The Asheville citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1885-1889, 1888-08-04
FANo1FU1 aoMBRooN.
Senator Vance's Beautiful Black
Mountain Castle.

Nesting among the shrubbery
and foliage of the highest peak of
Black Mountain is quaint "Gom-
broom" the magnificent summer
home of United States Senator Zeb-
ulon B. Vance. Its location is pic
turesque, and its surroundings are
magnificent in grandeur inimi-
table of weird ,.wild mountain seen
cry. From the peak upon which
the house is built can easily be seen
the Graggies, Bulls Head, the PIN
nacle of the Blue Ridge, and -rnrny
other mountain peaks, whose names.
we cannot now recall to mind. The
purling streams, the sylvan glens,
the wild mountain trails and byh
paths which environ "Gombroon,"
all tend to make this chosen spot
one Of the most beautifully attractive
and deliciously delightful summer
residences in the mountains of Wes-
tern North Carolina. No wonder
the Senator selected this place from
among SO many others, to fee from
the vexations and cares of active
political life; to seek pleasant re-
tirement and undisturbed ease from
the Senatorial ills that sore beset
him. "Gombroon" is easily access
ible by rail, and all the conYen-
fences that render a suburban
country 'fa thing of beauty and a
joy forever" are found there.
The house is an elegant structure,
roomy, and conveniently arranged.
Its interior is finished in native
woods, antique oak, walnut, poplar
yellow pine and maple predominant
ing. The structure is of that style
of architecture known as "Queen
Anne" and is splendid testimonial
within itself to architectural art.
There iR nothing lacking; everything
for comfort, convenience and beauty
is to be found within its four walls,
while the exterior presents most
attractive view to the eye of the
spectator. The grounds surround
ing the building have been laidiout
in well-Eept drives, lawns, and
grass-plats, with now and then a
flower bed, containing rare plants
and beautiful blooms. Outhouses
are dotted, here and there, about the
place, and the whole presents the
appearance of model residence.
The dwelling has recently been
furnished throughout with elegant
and costly furniture of the latest
styles and patterns, and the carpet
ings, rugs, ETC., are said to be the fin
est texture and design. Costly
paintings, musical instruments,
bric-a-brac adorn the parlors, and
reception rooms, and rare china and
silver plate are the pride of the
house-keeper's heart.
The library is filled with many
volumes of choice literature of
every description, from the solid
works of the most profound and
learned writer to the f1ippant, airy
nothings of the most imaginative
and tancltul compiler of fiction.
There are many other features
about "Gombroon" that might we'll
be incorporated in this article, but
we will reserve them for the future,
when more extended and cons
plete description will be given of
the magnificent mountain home of
North Cardinals witty, popular,
learned and loved junior Senator.
Mrs. Vance, the esteemed wife
of the Senator, is now at
"Gombroon" for the summer,
and it is safe to predict that ere
long the Washington papers will
chronicle the fact that "our Zsb"
"has code to North Carolina to rus.
ticate among the mountains"