Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-07-10
MIR. Beecher's New House.

Some seven years ago Mr.. Beecher bought
farm at Peekskill, two miles and fraction
back from the river. There was a little low
cottage on the place, which, despite many
an inconvenience, has served as a country
retreat these seventeen years. Meanwhile,
as time, opportunity and money allowed, ma
ture was invited to prepare surroundings for
the imaginary house; and eagerly accepted
I the invitation, as she always does such in
vitations. The world was asked for trees,
and sent them. The farm to-day has by far
the largest and finest collection of trees and
shrubs have ever seen; / doubt whether
its equal is to be found in America.
| At length, two years ago, Mr.. Beecher,
somewhat reluctantly yielding to the per-
suasion of friends, re-entered the lecture
field, to minister to that larger congregation
of America which for a quarter of CEN
tury has been a part of his true parish. And
he resolved, wisely as it seems to me, to lay
up the proceeds Of this lecture tour in a
permanent home, that should be an express
sion, a testimony, and bequest; an ex-
preston of artistic taste, testimony of the
right of Christians to the enjoyment of
beauty and bequest to his children and
his children's children after him.
Externally there is nothing about the
house that would distinguish it from hun
dreds of country houses in the vicinity of
any Of our great cities. 1t is architecturally
pleasing, but neither obtrusive nor ostenta-
tious: basement of granite; superstruc-
ture, two stories, of brick a many-gabled
roof broad verandah-these are the fea-
tures The charm of the house is in the
beauty that greets the eye from the broad
piazza, looking eastward and westward
| md ;,,t tba haanNt, o,I 81, al ioif
of the rooms within. For interiorly it is a
study. In every room carpet and wall and
woodwork fit each other and each room,
while possessing an individuality of its own,
lives in art fellowship with its neighbor.
There is not drop of paint in the house.
from garret to cellar, except in the vesti-
bule, where six coats of paint cover and pro-
tect the heavy paper that produces all the
effect of stone in the dado and of leather
hangings above. The woodwork is all of
the natural woods-cherry on the first
floor, ash on the second, and pine in the
attic. There is no inlayiug, no matching
of woods, and except in the main stair
way, very little carving. The mantels are
wood each mantel is a picture; rather a
collection of pictures for Mlintons hand
painted tiles make of every mantel on the
first floor an exquisite picture gallery. The
walls are covered with paper; the ceilings
are treated in the same manner. The COM
bination of colors in carpet, wall and ceiling
are, or at least seemed to me to be, perfect.
Even in the room where the dark maroon OF
the dado and the rich red of the frieze were
in striking contrast with the pale and deli
cate pink of the intermediate wall, the CON
trast did but serve to make the rich red
richer and the delicate pink more delicate
The decorators felt the enthusiasm of ap.
preciative mind and they have made world
of art which perhaps they may surpass here
after but which do not believe has ever
been surpassed heretofore.
The first sod for the cellar was broken IN
October, 1876; the family-or families, toi
this is the country home of Mr.. Beecher, his
three boys and four of his eight grand
children-moved in about the middle OF last
May. The whole house, irrespective OF fur
niture, papering and mantels, cost a little less
than twenty-five thousand dollars. Anc
do not believe" said Mr.. Beecher to me
as we finished looking over the house yester
day morning, that there is a dishonest
stick of timber or brick in it. | was for
tunate in my architect, in my mason, in m,
carpenter, in my decorator. They all worked
in it as though it was their own house.
That can well believe.