Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-07-04
BROOKS HOUSE IMPROVEMENTS.

BROOKS HOUSE IMPROVEMENTS
During the spring and early summer
Crosby q Adams have made many marked
improvements at the Brooks House IN the
way Of additions and new furnishings,
which are now practically completed. The
laundry building IN the rear Of the house
has been enlarged by a ten foot extension
and the addition of two stories in height.
A complete set Of steam laundry apparatus
has been placed ON the two lower floors, 10y
Crawford q Poland Of Boston. A lj-horse
power boiler furnishes all the steam aud
hot water required, aud a siN horsepower
engine drives the machinery. The sheets
tablecloths, ETC., are washed by n large ma
chine consisting Of perforated cage,
which revolves alternately IN opposite di
rections In case containing boiling suds
Fifty sheets can be cleaned in 20 minutes.
They are then "wrung OUT by a centriiu-
gal drier, revolving 400 times "a minute,
which will extract 30 per cent Of the wa
ter from the clothes in two minutes. kN
tending south from the second floor Is a
platform for drying clothes in the ordinary
way The clothes are ironed by 81 inch
steam mangle When the weather is wet
and the clothes cannot be dried out OF
doors this mangle will take them from the
drier aud dry them completely by twice
passing through All the appliances work
satisfactorily, aud make the laundry de
partment complete and up TO the latest
modern requirements in all its appoint
ments.
The upper stories Of the laundry build
ing are connected with the main house 10y
20 by-3O-foOt addition The lower story Of
this addition connects with the old kitchen.
and affords greatly improved facilities for
the culinary department Twonew Brain
hall, Deane q Co a. " ranges. contain
ing three fires aud four ovens, a broier,
steam cooking kettles. dish warmer and
handy arrangements for heating water
and washing the dishes constitute the main
part Of the apparatus here The increased
room IN the kitchen has added greatly 10
the convenience Of that department, and
has made It possible to remove from the
dining room all the tables formerly used 10
collect the dishes upon, thus giving IN
creased room there The place where the
dishes are handled is 80 far away that no
noise reaches the dining room from that
source This with other changes made IN
the dining room give that essential part Of
the house an even more elegant and at
tractlve appearance than ever The two
upper stories of the laundry building aud
the addition over the kitchen furnish com
modious quarters for the help Of the house
All their rooms are neat and attractive
with pleasant outlook, They nave two
corridors entirely TO themselves. with stairs
leading 10 IA lower hall Near the foot Of
these stairs Is "a room set apart for a maids
and chiidren's dining room. By means Of
this extension - rooms on the fourth floor
Of the main building. formerly occupied by
the servants, are now available for guest
chambers, making total Of no guest
rooms
Every room in the house is lighted by
electricity There are pa 10 candle power
lights IA ALL besides an are light IN the Of
hce ~ OF the lights are IN the dining
room. The Thomson Houston system is
used, aud the gas company do the lighting
Mr.. Lowd Of Salem Mass has lust tin
shed the wiring Ii is IA very complete
piece of work introducing all the latest
appliances aud convenience While all the
changes that have been made will render
the house more attractive than ever for
guests none Is more essential or will be
more appreciated than the complete recon
structlun of the plumbing and drainage
throughout the house. Ia this respect tue
best apparatus has been chosen and the
without regard 10 expense New toilet
rooms. closets, baths and bowls have been
put IA ON all the upper floors aud iu the
extension for the servants use equal regard
mas been paid To- sanitary requirement. 10
would be impossible for any house Go be-
more thoroughly protected against foul
udors, sewer gas. or disease germs Of any
kind than the Brooks II Iuse now b. In
the matter OF plumbing one OF the most
notable aud expensive Improvements of all
Is that now IA progress IA the basement
where the old closets are being replaced
with all marble fittings, including marble
wainscoting and partitions aud marble tile
Hour In tins respect the house will equal
the elegant appliances of the best city hn
tells. The plumbing a. a vi hole Is IA lob Of
which Fleming q Co. " no have done the
work, may well be proud
Besides the extensions aud improvements
already mentioned the house has been
largely reiurnlshed. The corridors on the
second aud third floors have been covered
with handsome Wilton velvet carpet
large number of the rooms have been nrW
Is paperrd and carpeted aud much new
furniture has been added
IL Is to he said, in short that IN every Pc
spect the Brooks House has been completely
undermined aud made to meet all the r.
quirements Of the times, the first step ia
TINS direction under the new management
being the addition OF an elevator wear
ago Built originally "a most thorough
and substantial manner. aud after approved
architectural Ideas, Il hA, steadily main
tanned a reputation a. one of the best ho
tells IN New England. aud with the large
improvements now made 1t becomes more
than ever fitting complement TO the nat
ural attractions which BrAttlebpru 50 free
iy offers. Homelikeness has always been
the one marked characteristic OF the house
and tins quality Is one which the new own
ers know well nov ~ cultivate, ~ shown
10y the remark OF travelling man who said
Recently, 1T Is the most honelike place
that | find betWee New York aud Mon
treal.' With all the rest there has been
steady Improvement in the kitchen aud Ia
bie service and this department leaves liz
tie 20 critIcise or desire
II Is always cause for congratulation " hen
a new manufacturing industry is likely TO be
located IN town bringing men and money
70 the place No less should It bv "a matter OF
lively appreciation that we have IN Brattle.
horo hotel Of the first class, under enterpris
ing and progressive management, to attract
here during the year hundreds of people
with money to spend. and of a class which
every community Is glad to have IN it,
midst. Its effect upon the prosperity OF the
! "a bt M a..