The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-02-08
Mr. vandcrbllt's New Home.


ing into two sections. The soutl
section is Mr.. Vanderbilt's own res
idence. 1t is S4 feet front by IL,
feet deep, and four stories in height
The north section Is "a feet front by
l05 feet deep, and is divided int
two houses. The one next to Mr
Vanderbilt's will be occupied bs
Mrs Sloane, and the corner one by
Mrs. Sheppard, daughters of Mr.
Vanderbilt Only Mr.. Vanderbilt's
section Is at present completed, al
though all Will soon be ready.
The houses are OF brownstone, in
the style OF the Greek renaissance
There is great wealth of carving al
many points, chiefly designs OF
trailing vines. A broad path leads
up to the central corridor. The
walls o! the corridor are of African
marble, and the floor is of mosaic
The doors opening 10 the left and
right are bronze, set with Scriptursl
Inedaliions. They are copies of ths
GhibertI gates ut Florence, and they
cost $4,000. They open to the left
on Il vestibuie IRON which three
bronze doors open, one into the
main hall, and two into reception
roons at the sides. The hail ex-
tends the full height Of the house.
Eight red marble pillars with bronze
! capitals supper; galleries OH each
floor, which lead to the living rooms
1t is lighted by nine large stained
glass windows. The walls are
wainscoted with carved English
oak twelve feet high, and opposite
them is . mantlepisce Of red marble
and bronze. 1t reaches 10 the first
gallery, and has on each side two
liie-size female figures in high relief.
The door to the east Of the hall
opens on the drawing room. The
wallis are covered with carved wood
work inlaid with mother-of- pearl,
and the panels are hung with
pale red velvet, on which are en-
broideries of flowers and foliage.
AT the side of each door are columns
of ONYX, with bronze capitals, bear
ing vases of stained glass and clus-
tefs OF light In the corners are
other clusters, upheld by f"male
figures of solid silver The ceiling
is Of blue and gold, but will event
ually be covered by paintings by
GalIaud. The Dimensions of the
room are Is by 81 feet Gilded and
carved sliding doors draped with
rich curtains give access on the
north to the library, ard on the
south to the japanese parlor. In
the Iibrary the book cases, mantels
and ,.oors are of rosewood, inlaid
with rather of-pearl and brass.
The cell X Is set with panels con-
tanning mall square mirrors. The
dimens .ons ofthe library are II By
70 feet A door on the west opens
on MI Nanderbilt's private recep-
ton room, where the walls are
wainseoted with mahogany, and
above that covered with stamped
leather.
In the japanese paIlor the cell
ing is of bamboo, p.icked oct with
red, green and lacquer work. A
iow-toned tapest,y of japanese un-
cut velvet in curious designs covers
the walls and the furniture. The
lower part of he walls are hidden
by fantastic cabinet, with innu-
merable pigeon-holes, shelves and
cupboards. At various points are
bronze panels, picked out in gold
and silver. The dimensions are the
same as the library.
To the west is the dining-room,
2S feet wide by 81 feet long. It is
wainscoted in English oak, and |
above, supported on brackets, are
glass faced cases holding the silver,
porcelain and glass. The gilded
panels Of the arched ceiling are fill
ed with carving of fruits and foliage,
and the spaces with with paintings |
of hunting sciences by Luminais of
Paris. The furniture is of English |
oak with brass ornaments, and COW
cred with sampled leather.
The great picture gallery is IN the
ives; of the main hall, and occupies
the entire rear of the building. |
The dimensions are 81 fee, by As. |
The ceiling is 30 ieet high. and is
chiefly formed OF a skylight in opal
escent and tinted glass, leading in |
quaint designs. a monumental
InantIepiece Of red African marble.
with cone of glass mosaic work,
occupies the western hall. The
woodwork of the room is black oak,
with San Domingo mahogany for
the caryatides and pilasters. The
floor il inlaid with the same ma
hogany. and bordered with "a niosa-
H. vi Sienna and black marble in the
Pompeiiaii style. The walls above
the wainscoting are covered with
dark rec! tapestry, Ia set oil the pict-
uItr. oNti tHC tttic Ot tut IOItJ.
east and south sides are balconies
connecting with the second story
of the house. The one on the south
opens in the conservatory. The
gallery has separate entrance from
Fifty first street. and the vestibule
is entirely-f floor, walls and ceiling
of marble mosaic work, made in
Venice. North Of the gallery is the
auuarelle room. This is finished in
walnut. Moorish style,
here end there with bright
colors.
To the right as one enters the
main hall, is the wide staircase with
bronze banisters. The first landing
opens on a gallery which runs
round the aquarelle room. On the
second floor the room in the north .
sas; corner is the family parlor. 1t ,
IS finished in ebony, inlaid with ,
IVORY. The walls are covered with .
4 dark blue silk brocade, and the
,eiling is divided in small panels.
With paintings OF children at play.