Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-08-10
OH 1'rf( press.
BURLINGTON.
Something About the Architecture
of its Houses.
Homes of Some Of our Prominent
Citizens.
Brief Notes of Their Appearance and
surroundings

SurrOundings
Among the garden cities" of New Eng
land, 50 called for the elegance of their pri-
vate grounds and residences, the Queen City
of Vermont is always mentioned by the
ubiquitous tourist. Burlington is unsurpass-
cd for situaiou-indeed, VIC are assured by
some of our admirers that it has positively
no equal on the continent-and the natural
advantages of the place have been most ap-
propriately enhanced by some of the finest
public and private buildings in the country.
Our broad, shady avenues, with their mag
nifcent building sites, overlooking views of
lake and mountain worthy the brush aud
pencil of a Clifford, have been lined with pa
latia and costly residences, surrounded by
grounds and lawns which are well worthy
the name of landscape gardens" Neither
wealth nor skill has been spared in making
the homes of our prominent citizens what
they are It is u pleasure and pride, in
pointing out to strangers the beauties which
have made Burlington famous, to be able to
show them, in the elegant residences OF our
people that these natural advantages have
been apprt GATED and adorned us they de-
serve to he. In this article we wish to
speak of few of the handsomest and most
notable private residences in town-those,
on our principal streets, which are usually
pointed out to strangers as the fine houses OF
Burlington.
The residences OF the city may be divided
into three classes, representing three distinct
styles OF architecture, according to the peri
DDS of time at which they were built First,
there Is the fine massive old colonial style ;
second the substantial, elegant style of the
middle period and third, the more preten-
tous aud ornamental style now in vogue.
OF the first cass-thc old colonial style
we mention first, of course the fine mansion
of Lawrence Barnes, Esq, on Main street
This is known to all our people rs the old
Van Ness mansion, honorcd by the presence
of Lafayette, as the guest Of the State, in
1926. Some additions have been made to
the house by its successive OWNERSHIP
Barnes himself having made some extensive
repairs and added II fine rvatory-but
the general plan of the builder has been pre-
served throughout, ard the house to-day
stands as one Of the Architectural landmarks
Of Vermont, unsurpassed as an example OF
the stem but magnificent and enduring style
of architecture established by our New Eng
land foreIathurs The Pomeroy mansion on
North Prospect strcetnow owned by Mr.James
Brown, is another fine example of the old
colonial style of residence, although the i'm
provements and repairs added by its present
owner give ii a somewhat more modern air
But its square, massive front, ample portico
and substantial aspect give 1t the appearance
of one of the magnificent old houses popular
with an earlier generation. The old Footc
place, at the head of Pearl street, now owned
and occupied by Mr.. G. NJ. Peterson, though
less MASSIVE and substantial looking than the
others mentioned, is built IN the same style
Of architecture, and is, in fact one OF the
very Oldest houses now standing in the city.
Dr. Nichols residence on College street is
another representative, and very fine one,
of the old colonial style. Everything about
this place is in keeping with its solid, mas
sive elegance of architecture, and i. immedi-
ately attracts the attention OF the visitor to
our city, as one of the most notable resi-
dences in town. The re.ldelce Of Mrs. j..
ii. Peck, on the same street, although some
what modined in plan from those already
mentioned, will be at once recognized as
representing the old style of architecture.
This is one of the most richly furnished
houses in the city and probably has more OF
the genuine antique, both within and
without, than any other. The massivcness
and beauty Of its old-iashioned furniture i,
said to be remarkable. On Pearl street, the
old Dcming place, occupied by Mrs. NJ. d.
Tucker, has the aspect OF the Older style Of
architecture us also the fine place OF Mrs.
Brooks aud the residence of l.. &. Loomis,
ESQ. On Prospect street, the home OF Mr..
N. s. Hill is remarkable for the same quail
ties which MAX the other residences of thi'
class of which We have spoken. The hous(
on Union street, occupied by NJ. d. Cook
Esa-in former times the residence of til,
poet John &. SaXe-is small but character
istic representative of the same architecture
style. Somewhat out of the main city, il
Shelburn street, is the old Ilickok mansion
built Of heavy stone, in the square, masslv,
style which we have described. 1t is one o
the most notable residences in the city, boil
for its old fashioned architecture and tn
beauty of its situation aud surroundings. w
must not omit To mention, as belonging Il
this class Of residence, the magnificent oil,
Bigelow and Converse mansions on Churc
street, with their large porticoes and pillars
These are among the most imposing an
striking of all the private buildings in town
These, and the one just south, recently tor
down, were once occupied by Bishop Hor
kins as an Episcopal Institute, and wer
Joined by n passage-way, which was ais
used as an art gallery An old inscriptio
over the door of the present Converse mar
sion is still TO be seen, "I'rO Dec Il Ecclesiae,
recalling its ecclesiastical memories. Til
buildings were subsequently, used by Rev. j
X. Converse for young ladies' school, TIL
residence OF Miss S. E. Howard, on st. Pa,
street, ia also one of the older style O! built
ings.
But the majority Of the fine residences
Burlington are CT the second class which "
have mentioned-modern In design and al
pontmcnts, but still possessing an air
solid, substantial almost old f,shiont
simplicity. This seems, TO US, Il
model style Of architecture for private dive
ipga l, combines the best qualities Of Il