The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1891-07-31
The Rebuilt Castle Ronald.

With an added force OF four carpenters,
making seven now employed at Ronald S
Peak, Superintendent G. w. Stuart is
making all speed to complete the outside
wood work of the Castle and the main
roof was ready for the tin roof, which
Ryan Bros. of Bethel were to lay, Mon
day; the cupola is also nearly completed.
In rcconstructing the burned castle, Mr.
Ronalds has departed from the plans Or
iginally drawn, which burned with the
castle, last November. Many of the
changes will add to the symmetry of the
building, especially the added height and
size of the cupola, which is 20X30 feet,
with 20-foot posts and a promenade deck,
guarded by a railing, on the roof. A
handsome flag will float from the 30-foot
pole with gilded ball and vane, which is
to be solidly framed into the cupola roof
Provision has been made for the severe
gales, which the peak is subject to, in
building the cupola, which is intended
for a billiard room. Eight heavy iron
rods hold the frame to the main trusses
of the castle roof, these trusses being
bolted to the timbers of the castle, which
in turn are anchored by heavy irons to
the main wall. Little mason work re-
mains to be done at the peak, this season,
only two men being now employed, who
are finishing the pOrtcullis or ornament
al wall, which rises breast high above the
roof on the front or south side.
Much of the old wall has required min
or repairs, many stone window sills and
caps having been replaced with new, the
eutire walls being rebuilt on the north
side above the windows, from which
poured the volume of flame in the fire.
The interior of the end walls will also re-
quire attention of the masons, the burnt
mortar being removed and replaced by
new. the whole covered with Portland
cement aud pencilled to resemble stone
work. Care has been taken against leaks
at the junction of walls and roof, by
placing Hastings of sheet copper, which,
imbedded in the wall, will turn off water
which might soak into the stone work and
weaken it. On the south, where were
MANY detached balconies before the fire,
one continuous balcony over 80 feet long
and five and one-half wide is to be built,
which will not be enclosed, at least for
the present, but will be so planned that
it NAV be transformed into mammoth
bav window, should Mr. Ronalds desire
change. The end balconies are also to be
built again, this Fall. With the com
pletion of the lower rooms of the east
wing. Mr. Ronalds is furnished with cool
and comfortable living apartments, which
are, however, but temporarily partitioned
off with pine. He has arranged his an
cient armor and implements OF war about
the room, which also answers as re
ception and drawing room, with an ele
giant Chickering piano, recently arrived
from New York. The walls are to bt
hung with paintings, though many OF TIT
more valuable pictures in Mr. Ronald:
collection were destroyed in the fire. Be
sides the masons and carpenters, eight o.
10 laborers and three or four plasterers
are still at work ON the castle, the plas
terers finishing the rooms in the uppel
story of the east wing. The Woode1
building used as living rooms by Mr. Ron
aids during the Summer, on the west o.
the court, where will stand the swimming
bath, is to be moved soon to the rear O.
the barns and fence will be built to pro
tect the court from wintry blasts. Even
tually, this court is to be one OF the beau
tiful things about the castle, protected
on the north by an ornamental wall O
stone or one story stone buildings, over
looked by both open and closed balloon
les on the main building and the wings
Though somewhat disheartened by th'
fire, which robbed his castle Of treasure
not to be replaced, Mr. Ronalds view
with pleasure the approaching complet
ion of his plans for a breezy Summer re
sort, where he may enjoy Nature in al
its glories.
p,,nkionfs Arnsca Sa1ye.