Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-01-05
A STATESMAN'S HOME.


Journal ftbo American Agricultural Association
At Ringwood, in the Wyanockie
Valley, is the residence Of Hon. Abram
5. Hewitt. containing 1000 acres,
about equally divided between bottom
lands and mountain pasturage. The
narrow valley in which il lies is fertile
and beautiful. The mansion occupied
by Mr.. Hewitt stands on an elevation
in the midst of Il beautiful park OF
elms and NAPLES. and is further
adorned by fine shrubbery and by n
number of acres in Il wellkept lawn.
Here are also valuable grapcry and
hot house, and large number Of fruit
trees and choice plants, the verandas,
which are very spacious, being filled
with rare plants and flowers. The
house itself is built Of wood in the
architecture of the Elizabethan period,
aud is recognized as one Of the finest
country residences in the United
States. There are residences in the
country built of stone that have cost
more money, but none eau present Il
more beautiful architectural picture
or be more perfect in it, interior ar.
rangement. The main hall resembles
that of Warwick Castle, England. 1t
is % by 40 feet, finished in bard wood.
| The walls are ornamenied with speci-
mems of nearly every description Of
arms used in the late war. On the
left Is capacious open fireplace,
with antique andirons, cushioned set
tees here and there, unique chairs,
tables and other adoruments. 4 stair
case OF marvellous beauty and elegance
leads from the rear of the hall 70 the
upper floors. Opening from the hall,
on the right, Is au elegant dining room.
/ The music room, billiard room, sitting
room, school room and library adiuin.
I On the left are drawing rooms and
Mr.. Hewiit's study, filled with "A great
collection Of practical and scientific
books. The rooms are furnished with
every possible article for usc and
luxury, aud the walls Of every room
in the house are adorned with pictures,
steel plates, water colors, or oil paint
ing-. On the first floor are fifteen
rooms, the second nineteen and in the
attic eight. The Older portion OF the
house Is more than u century old. 4
hundred yards distant from it is a
small brick building. still in perfect
state of preservation, which during the
revolution was used by Washington
as blacksmith shop, aud is still used
for that purpose. The grounds sur
rounding the house are adorned by
several small lakes.
Mr.. Hewitt owns some carriage and
saddle horses of thoroughbred stock.
but his chief pride is in the jersey
aud Holsiein cattle. OF the former
he has twenty.iour cows. aud of the
latter four, one Jersey bull and one
Holstcin bull. The Holstein COWS are
very handsome, and we're purchased
from Judge Fullcrton's stock. The
dairy is n pretty building of the Swiss
chalet style, aud is one Of the finest in
the country. 1t is supplied with
large stream of running water drawn
from n lake above, entering the build.
ing on the second floor and descend
ing To the basement, after supplying
power for water wheel which docs
the work Of the churuing. The walls
are stone, with cemenied floor, tiled
sides, and hard wood ceilings. the room
measuring % by 80 feet. Adjoining
Is the ice house, by means of which
| the temperature is kept at the proper
point.
The principal production of the farm
is butter, of which the most is made in
the winter months. when from 575 to
800 pounds of butter are produced
each week, and of so excellent quality
that a market has readily been found
for it during the past ten years at the
rate Of ninety cents per pound. The
dairy and all its appointments are
perfect for the uses for which they
we're desigued, the dairy room being
absolutely clean. The cows are kept
with the most scrupuIous care, being
fed with corn and meal in the sum
mer, and in winter with meal and
chopped hay steamed. In this dairy
the cream is set about twenty-foUr
hours; and, If il sours, the milk and
cream are churned together TO prevent
loss Of cream. The churuipg is done
at So degrees in the summer aud 60
in the winter. The dairy is managed
by Mrs. Hewitt, who is daughter of
Mr.. Peter Cooper, and who justly takes
great pride in her work, particularly
Us her mother and mothers sister were
expert butter makers before her. The
practical work is done by an expert
enced Scotch dairy woman, whose
husband, Mr.. Jas. Moningan. tho
roughly experienced farmer, has the
immediate management of the farm.
Mr.. Hewitt. il is appropriate to
state, Is the largest individual em-