New-York tribune., 1885-01-18
TIE Old LITCHFTELD MANSION.
HOUSE HIDDEN BY TREss IN PROSPECT PA"h-
now TIE ROOMS LooK-FINE VIEW FROM III

4 uorsR HIDDEN BY TRFss IN PROSPECT PARK
HOW TIE ROOMS LooK-FINE VIEW FROM TIE
TOWER.
withdrawn among the trees in Prospect parh ana
seeming 10 court seclusion, although only II"
hundred feet from Nmth-ave. stands the Li'chnei"
mansion, ono Of the most interesting oul!uihss III
Brooklvn. II has decidedly fendal aspect with its
dark walls OF stone its square, hatiemented to"er
with flag flying from the 1ag staff. Situated on
a slight eminence it commands a wide view. and yet it
s coInparntively isolated from the rest o tie park
being distance from any requented walk or drive
This is due 10 the fact that though the house and the
ground around il have been the property Of the city Tor
long term of years. the Park Commissioners until
little more than year ago allowed Mr.. Litchteld TO
occupy the house and it therefore kept secluded.
On January /, 1881, the house taken possession
Of for the offices Of the park. As one walks up the
curving gravel path that divides the lawn he is im
pressed by the size of the dwelling and also by the
handsome trees around il. One o; these, a lovely
white oak, with branches springing from the trunk
from the ground up, is said to be fine tree
there is in the park
A park official kindly showed TRIBUNE reporter
through the house recently. Il is open TO visitors
every day to the extent that the business transacted
the building will allow, and people have come from
long distances TO inspect it. Though stIll handsome
dwelling inside and out, much mote elegant structure
which j; cost when erected over thirty years ago.
Crossing the piazza enters roomy vcstibue and
then the hall, both OF which have floor Of mosacs.
In the centre of the house is circular WELL
mounted by a skylght. The rooms are ranged al
round this central hall or shaft and are reached by
starways at its side To start at the foundation. how
ever one finds something of interest IN the cellar.
which extends underneath the whole building aud
contains the furnace. Part OF the cellar Is used
though rsrely) lookup for culprits arrested
III the park. The most striking feGtuTc of this sub
terrancan room is underground passagcway leading
some thirty forty feet from the house to the wine
cellar, which from the outside invisible except Tor
grating anost hid in grass. Halt way out this passage
crosses an old well, now unused. Returning 10 the
first aoor the first at the right Of the hail is the
receuten room a large apartment. once handsomely
furnished but with it, former luxury only suggested
By fre.c0es Of chorubs on the walls. and carved
inantes of Carrara marble Stl further 10 the right
occnpyng the south side of the house with it's hay
window il what once the drawing roo A. used
for the general Office of the park officials. The walls
Imagine how pheasant the mast have been when
.mtably furnished. Connecting with t,is room. and
east of it, thedinne roor Adjoining thus wa the
in the fourth corner 4 the house the library
occupied by Colonel John y. Culyer. chief engineer
and superintendent OF the park. as ms Office. IL is
large circular room. weilghied en two sides, and
with the walls GOV cred with book shelves.
On the second floor the circular hall in the ccnr" Of
the house was u-ed the ART gallery. The shyight
above gave faultiess light and one can see by the
nai-nocs that the walls well covered with paint
ings This fooT and the one above are mostly taken
up with large. pleasant chambers with frc c'cd walls.
the ceiling. are however. moi high most
modern ouses Ihe two large III the soutN SHE
az the house on the second RO0r we're used for
ball-r and the other for theatrical exhibitions.
small elevated stage, with slide and drop curtains and
green rooms behind took mp considerable space while
there was space left Tor gcod-sizcd audience. The
ballroom had balcony Tor musicians, and little rOoas
in which a quiet Irritation would unaydda bic.
Tue room formerly occupied by Mr.. hchieid's
daughter is pretty little apartment the north side
oui,cs:te the handsome oak before mentioned. Miss
4 fttV al ill.,,
leave the house. and the pleasant view fom her
window rarity explains this. Daring last summer "A
swarm of honey bees oaS possession o the room, and
lately Colonel Culyer had thc task of hiymg them, Tor
which he was repaid by excellent money.
Another handsome III the hOuse IL in The tower
II was formerly the guest chamber 1t commands
fine view OF New-iork Bay
But it is not until has climbed to the
top Of the tower and emerged from
it's ttap.door that he realizes the Ipagui-
Gceu; view cOnRnanded by the house. Here are
pressure and the velocity of The wind. But does
not care for these things wii,le cas,ing the land
scape. For twenty u1ies more or less Ill every
dired ton the horizon is uDobstructod at ie1st in
winter W hen the trees near by lcaicss Far away
to the south can be white sails on the and
the towc and pnnacies that mark CoBey Island Veer
lag TO the west, the Narr0ws, Staten Island, Bay
and the Jersey hills sweep into view Almost all
Of New-york and Brooklyn visible with the
Palisades and the ConnectcJt hills and part Of the
Sound beyond. Looking eastward and souticastward
one NAV get glimpse of East New or. the County
Buildings. Flatbush, and the vegetable gardens or
farras OF Long Island the great kockaway Hotel and
the gray eXpanse Of Jamaica Bay.