Montgomery County sentinel., 1888-03-16
Burning of a Prominent Country

burning Ol FFOmInent country
Resionace. The handsome residence be
longing to Mrs. r G. Fields, OF Rockville
located about two miles north of the village
on the Frederick road, and occupied by hei
son, VIM. Fields, with his family, was com
pletely destroyed by fire on Tuesday, the
9th instant. The fire broke out in pantry
in the kitchen, from some cause unknown,
and within short time the large frame
structure and portion OF its contents was
burned to the ground.
In the destruction of this house censpic-
uous and attractive landmark disappears
from our vicinity. This beautiful property,
known as Windsor" was originally located
! by - Riley, and was conducted for many
years as tavern, which in its time sheltered
and was the rendezvous of the conspicuous
local politicians OF that period, though of
these facts no one seems able to speak very
definitely at this time.
After Riley's death the property was
owned successfully by the Windsors, Mr.
Bailey, father of Joseph T. and Stephen
Bailey, and then by Stephen Bailey, who
sold it to Mr.. Thomas Hunter, of Baltimore
county, whose attention was attracted to it
by its beautiful location and other natural
advantages
After the death of Mr.. Hunter the origi-
nal estate of five hundred acres was divided
up into several lots and sold from time to
time by the Trustee until finally the ad-
ministration was completed by the sale of
the homestead to the present owner, who is
the second person who has had the misfor-
tune to lose the dwelling by fire, the origi-
nal house having been destroyed in this
way.
At the time Of Mr.. Hunters purchasing
the property it was not in a very presentable
condition, but by the use of Peruvian Guano
the exercise of great energy and good judg-
ment, and the judicious use of ample means,
he changed the whole aspect and condition
of the place, and with the addition of a
large and handsome dwelling caused it to
become one of the most beautiful homes
and farms in the State.
The house was fifty feet long, with par
lors twenty feet wide, and with the doors
opening into the hall folded back to the
walls they formed saloon extending from
one fireplace to the other, making the finest
dancing floor the writer has ever seen in
private house, and it is difficult to imagine
more exhlarating scene than large as
sembly in those rooms, with abundant fires
OF hickory wood in either fireplace and
sperm candles placed along on top of the
folding doors and the mantel pieces, and
the walls festooned with winter evergreens.
The grounds about the house were covered
by handsome foliage and choice flowers
which blended attractively with the paint
ing of the house, which was exactly the
tint of the peach bloom, with leaf green We
nitian blinds. Windsor was famous for its
handsome appearance, fine stock, fine crops,
and the cordial hospitality of the family
Under the intelligent management of its
present occupant, Mr.. Fields, the property
has been greatly renovated and the burning
of the house, besides breaking into many
pleasant associations, detracts immeasurably
from the beauty of the surrounding neigh
bsrhOod, and its destruction has elected
universal expressions of regret.
NEIGHBoR.