New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-07-02
MR.. BEECHERS NEW HOUSE.

| A ZINE SITE AT PEEKSKILL-A GOOD COMBINATION
| OF GRANITE AND BRICK-wooD oRNAMENrATioN
IN THE INTERIoR-TREEs AND FLOWERS.
lFRoMAN OCCASIONAL CoRRE sPoNDEST THE TRIBUNE.
| PEEKsKILL, n. Y, June 15.-Where the
beauty OF mountain, field and river is unsurpassed
Just out Of the pleasant village Of Peekskl, overlook
| ing the Hudson the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher has
built himself house. 1t has long been his dream
he says to build dwelling that in every detail should
hty embody his ideas OF home. 81 shall leave piles
Of behind which no one u read, but they'll
live in my house." stroll through the rooms, which
are handsomely decorated reveals exquisite taste on
every hand. The impression given by tho decoration
with native woods OF the windows, doors and mante-
pieces and the paperng and the arrangement Of brca-
brac, is that Of perfect harmony OF tint The house,
looking from the back yard. has the appearance OF
cottage; in front OF mansion. The architectural stye
is that OF no one period The roof reminds ono Of the
domestic English Gothic The lower part of the
house is of granite the upper Of brick. There Is
veranda on the east and south fronts ten feet
Deep On the first the main floor, the library par
lOr, dinng-rOOm and bedroom Cherry wood is used
throughout this story The hall entrance by the Yest-
bule is tiled the sides covered with paper en-
bossed and in imitation OF leather. The hall is about
% feet long and 10 feet wide. The second
story is made OF black There isn't drop Of paint
in the house. Several attic finished III white
pine The two main stories papered, and are fine
specimens OF what can be done with paper MI Beecher
has said he any work OF that character more
slfuly executed. Extravagant stories have been told
Of the ze and of the house The two main stories
in all have ten rooms instead Of thirtyfve and the
bopse proper without furniture and auxiaTies, cost
sos OOO inste0d of $4,000, reported The architect
is J. L. ssbee, Of Syracuse, young man OF promise,
who has done excellent work in Massachusetts, as wei
"a the city Of his adoption. whatever increase OF
pree there was above the original contract says Mr.
Beecher was made by and not by him. tempted
nd IN
striking features is the mantelpieees on tue ground
story They are carved in cherry, have ornamental
plaoues and tiles and fine specimens OF WOODWORK
Mr. Beecher thinks that whatever may be said OF the
inside there's no question OF the outside views.
Tue site is COO feet above the river on the side OF
high range Of spur shooting from the Highlands
On The opposite side at the head OF the Tappan Zee Is
apparently an inland lake, from the house The
foothills Of the Highlands form wide range OF horizon
Inland from the river, extending round, are beautiful
rolling hills cultivated or studded with trees, making
an inland landscape seldom equalled Mr. Beeeher is
very proud OF trees There none when he took
the place. except some naples. Now there are over
5000 There are more than hundred species Of ever
green's Magnoas and rhododendrons are In proiuse
abundance. The grounds form almost an arD0retum OF
everything that will grow in this climate. CIhis plan
was proposed by the way by Mr. Beecher to be carried
out at Sage College, Cornell University when he
preached I'm the chapel in 1876 Arrangements have
been made by which the suggestion will DC carried
out) Cultivated flowers abound. PeOnes, honeysuckes,
fine shrubs and foliage plants grouped in the garden
in rustic way. not in parterres. Many flowers
arc IN experimental beds TO see II they can stand the
temperature Almost ali kinds Of clemats are under
cultivation, and dozens OF species OF boneysuckles
But think more OF my tees says Beecher, tnan , l
do of nv house aud more OF my house than OF myself
There we're only few ground sparrOWs ON the lana
originally bat what with covering the hill with forests,
trees shrubbery abundance of strawberries
and other small fruit and making death for any man
to shoot bird the place the birds have increased in
lumber to great muttudes. The other day one OF Mr.
| Beecher's " little girls" grandcIld' FOUND thiy
| birds nests in minutes walk from the house "
The legend Iuns that this site was the camp or od
implements, and cannOn-Daus nave Deeh IOunu there'
Mr. himself found one OF the last the Other day
over the rear OF me h IN % ioT m1
of the American army The spot s In plain sight where
the army was refuge. Peekskill connected with
| ali tine operations OF the British for taking West
| Point. Here Kings Ferry was the connection
! one OF the million headquarters OF Wash
ington was here until last year, but the spot has
MI Beechcr remains at Poekskill unal the middle of
August when he goes to the White Mountains 70 escape
hay fever may be said that the neighborhO0d, al
though not large is agreeable The estate of Benjamin
Kredge adons Mr. Beechers ON the east that Of the
west and Lyman Carharts, OF New-1erk Is next 70 Mr.
Beach's residence says mr.: Beeehor' Inefe are no
tween Poughkeepse and Hew-York. When the rage for
coming nm The river arose multitude Of grounds were
held by lamilles who wouldn't part with them Peeks
KILL therefore, never had its full share OF the honse-
abroad But by reason of death and insolvency, the
grounds are now the market and reasonable prces
IL Is destined TO be OF the choicest neghbornOods on
the Hudson. In twenty-five yeRrs, don't believe the
ride from NewYOrk on the east side VIII be equaled In
the world beautiful residences and grounds In the
hottest Summer weather cool winds sweep the side Of
this hill. call 1t The Hill OF Peace live like
| hanging BIRDS that. pendent from bOughs look down
upoh tue world. In love with the place every
year and am attached TO II than other spot on
| EARTH" OF the tmrty-six acres, some are yielding
abundance OF hay, which goes 70 feed some fine Adeney
cattle ard two ponies, Rose and Nellie, which not
only hastefs TO Dexter but 90 like swallows over the
road, travelling prettilY horses ever did. Mr..
Beechers family come out Summer and az present
his aOns william, Herbert and Colonel Beeeher every
night The bulk OF his large library will not be moved
from Brooklyn for years, only such Summer reading
| may demand "When all the tones brought up the
river. II will be-" says BeeehcT, when I'm not fit for