The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-04-25
ERECTED a. D.. MDCCcxvC.

EhfkCItI) "A. D.. MDCCCNVC.
Immediately, to the southeast of the
hallway is the office and consulting room
OF the house physician. whose private
apartment adjoins and is situated In the
cupola corner. to the rear OF which is the
first OF three broad plazzas, one above
the other, looking out upon what Will
In short time be one of the handsomest
lawns to be found in this section.
From this piazza may be entered the
trustees room with It's long oaken tables
and judicial atmosphere. To the west Is
the matrons bed chamber which Is con-
nected with every floor with electric call
bella. speaking tubes and u tira alarm
system, perfect i'm efficiency and detail.
Adjoining the bed chamber is the slit
ing. a commodious and airy apartment.
The entire north wing of the building
is devoted TO sleeping accommodations,
each floor containing six single and two
double rooms. all similarly furnished
with iron bedsteads. ornamented in
brass hair mattresses. commodious clos
cts and oak bureaus. washstands and
chairs, fully equal 10 the average hetel
accommodations. Attached to each suite
are two linen presses and large bath
room in every way suitable to the needs
of those who will use IT, The rooms are
entered from long corridor. Every
floor Is waXed and partially covered with
large thick druggets.
A life size oil portrait of the lady In
whose memory the building Is erected is
hung over the mantel in the large gen.
eral meeting room on the second floor,
and in which the dedicatory exercises
Yesterday we've held. The uarlor, which
is in the cupola corner, and Is the most
handsomely furnished room i'll the ed
ifice, is entered from the general meeting
room, through handsome velvet por-
there's. Ii IS picture of cosy comfort.
Being Il student of human nature and
knowing we'll that old ladl's do not love
ideness, Mr.. Ballentine has had pretty
work room fitted up in the rear of the
general meeting room. where they may
come with their knitting. sewing, darn
ing and the like and spend the sunny
afternoons as they think best or COURSE
they won't gossip.
The most triumphant feature of the
building, in the opinion of MIR Ballen-
tine. is the magnificent dining room.
which is upon the third iloor. and which
contains four large tables placed under
handsome chandeliers. fitted here. as in
all other parts of the building, for gas
or electricity, the former being manu-
featured upon the grounds. will be util-
lied for the present S!deboards of
elaborate design and ample dimension
contain an array of glass and silver
ware that would delight the soul of q
Kings housckceper.
From the dining-room is entered the
buffers pantry. with its cupboards filed
with snow-white china. Here also Is
to be found every appliance and con-
venience known to the followers of the
high art The kitchen next door is "a
model OF completeness, containing, as II
does. what is perhaps one of the, largest
and most improved ranges In the city.
y large dumb waiter runs up to the
kitchen from the basement. capable of
carrying $50 pounds at n load
Adjoining the dinng-room and under
the cupolo is the amusement room, de-
signed for innocent games and the like.
The fourth. or attic. floor. contains
number of general sleeping rooms. There
also will bc the servants quarters, to
be situated in the north wing.
In the dining and general meeting
rooms are large hreplaces. In which are
gas logs to take off the chill OF the at
mosphere. Over the 1ireplaces are large
oak mantels, surmounted by huge mir
rors.
THE FOUNDER OF THE HOME.
Mr. Thomas II. Balentine the founder
Of the home has been a resident OF this
city nearly thirty years. moving here
In 1867. on November 80. from Norfolk
county. where he took up his residence
In 1919. when he was Il young man. He
was born in Currituck county. y. c..
on December Is. 1870. His life. TO use
his own words, has been an eventful
one.
The founding of such home has
been a hobby with me for many years"
he said IL Il Nirginian reporter while
seated in the handsome parlor of the
institution which bears the name of his
first wife. 1T was my wife's idea. and
| have pushed il to completion I'm full
hllmcnt of Il promise made to her dur
ing her lifetime"
Then. as he pointed to handsome
oil painting of the woman whose name
will be COMMUNICATED by the magnin-
dimmcd his eye: she was one of the
purest and best women who ever lived
When we We're married our joint for
tunes would not have been enough to
pay FOR that picture"
Ii has been stated that Mr.. Ballentine'S
life has been an eventful one. He is
opposed TO newspaper notoriety, as he
terms it. and as the reporter began
taking down a story of his candidacy
for the Legislature many years ago. the
gray-haircd philanthropist shouted:
Don't put that down..
He was reminded that he was Il cand!-
date for office. hu, that made no differ
ence. II am candidate against my
Will. The people came to me and said
they wanted me- 10 run for the Coun-
ellis. ] refused, but they kept coming
and told them 10 go ahead and do a.
they pleased l was ready to do what /
could If they thought il to the city's
interest" he said.
II prefer living the quiet secluded
life ] have ALWAYS followed ha saJd