Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-01-17
& Colonial Residence.

To form some adequate idea of the
royal scale on which the old planter of
Virginia lived it is necessary to visit
the castle-like mansions where in the
midst of broad estates, surrounded by
all the belongings of large establish
ment, he carried on his affairs with the
authority of grandee, and IN true
aristocratic style lorded it around gen.
orally. Probably the noblest of all the
colonial residences in the state is Rose
we'll" the former seat of Mann Page,
in Gloucester county, Virginia. This
once magnificent structure, situated on
Carriers Creek, less than one mile from
York River, begun by Matthew PAGE.
was completed after his death bv his
son, Mann Page, in 1870. Years were
consumed in its construction. at n cost
which may be guessed at from state
ments to be made further on. The
building stands on q level lawn of fit
ting proportions, and in outward ap-
pearance is an exact cube Of sixty feet
with the exception that a pointed roof
has superseded the original one, which
was fiat and covered with lead and or
namented with large glass aquarium
Tor fish. Although of such large di-
mansions, Roosevelt is compact-looking
and Notwithstanding the naked space of
treeless grounds, its brick walls and
stone cappings, softened by the blended
colorings of the elements for over
century, make fine impression. No
trace now remains of the tagging that
paved the park Immediately in front,
or the iron railing which surrounded it.
The broad Mt
have also disappeared, along with the
trees which shaded the lawn. Thanking
the house on either side appear the dis
mantled porters' lodges, with the re-
mains of the wine cellars adjoining,
where, although there are suggestive
cobWebs in abundance, not even a piece
Of broken bottle is left to fill one with
visions of the sparkling vintage which
once stocked them
The interior arrangement of the
building may be described as being of
three stories, whose floor plan consists
Of large halls, with cross passages on
which the rooms open. On entering,
the cool and airy effect. of this arrange
ment is the first thing noticed, and is
very pleasing. The main hall on the
first floor, which is duplicated on :he
second, is 3OX4O feet, with which the
cross passages communicate by arched
entrances, well lighted by windows,
two of which run clear up through the
second story. The spacious hall forms
one of the finest apartments that can
well be imagined. A peculiar feature
is the great fireplace in the eastern wall,
The stairway, describing parabolic
curve if continued in the same plane,
descends into the hall with magnif-
cent sweep, and. although somewhat
mutilated, serves, with its nodded rail,
1uted and carved banisters and casing,
better to illustrate the original beauty
of the decorations than anything except
the doors, which, like the stair fittings,
are OF solid mahogany. All of the
wainscoting has been removed, and
both doors and staircase are married
by somewhat dingy paint, bestowed
by one of the many owners in me past.
The property, containing 1900 acres,
now constitutes the Dean estate. and
was purchased for the sum of $25, OOO
-RachnaORd Despatch.