The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-04-13
JIM SMITHS NEW HOME.
The Old Norris Mansion 10 be An
neXed to the Newark
Water Works.
s,,ecial to the .1erseu citu Mems.


NEWARK, April 12, 1885,. 1.-The large
brown stone house in Washington Place,
formerly occupied by the Norris family
and later by DR.. Fayette Smith. will
shortly become the residence of. Mr..
James Smith, Jr., and his family. 1t is
understood that Mr.. Smiths father, who
is a widower, will also have his home
there. 1t is a broad four story mansion,
and formerly was two rooms deep. but
since Mr.. Smith purchased 1t a few
months ago he has added a three story
extension in the rear, which gives on tn e
lower floor a third parlor or library and n
large dining room, and two more bed
rooms on each of the two floors above.
This is the principal change which Mr..
Smith has made. the other improvements
being largely in the line of decoration.
On the first floor is a spacious hall, with
q reception room on the right hand side.
Just back of this room Is a cross hall for
the staircase leading to the upper stories.
In the rear of the staircase comes a but
ler's pantry, and then the large dining
room, which, with its oak wainscoting
and mantel, it's decorated ceiling n
large windows looking to the south, Is a
very handsome and cheerful apartment.
On the left hand side of the hall are three
connecting parlors, with side walls paint
ed in light tints and the ceilings in a va
riety OF colors. The woodwork OIL this
floor was all black walnut. The doors IN
the hall and the staircase have been left
untouched, while the woodwork in the
first two parlors has been whitened in
imitation of ivory. Not only the black
walnut in the hall, but the rounded
arches OF the doorways, show thai the
front part of the house is not modern, and
distinguish it from the new extension.
The mantels on the lower floor are ex-
c~eptionally beautiful in design and work
manship. The sthree parIor mantels nre
finished In ivory and gold and are alike,
except that the one In the middle parlor
| has IN oval mirror, while those in the
front and back parlors are square. The
finish is the same as that in the Wander
bilt mansion, New York. and is very rich.
The dining room mantel is in quartered
oak, finished in the natural woods, with
a large amount OF fine carving. Inc de-
signs are all colonial.
On the second floor are five large rooms,
besides a spacious bath room. Here also
| the side walls are tinted aud the ceilings
more deliberately treated. The mantels
are made of mahogany aud are quite mas
sive. The third floor is substantially the
| same. including a bath room, while on the
! fourth floor, underneath the French roof,
| the rooms are smaller and palmer. All
the front rooms afford a fine view OF
Washington Park and Broad street.
DE BOYS wUZ DEERE
The reception room on the first floor has
a separate entrance from the street, and
was used by DR.. Smith as his office. 1t
will be a very useful room for Mr., Smith.
| No physician in Newark receives more
! callers in an evening than he does, land
zone is more in need of an office. Being
a leader In politics and welding large IN
f~1uence, he has been sought at his present
home in New street by a dozen, n some
times a score or two of people each even.
ing. A gentleman who was not Informed
about this called one evening to see Mr..
Smith, and found another man on the
stoop awaiting admission. When the
door was opened to them a third man
passed out, while in the front parlor were
found seven. all waiting to see Mr.. Smith
and each on a different mission.
why. Mr.. Smith is holding a reception
tonight" remarked the gentleman to
~well-known Democrat in the group.
ooh. he holds just such a reception
everv night was the surprising reply.
One by one the callers were given a few
minutes private interview with the Dem