The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1889-01-26
Correspondence baltimore County Union.
LETTER FROM BALTIMORE.
Not Profitable Investment-The Thea
tres-A Curious Old Household
ton," the Beautiful and His
toric Home of Mr..
Spence, etc.

BALTIMORE, January 18th, 1885,
MesSrs. Editors To those of my friends who
persist monthly in sowing dollars for the Louisi-
ana State lottery, only to reap crop of blanks,
which says, blessed are they that expect moth
ing, for they shall not be disappointed" As |
make it settled point never to invest in the
lottery myself, could not of course with con-
sstency congratulate any one who was so fortu-
nate as to draw prize, but have not yet had
the opportunity of putting this heroic resolve
into practice, although on the lookout for years.
The lottery appears to be very much like the
young lady who met the appeal OF crossing
sweeper for a penny with NO. have nothing
for you. You always ask me every time cross"
"Yes," returned the urchin, land every time yer
crosses yer alters give me nothink."
The various theatres this week have presented
many attractions. At FOrd's the gorgeous
spectacular play of the New Fantasmia" has
drawn large houses, such pieces are very apt
to, and at Albaugh's Holiday street the Boston
Ideal Opera Company has given fine series of
performances, both of comic and tragic opera,
with the star singers De Lussan, L'Allemand and
Januschowsky. Tonight the "Kenilworth," the
well-knOwn amateur troupe, present "Rosedale
or the Rifle Ball." at Harris's Academy Of Music,
for the benefit of the Home for Confederate
Widows and Mothers.
In my last letter spoke of being interested in
the antique mansions of the city, something
after the fashion of the Irshman,l suppose, who
said, where did you ever find new house last
ing IKE an anclent one lew adyS ago eo as n
Bank lane, between st. Paul and Calvert streets,
noticed dilapidated structure. quite preten-
the abode of some negro family. 1t is "Tuscu-
lum, built in the early part OF this century by
William Gwynn, a noted lawyer OF his time, and
SO STYLED in honor of Cicero's villa. Many bril-
liant party of wits and bon vivants have been
assembled within those shattered walls, but alas
its glories died out many and many year ago,
and Mr.. Gwynn lived on an impoverished old
man long after he was forced to part with it. Its
exterior still presents shabby genteel aspect,
the shadow of what it was once, and is worth in
spection. In christening it after the abode of
the famous Tully, Mr.. Gwynn by many years an
ticipated Mrs. Blimber, of David Copperfteld,
who always regretted that she could not have
lived in the days of Octavian and been intro
duced to Cicero. Now for another historic home.
of the few grand mansions of the olden time still
left to us. have thought that notice OF 1t
might interest the readers of THE UNION.
Strangers and residents are always attracted by
this great house. standing in park OF three
acres between Hoffman and Preston streets. 1t
has truly baronial aspect, an air OF Solo
strength combined with elegance. 1t was built
more than one hundred years ago. soon after the
Revolutionary war, and was then the country
seat of Mr.. Felix Grundy, a distinguished mer-
chant. 1t stood comparatively remote from the
city and in the midst of a wide demesne OF many
acres. 1t was originally two stories in height,
sward surrounding it. Here Mr.. Grundy lived
in affiuence for many years and entertained in
the most hospitable manner. In 1904 French
corvette with Jerome Bonaparte visited the port
of Baltimore, and Mr.. Grundy invited the officers
to banquet at his house, they meeting many OF
the most distinguished citizens. 1t is said that
Jerome, then an officer in the French navy, met
his future wife, Elizabeth Patterson, for the first
time in the drawing-room at Bolton" Be that
as it may it was at this period that he saw her
and was fascinated by her regal beauty.
Mr. Grundy at length built on the southern
limit of his estate block of houses known to
this day as "Grundy's Row." but styled by his
friends Grundy's Folly. because so far from the
limit of the city that they insisted these houses
could never become part OF 1t. Soperslstently
did these gentlemen twit him with his enterprise
that it is told he changed his seat at the dinner
table and sat afterward with his back to the
the si"ht of these dwellings,. After Mr. Grun-
dy's death the estate passed into the hands of
various owners. Mr.. George Winchester bought
it and lived there for many years He parted
with twelve acres of the grounds for very mod
crate sum, selling to the Northern Central Rail
road Company, then called the Susqnehanna
road the large tract bordering Dolphin,
Cathedral and Preston Streets conveyed in the
last three years to the city in exchange for the
lands along JOneS'S falls. This property unim-
proved is now valued at half million of dollars.
Other owners or occupants of Bolton" succeed
ing Mr. Winchester were Mr.. Hamilton, who had
alarge female seminary elsewhere ;the Urquhart
family of New Orleans, one of whom is the wife
of Hon. Robert NJ. McLane, and Thomas ]. Car
son, a speculative Irish Protestant. Mr.. Carson
failed in business about the end of the civil war
and died not long afterward. From him the
present owner, Mr.. William w. Spence, in 1865,
bought the estate. then reduced to three acres,
and by liberal expenditure has rendered Dol
tom one of the most magnificent residences in
the state OF ae receS S'4 fb
wings, one used as billiard roOm and the other
for conservatory.
The old-time aspect of the exterior is well pre-
served and also the interior in great degree.
Entering the house the visitor finds himself in
beautiful vestibule with tessellated floor and
adorned with rare plants and magnificent cab
inet,several hundred years old of ebony inlald in
ivory, the heirloom of an ancient noble family,
which Mr.. Spence obtained in Venice. On the
left is the wide staircase leading TO the private
rooms of the family, and door opening into the
library. From this most inviting apartment an
other door leads to the billiard room. On the
other side of the library and in the rear of the
vestibule is the grand drawing room, magn1h-
cent saloon with an octagon end looking out
the dining room is entered, which occupies the
west end of the house. and adjoining it is the
conservatory. All these apartments are lifted
up in the most sumptuous manner and form
splendid suite for the reception of guests. With
excellent taste Mr.. Spence has preserved as far
as he could the pristine features of the house in
Mr.. Grundy's time, and the eye is charmed with
the fine old Italian white marble mantel-pleceS,
the carved panel work of the cornices, the old
fashioned fan light over the vestibule entrance
of the drawing room, as well as by the numer-
Gus paintings, sculptures rare pOrcelainS. pre-
cious volumes and hundreds OF exquisite objects
which fill the rooms. Mr.. Spence is not only one
of the most enterprisng and successful OF Bal
timore merchants, but also liberal patron of
art, and the various art exhibitions held in past
years have been much indebted to him for his
kindly aid and counsel. The grounds are adorn-
ed with large greenhouses as well as primeval
growth of trees. Among these one standing on
the edge of the bank overlooking Preston street
always attracts notice and is remarkable for its
form and exquisite foliage. Starting from the
knarled old trunk it branches forth much in the
shape of sheaf and then multiplies into
thousand graceful curving twigs, whose delicate
leaves are always among the earliest of the
spring. 1t is the "hornbeam," very rare tree
in this part of the world, but greatly planted in
France, especially among the gardens of Yer
share the fate of 'Belvedere," the once historic
house of the Towards, but continue to be a de-
light to its owners as well as its neghboring res
idents. WALPoLE.