Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-13
A WICHITA MANSION.
THE RESIDENCE OF ]. OAK DAVID
SON.
The Most deliberately Finished and Fur
nished Residence in Kansas, if Not
in the West.

| me MOST ElaDOrately F1nlSneO ana r UT
nished Residence in Kansas, if Not
! in the West.
Among the many features of Wichita:
attractiveness for stranger there is nc
one item which e1cites more favorable
comment, than the fact that she is pos
sessed of more beautiful homes than any
other city of her size in the west and has
not few that will compare very closely
with the most elegant to be found in even
the largest cities of the country. The one
particular residence mansion is q more
proper term which attracts the most at
tention and is pointed out to strangers
with a feeling of pride by Wichita
people, as the most elegant home in the
city is that of Mr.. j. Oak Davidson, presi-
dent of the Citizens bank, the Davidson
| Investment company, the Citizens Land
company and large number of other OF
Wichita's solid institutions. This magni-
fcent structure and its ella borate finish
ings combined have cost no less than $780,
O0O
The building, while not being large
enough, to suggest such an amount OF
]
close inspection. The workmanship both
upon the exterior and the interior is
the very best in the west, the
frescoing and decorations having been ex-
ecuted by Messrs. Crossman and Lee, Of
Chicago, who made such great reputa-
tion in the establishment of Potter Pal
mer's and other famous Chicago mansions.
Mr. Davidson's residence is no exception
to their rule and its interior is a marvel of
the latest and best designs of the decor
ator's art.
The style of architecture is what Is
known as Romanesque, being of no partic-
ular school but combining elements of
beauty and originality. Still there is con-
siderable of massive air about the same
The design was originally procured by Mr.
Davidson some two years ago while on a
trip to the east Mr.. A Gould, who will be
remembered as person of acknowledged
ability in his profession suggested some
Celebrations in the designs. After Mr.
Gould had undertaken the work of super
vising the construction of the building,
he left the city and his partner, Mr.. VIM
NJ. Rapp, young architect OF superior
merit, continued the work for year and q
half, until the completion of the building
only yesterday The material of which
the building is constructed is Colorado
lava stone of delicate pink tint with
trimmings of Red Portage. Lake Superior
sandstone, the columns about the building
being of red granite.
The site in Riverside is a beautiful one
at the corner of Buffum and Riverside
avenues, fronting the Little Arkansas
river al point where a beautiful view of
the river in either direction is obtained is
not excelled. in natural beauty, by any in
Wichita The main entrance, at the north
front, through broad eliptical 2rchway
supported by polished columns of red
granite with caps and bases of Lake
Superior stone, with massive balustrades
of lava stone, leads onto a roomy plaza
laid in encaustic tiling. From the plaza
the vestibule is reached through heavy
oaken doors, glazed in artistic designs
with bevelled plate
Before attempting to describe the in-
terror it will be necessary to notice some
more of the external portions. The car
riage drives enter from the east and north
and pass through the heavy port cochere
of Colorado stone at the northeast angle
of the building This covers portion of
the plaza named, upon which guests land
in alighting from their vehicles. The port
cochere rises to the height of the second
story and supports a large terrace also
artistically inlaid with encaustic thing.
Above the terrace is slate rooted canopy
the terrace is a massive bal
ustrade made Of lava stone.
Returning TO the vestibule, heavy doors
of the same elaborate design as the outer
ones, open into the spacious square hall.
The entire first lower floor IS of polished
hard gum wood. The hall IS encircled by
heavy wainscotting Of red oak, finished in
raised panels The decorations are OF
terra Gotta and metallic tints surmounted
by cornice of heavy design, the ceiling
being finished in heavy panels Leading
TO the right from the hall and passing IN
der the grand stair case, is a smoking
room Of coy proportions and design 4
beautiful oak mantsl surmounted by plate
mirrors is at the back of the hall directly
opposite the vestibule.
The grand staircase with massive and
handsomely carved oak newells and balus-
trades ssceuds az the right under broad
archway supported by heavy pilasters Of
carved oak The wainscotting Of the hall
IS continued up this broad staircase. 81
The first landing and overlooking the stair
Ease is superb triple cathedral glass
window of design made especially for
this residence and bearing at the top the
y. o. D" and the date 1855
Above the third landing arc two circular
OF cathedral glass, both elaborate
and original IN design
The library 10 the left Of the hall is En-
tered through sliding doorz- Here the
Is in raised panels Of polished
birch. The decorations are of modern and
unique designs, IN delicate golden tsEts
The book cases also Of polished birch, are
provided with fronts Of beveled glass TIE
throughout the house are Of plate |
glass and ara Provided With raising and !