The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-08-20
FIT FOR AN EMPRESS.
Country Place Prepared for Mr..
Whitney and Miss Vanderbilt.
w. c. whitney Has Purchased 5000
Acres In the Berkshire Hills.

william G. Whitney has arranged
modern Utopia, in which his son, Henry
Payne Whitney, and Gertrude Vanderbilt
are to spend their honeymoon.
Mr.. Whitney has completed, through an
agent, the purchase OF nearly 5000 acres
OF land In the heart Of tho Berkshire hills,
eight miles from the exclusive summer re-
sort of L.enox, Mass.
The cost of the property is said to have
been more than $500, 900, and on IL the ex-
secretary intends TO erect one of the finest
summer homes in the United States. He
has upward Of 200 workmen engaged on
the place mt present, and 1t will be ready
for tho reception Of young Mr.. and Mrs.
Whitney on the day Of their marriage,
Aug. 25.
Owing to the short time between now
and the wedding. the grounds, buildings
and surroundings cannot bo put In proper
condition, but the bridal couple and the
friends who accompany them will spend
the few remaining weeks Of the heated
term in the open air.
A number Of tents are being construct
ed, and under these Mr.. Whitney, his fam
lily, the young benedict, his bride, and
on In September.
commodation Of the servants, and a mod
est, temporary house is being constructed
for the use Of the family and their guests
in case of inclement weather.
This house will be but two stories high
The architecture will be of the Queen Anne
period, with Romanesque features about
the porches and the turret. 1t will be Of
solid stone, and the interior will be fin
ished magnificently in hard wood The
furnishing will be quiet but elegant, and
already S2o 900 has been expended in this
direction.
The utmost secrecy has been maintained
In connection with the affair, and even the
contractors who have charge Of the work
are not aware for whom IL Is intended
The property was purchased from 95 diff
ferent holders, and as high as S125 an acre
In some instances was paid for 1t. The
transaction was manipulated by Mr.. Post,
a real estate dealer Of Lenox. The impress
sion throughout the district is that an i'm
mense clubhouse is TO be built on the spot
Mr.. Whltney's scheme has given an inn
petus to business for 30 miles around. La
borers are being paid no the rate of 81 go
day, and in addition they are being fed and
lodged in temporary tents. All the brick,
stone, sand mortar and other necessaries
of construction have to be carted from the
railroad station to the grounds, a distance
of over eight miles.
The roadways leading from the town
proper to the home of the Whitneys are
being improved, and thousands of dollars
will in this manner be saved to the county.
An eminent English landscape gardener
has been engaged and is looking after the
beautifying of the grounds and the sur
rounding country. The spot selected is at
once one Of the quietest, prettiest and most
healthful in aristocratic Massachusetts,,
and before Mr.. Whitney has completed his
project the place will be comparable to the
country seats of the most wealthy of Eu-
rope.
Charles H. Kelly New York architect,
drew the plan, and has entire charge of the
building, laborers and the settlement of
all claims. Mr.. Kelly made the improve
ments on ex-Secretary Frclinghuysen's
residence in Washington when IL was pur-
chased by Mr.. Whitney, and designed and
executed all the charming effects that
caused SO much admiration in the con-
struction Of tho magnificent ballroom in
Mr.. Whitney's residence at Fifth avenue
and Fifty seventh street, New York.
He il at present mt work on the plans
sede the temporary structure at Lenox,
and which, it is said, when completed,
will cost upward Of $500, 00O The founda-
tlons for the servants houses and the tenn
porary residence of young Mr.. Whitney
have already been laid and il is confident
ly expected that all will be completed with
in tho next few days.
An extra force of men has been put to
work, and tho beautiful structure that is
TO be the wonder of this country in its way
viii be completed by Nov. l. Decorators
have been engaged, and the work on the
interior of the house, so far as practicable,
will 20 on simultaneously with that of the
exterior.
Driveways are being cut through the
woods, an artificial lake Is TO be built well
stocked and thoroughly appointed for fish
ing, boating swimming and other aquatic
sports. There will be golf links, tennis
courts and "a baseball ground. A splendid
stable Of running and trotting horses will
be feature of the establishment, and as
the Berkshire hills are splendidly equipped
for such purpose Mr.. Henry Payne Whit
ney will have plenty Of opportunity TO in
dulge in his fayorite pastime of cross coun-
try riding.
The summer house proper will be i'm the
midst OF forest 1t will be surrounded
by grounds artistically laid out under the
personal supervision of the English gar
dcner and will bc easily accessible from a
dozen different drivoways.
The place win be connected with Lenox
and with New York city by telephone.
The plans FOR the permanent home have
not yet boon submitted 10 Mr.. Whitney,
and bat l!ttlcis known regarding them. IL
Is understood that the house will he built
after such design that when completed the
Whitneys will be able TO entertain more
layishly than any other family In this