The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-05-13
Redst0ne.

In the westerly part of this village, on an
eminence overlooking the Winoosk and
commanding far-reaching view of the
valley through which it winds, the walls of
a stately residence were reared last fall,
and, during the winter, the abidng-pla
they were to enclose has been evolved from
the chaos Of timber and masonry. This is
the summer abode of Professor John w.
Burgess of Columbia College New York.
This ground was formerly part of the es-
tate of the late Thomas Reed, and by this
designation the site will be more readily
discovered by former residents of Mont
peler. The general form and character of
the residence is that of a French chateau.
1t is two stories in height, fronting toward
the south. A circular tower of red sand
stone rises at the southeast angle. On the
south andiwest the roof breaks into gables,
and its outlines are further varied by archi-
tectural devices that give the exterior a
pleasing and a picturesque appearance har-
monizing with the natural surroundings.
spacious hall extending from the south
ern entrance occupies the central part of
the first floor. On the left, entered from
the hall through three wide arches which
will be hung with drapery, is the drawing
room. The finish here-and of the entire
first story-is quartered oak, and the floors
are birch and maple, oiled and polished.
A handsome fireplace with its mantel of
oak and facing of decorated tile-the artistic
work of Mrs. Burgess-breaks the outline
of the opposite side of the room. Above
the mantel is a windowed niche affordng a
glimpse of the hills and woods beyond.
The walls, border and ceiling are to be
painted in varying tints of lemon. At the
south end of the room, window of a single
sheet of plate glass six feet by nine feet, in
the shape of a Moorish arch, entrances the
glorious scenery of the Wnooski valley
and the picturesque hills far to the south,
east and west On the right of the front
entrance is dainty boudor, expanding its
dimensions into the circular tower whose
windows sweep the landscape in every di-
rection. The ceiling will be tinted a light
blue and the walls delicate drab. A fire.
place adds its suggestions of light and
cheer. From the drawing-roOm and the
hall, the dining-room, an apartment fourteen
feet by twenty-one feet, is reached. The
walls are wainscoted and paneled with
quartered oak. The sideboard of oak is
built into the walls of the room. Here
again is the fireplace with mantel of oak
The walls Of this room will bear the tint OF
the pear olive, the border bottle green"
and the ceiling apple green French win
dows of plate glass, surmounted by a tran
som of stained glass, open to the west. The
buffers pantry, opening from the dining
room, is finished in white wood with ash
panels, and, connecting with the latter, is
the kitchen pantry similarly finished. Into
the main hall on the right comes the east
erly entrance, from the porte-cochere. At
the right OF this entrance is Professor Bur-
CESS study, room twenty-six feet by
nineteen feet, looking east upon the village,
the view bounded by the distant line OF
hills. Fixed bookcases of oak occupy the
wall space. The ceiling and border are to
be peach color and the walls Indian red.
A fireplace will lend its cheering aid to help
the professor resolve the problems that en-
gage his attention. From the remote end
of the main hall a double platform staircase
of quartered oak leads to the second story.
Under the first platform is a toilet room,
and near neighbor to the latter is capa-
cious coat closet. In the hall at the foot OF
the staircase is the genial and omnipresent
fireplace, tianked this time by that relic OF
bygone days and old-fashioned comforts, a
settle"
An ell is devoted to kitchen requirements
and the accommodations OF the servants.
All the appointments in this department.
are the latest and the best. separate
dining and sitting-room is arranged for the
domestcs aud the provision for their COM
fort and convenience is marked by care and
consideration. Electric bells and speaking
tubes are the means Of communicating TO
all parts of the house. In the cellar one OF
the Boynton Furnace Company's largest hot
air furnaces is placed, with registers in all
rooms and halls OF the main edifce. The
most careful and painstaking efforts to pro-
vide perfect sanitary arrangements have
been made. The plumbing is as near per-
feet as science can make it, In these less
attractive but most important departments,
the work shops of the habitation, all that
care and foresight can plan and do for
health, comfort and convenience has been
devised and done NA
A hall fifty feet by twelve feet divides the
rooms OF the second story, opening at the
CONTINUED ON FOURTH PAaEl