The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-05-10
FAYS NEWPORT PALACE
Another New Old House Which Calls
for Admiration.
MARBLE AND CARVED TIMBER.
A Marvellous Transformation Wrought
Upon an Old-Time Mansion - Other
Newport Notcs-Repubiican Activity
Social Topics in the City-by-the-ses.
ESPECIAL TO THE SEws.r

bought the old Gray estate and homestead
on Narragansett avenue. This was one
of the oldest cottages in Newport and had
been the scene of many a brilliant gather
ing some forty years ago, when the best
society was largely made up OF wealthy
families from the South.
Soon after buying the estate, Mr.. Fay
began to make alterations. till today the
cottage is about the most attractive. even
on that avenue OF magnificent structures
among which may be named the famous
quintette OF Pinard cottages; the Henry
Astor Carey estate: the William r. Ira
vers cottage; the Goelet villa; the Fear
ing and dozen other summer residences,
where brilliant entertainments are given
every season. Mr.. Fay is already in the
very front rank of society circles.
The cottage has been almost entirely
rebuilt all except the kitchen, which
still shows the old-fashioned brick hearth
and wide open fireplace.
The entire job was put into the hands
of B. +. Tanner. the well-known builder,
and through his courtesy our cores
pondent is able to present an exclusive
account, with description of a cottage
that before the season is over will be
noted for charming entertainments in the
wav Of breakfasts. coaching parties, din
ners and such like.
Entering the front door is a handsome
yestibule with MOSAIC floor the striking
features being the unique loaded window
in the door, and oval in the side It has
an old-fashioned dental cornice, very rare
now a-days, and a remarkable oxidized
gas fixture, set In directly opposite the
door.
From the vestibule. through couple of
arches you enter the reception room, TAX
ing In the whole front of the house. The
ceiling commands attention being mainly
series of old-fashioned beams with
heavy dental cornices. The wainscottinR
is colonial In style. The prettily designed
windows at once attract the eye, being of
artistic design aud finish as are all
throughout the honse. The fireplace and
mantel are beautiful.
The hearth and facings are of pure
marble, the colors blending in fine panel
work, the fireplace having a solid polished
iron back with solid silver facings. The
mantle is worked in and built ap- to the
cornices Of the room. The centre plate is
representing music" fstY Flused Columns Columns
and pilasters with oddly carved heads
run up from floor to cornice. The room
is IS by 20 feet with polished hard wood
floor and the gas fixtures and hardware
are all Of solid silver, the finish OF the
room being In white or cream colored
ivory
Next comes the library, a model of
comfort and elegance. Both sides of the
room are filed in with bookcases with
quaint, loaded glass doors, while the cor
nices are after the old dental style. The
gas fixtures and other ,appurtenances are
Of silver. A very rare thing in this room
is toplight OF bulFs-eye glass that eau
from one part of the room it presents
kaleidoscope colors and tints in bewil-
dering fashion. There is the same finish
in the library as In all the other rooms on
this floor. Through a fine arch you get
into the dining-rOOm, with beautifully
carved mantel and open fireplace. Con-
venient and elegantly appointed buffets
are built in the inches. There are two
valuable imported Dutch doors the one
leading out OH to the front, the other to
the side piazza. The room Is % by 1S
with broad plate glass windows and solid
brass hardware and brass chandeliers.
The walls OF the music room are painted
in silver and buff; dining room light
red and gold library rich dark red.
Standing In the small hall in the centre
of the house q visitor has all the rooms
under his gaze, and the effect is magnif-
cent. The buffers pantry, toilet rooms
and other conveniences are cunningly let
in of this small hall and almost hidden
from sight.
The grand stairway is quite uncommon.
There are the old fashioned twisted bal
listers and mahogany rail with two quaint
divans built into the angles. The main
window on the front stairs has a platform
several feet deep as also has the French
window at the other side which will be
filled in with growing plants and flowers.
The hallway upstairs is very large and
runs through front and back. There are
five handsome bedrooms, each with
wardrobes. marble bath tubs with silver
and polished brass fixings. and every other
convenience OF modern times. On the third
floor are number OF rooms for servants,
with store rooms, etc. The house has
every room. The basement is comforta-
bly, furnished.
The exterior of the house is very pleas
ing in ombination of colors that causes
it to stand out in bold relief and at once
catches the eye Of the passer-by. The
basement is dark green, the body Of the
house pretty pinkish red with the
piazzas, cornices and jets pearl grey.
A large carriage house with coachmen's
quarters has been added To the stable
with harness room to accommodate 20
sets.
The grounds have been graded and
and a fine half-circular carriage
drive laid out and finished, so that, as n
whole, IL now makes one of the prettiest
cottages aud estates in the City-by-the-
Sea. A word is due on the perfect system
Of plumbing of the very finest material
and kind put In by 7. j. Murphy of Mill
street.
Newport Notes.
The Rhode Island Grand Lodge OF the
New England Order of Protection have
issued an official circular OF the list of
the officers of the Grand Lodge and of the
district deputies for the ensuing year.
which will be- Of especial interest 70 MEM
bers OF the association. Hon. John j.
Peckham Is the grand warden and Chas.
IA. Mathewson IL the grand secretary.
Josiah M, Fiske has decided to
build a handsome stone mansion on his
farm on the island and has awarded the
TO Mcneil Brothers OF Boston.
Masters Tom Weaver aud Harry Wilbur
have returned from vacation spent in
Fall River.
This morning the two commissioners re-
Gently appointed by the city council leave
town on their several errands. Messrs.
Waters. Marsh and Chief Engineer Coz
zens TO look after new steam fire engine,
and Me~rs. McCormlck, Openshaw and
chief OF Police Congdon to buy new
ambulance.
alderman ID. Il. Fearing will close his
cottage here on the lst Of June.
The Young Republican Club held an