east of this was the main hall, about l25
= feet in length, running the whole length of
the building. At the easterly side of the
o house was the small sitting room, connected
by hall with the breakfast room. Passing
through hall one passed into the large
kitchen, in the rear of which was situated
the extensive dairy and woodshed. Upon
the second floor, in the front of the house
III was the room in which Daniel Webster died
o' on the right of the ball. Opposite to thi,
e. on the left of the hall, a large bed room sue
Is ceeded by eight rooms of the same descrip
oi ton. These apartments were very large
II At the rear end of the room in which MI
hs Webster expired was another large be,
en- room, and over the library on the extrem
he west of the upper story, was called the Gas
u uum, so called because it had no entranc
're except from the bed rooms on either side
Some 400 feet from the mansion was tn
ice barn, and near by the various outbuiding
las but these were not DESTROYED"
an The articles saved were but a small part
lto those in the house. The servants lost gres
he er part of their clothing. Mrs. Webst
no. saved some Of her wearing apparel Nothil
not in the upper stories was removed from Il
'ol building of the fine collection of chil
rch nothing was saved, although a part of Il
lu- silver was. A large punch-bowl, present.
les to Daniel Webster by the Sandwich gls
res company was lost. The dining room co
en' 'ained some costly antique furniture and fl
em- engravings which were lost A portion
| he The library and the piano in the music roc
SO were saved. Among the portraits say
'us' were those of Lord Ashburton, Judge Sto
ness three Of Daniel Webster, one of Mrs. Dan
ners Webster, those of their sons Colonel FletC
one er and Major Edward--an oil painting
heal the Virgin Mary, and collection of butt
D. ID hies presented to Mr.. Webster by the e.
speror OF Bsssil.