Delaware gazette and state journal., 1884-02-28
AN EDIqOR's NEW NOME.
Description of George w. Hum
phry's Rodney street Residence.


Tie fuisLiug touches hsvs been put
to the brick dwelling on Rodney street,
built by George W. Humphry, editor Of
EVERY EVENING, aud Of which be expects
to take possestion early in March Those
who have inspected the new building
since its completion have expressed them
selves well satisfied with the general
ARA" cement of the same, both exterior
and interior, and the manner in which
the contractor, Peter U. Furry, has per-
formed the work.
The new building fronts on the west
erly side OF Rodney street above Second,
just over the brow of the hill beyond the
old almshouse property. 1t is Of brick;
the main building being three stories in
hight, the third being q mansard story,
the deck OF which Ia rooted with tin and
the sides with slate; and the back build
ing two stories high, with tin roof, and
summer kitchen attached. Up the front
of the house is a tower like annex, semi
octsgonal in shape, and extending foot
or two above the deck of the roof of the
main building. This tower, besides being
an agreeable architectural feature, forms
large bay window 10 each OF the three
stories, being 10 feet in interior diameter
and projecting 4 feet beyond the square
of the rooms.
The house contains nine rooms, bath
room and a summer kitchen, arranged as
follows: Butering tie house the visitor
finds frat y ves.lbule by a feet, opening
into a hall way six feet wide, from which
an open stairway leads to the second and
third steries. Opening into this hallway
is front parlor, IL by l3 feet in the
square, which like the other front rooms,
is materially enlarged by the bay window
which the tower adds to it. The front
parlor is connected by sliding doors with
rear parlor, IL by IA feet, from which a
jib window opens out into the side yard,
which is about 27 by rs feet in sizs. The
kitchen, on the first floor Of the back
building is IA by l6 feet IN the square,
and separate steirways lead from it
to the second story and to the
cellar, which latter is about AZ feet long,
Is feet wide in front and Is feet wide in
the rear. The cellar will be fitted up
with heater OF sufficient size To warm
the whole building.
The second story contains four
chambers, in size IL by IA, II b. IL,
II by IL and by IL feet, respectively
a bath room by s feet and the usual
assortment OF closets, which are however
much more roomy than usually found in
house Uf this size.
The third story contains two rooms and
a passage way. The rear room is IL by
l6 feet in the square. The front room,
which will be occupied by the proprietor
as library and study, is the largest
room in the whole building, but being
rather oddly shaped it is not easy to give
its dimensions. 1t may be described as
about 1St feet wide and about IL to 10
feet in length. space of 10 feet in the
called the tower room, the csiling
of which is formed by the roof
OF the tower, being some Is inches
higher than in the other portions # the
room. 1t is the intention Of Mr.. Hum
phry some time in the near future to
surmount this tower by an astronomical
observatory. Until then he will Keep his
telescope in the tower room, whence he
can command considerable part of the
heavens through the windows and the
zenith through trap door i'll the ceiling.
A good view of the city, the Delaware
river and the Jersey coast can be had
from these windows; the spire of Salem,
W. J'S cnurcn pelng visible 10 lhe NAKED
eye on a fine clear day.
The interior wood work Of the house is
finished in imitation OF walnut, except
the kitchen which is grained oak. The
exterior is painted in light and dark
shades of olive, the front door being
grained walnut. The front of the house
is ID feet back OF the building line, lesv-
ing room for neat porch and small
front yard.
The building was erected by Peter U
Furry, who carried out the specifications
in every particular to the entire satisiac
tioD of the proprietor, who was his own
architect. 1t is but simple justice to Mr..
Furry to say that he fulfilled his contract
so satisfactorily from beginning to end as
ts give no cause for disagreement at any
time, and that he has reason to be proud
of having made good job of tine build
ing throughout. The sub-contractors
were: Archie s. Reed, brick and stone
work; Isaac S Bullock, tin work; Neal
Mulvena, plasteriug; John C. Brison,
plumbing and gas fitting; W. X. Grant,
painting; James & Brother, hardware;
Delaware Lumber Company, lumber;
Springer, Morley & Cause, mill work;
James W. Ware, stair building; g. |.
Spaar slata roofing