The Great Falls leader. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1888-1900, 1889-10-13
a GREAT FALLS HOMIE

clrcllng the site Of the city of Great Falls
d LEADER representative was attracted hv
''"nosome looking dwelling and. upon
inquiry, learned that it was the res sidenco
OF the Hon. II. ?. Rolfe, one of the MO
neers OF northern Montana.
Approaching the very inviting and hos
titaple mansion, we concluded that such
structure, with it's surroundings. gave
evidence Of an abiding faith in the future
oil our city and state.
The premises were strewn with lumber
lath, shingles and debris, indicatinq Q
extensive Improvements and additions
Workmen were at work in all the various
labors called into requisition in the prac-
tlcal operations OF house building. Among
them we discovered our gentlemanlv and
esteemed architect, Il. NJ. Morgan, who
was supervising the work. From him we
learned that with his force of men he had
been occupied the principal part Of the
summer in making additions. enlarge
ments and remodeling Judge Rolfe's res
ldence, which, when first erected, was
the finest structure Of the kind in this
part Of Montana: that already upwards Of
S5,o0O had been expended in these i'm
provements and they are not yet all COM
pleted
Upon invitation Of Mr.. Moran we ac-
companied him into the basement, where
we were shown one of the most unique.
durable and complete house furnaces
now manufactured, it being q No 4 Of
the famed Victor steam heater, from the
house of A. a. Pond, Minneapolis. From
this the heat is conveyed in pipes into
every room throughout the house, on
both first and second floors; each room
being supplied with the latest improved
cast iron radiator.
Ascending to the first floor we were
courteously permitted by Mrs. Rolfe to
look through the interior planning Of the
house. Fronting townwards, from the
spacious parlor bay window is spread be-
fore US most inviting landscape, incIud-
ing 0ictt L dllS dul llS beautiful sur
roundings-the broad Missouri sweeping
around it on the west and north in semi
circular curve; the Sun river confluence;
the lovely valley of Sun river, reaching
100 miles to the main chain of the Rocky
mountains, distinctly seen on clear days;
also, beyond the Missouri, to the south
west and northward, the wonderfully-fe fer
tile plateaus that, like a vast line of huge
earth-works, lie stretched out encircling
the city.
The interior arrangement seems ex-
ceedingly we'll calculated to secure the
highest degree of comfort to the family.
From the front parlor we go through
portierre to the rear parlor, out of
which doors lead to the conservatory, on
the south side of the house; to The Ii
brary on the north and the bedroom ad-
joining the library, and the capacous,
we'll lighted and well-appointed dining
room. Adjoining the bed room on the
east is the bathroom with hot and cold
water and water closet fitted in the most
modern style. From the dining-room Il
double-sWing door leads into large
room in which are the uniquely finished
pantry, closets and store-rooms, from
which the kitchen, extending to porches
on either side of the house, north and
south, brings us to the rear Of the build
ing. In the kitchen is placed family
range Of the latest and most approved
pattern.
On the chamber floor, on either side of
a broad hall, are the airy bedrooms Of
the family and domestics, besides spa
cious playroom for the children. All of
these rooms are large, well-lighted, thor
oughly ventilated and afford delightsome
views of the surrounding country.
The exterior dimensions of the dwell
ing are 32XG0 feet within which are "A
rooms besides lavaters, dish-washer, hot
and cold water basins, closets, pantries,
cupboards, etc, of various sizes, ingen-
iously located and most refreshingly fire.
quent throughout.
A little to the southeast of the dwelling
is the milk-house and i2e-house, both Of
which are we'll adapted to the purposes
of cold storage, the securing Of sweet
milk, cream and butter, for which Mrs.
Rolfe may justly pride herself
Beyond the residence grounds proper
;,h
as this would be complete-50x3S feet,
we'll lighted, having massive sliding doors,
plank floors and subdivided into carriage
room. grain room, two double stalls, two
single stalls, double box stall and, in the
northwest corner, a we'll finished bedroom
for the oster In the loft, where 25 or
80 tons of hay may be stored and from
which the hangers are reached by con
veniently placed shutes, there is in the
northwest corner. a J0-b barrel tank, from
which pure water is suppliedto the house
through a system Of pipes-the tank it
self being supplied from well on the
premises and raised by windmill power
from depth of 40 feet, making the tot&l
bight to which the water is forced in the
tank some 100 feet. The tank may be
flied from the pump in three hours, while
the water in the we'll does not seem to be
perceptibly lowered. 1t is practically IN
exhaustible.
The system of waterworks in operation
here is most perfect, reliable and admir-