Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-09-03
A SLIGHTLY RESIDENCE

ANU " hhnubOHlt VI thC via NOlOs
NAL In Architecture, which Rev. Il. A.
Slack and Family VIII Occupy Next
Week.
The summer residence which Rev. L. A.
Slack of Brookline, Mass, and of Brattle-
boro, has had in process of construction
on Western avenue for the past year and a
half has now been fully completed and is
ready for the occupation of the family,
who will arrive next week. The site of
the house, which was bought of d. S.
Pratt, is in the grove of pines which sur
mounts the high slope just east of Mr..
Pratts farm homestead. The exact loca-
ton was so chosen by N. A Plummer, the
architect, as to command the most attract
i've view of the slope in front of the ave-
nue., and of the country around. Proba-
bly, no other residence In Brattleboro COM
mands view which is so extensive. 1t
reaches from Chesterfield on the extreme
left around over Wantastiquet in the east,
and the Massachusetts, hills in the south
TO Round mountain and the country be-
yond in the west.
The house is of wood. The style of
architecture is Colonial, the details being
in the Roman Doric order. The main body
of the house presents front of 81 feet,
two stories high, with gambrel roof. 1t
is 2S feet wide, with a front projection
six feet by % feet.
A piazza ten feet wide covers the front
and west, with circular bay 20 feet in di-
diameter at the eastern end. The main
body is painted in Indian red, with ivory
white trimmings. The outside doors and
blinds are dark green. The roof is cover
ed with Washington red cedar shingles
which produce an old copper effect. The
door handles and knockers are reproduc-
tions of Old Colonial designs. The foun-
dation is laid on the natural rock, to the
surface of which it conforms. The under
pinning is of mountain stone laid in ce-
ment mortar in rubble style. The piazza
is reached by granite steps.
Through the front door one enters the
vestibule, which is of ample size, with a
Roman mosaic floor, and having coat and
hat closet at one side. The vestibule opens
into the hall or living room, which is the
main room of the house. Ii is 40 by Is
feet in size, with an arched alcove in front
looking out upon the avenue. A large fire.
place and chimney piece is the central
feature Of the room. At the side opposite
the entrance the staircase leads up to the
second floor. At the east end is formal
ICNcPIlOb IOOul ~ US IL lccN, VIII
doors between. This room has a brick
fireplace and wood mantel Both rooms
are finished in cherry, with paneled
wainscoting three feet high, which also
extends up the side of the staircase.
wood in both rooms.
From the northwest corner of the hall a
door opens into the study, a room of am
Dla CizR tinieh haH in nah hnOanr hat
a fireplace of red pressed brick. Case
ment doors open upon the piazza.
A door at the foot of the staircase in the
hall opens into the dining-room, % by II
feet in size. This Is finished in quartered
oak with paneled wainscoting and wood
cornice. 1t has large fireplace and Chin
ney piece combined built of mottled brick
The buffers pantry, between the dining
room and kitchen, is completely and hand
somely fitted up with an oak cabinet ex-
tending to the ceiling, solid porcelain pan
try sink and corner lavatory. All the
floors in the main part of the house on
the lower floor are of quartered oak, fin
ished in wax. On the two upper floors
they are of North Carolina pine.
The L is entirely independent of the
main part of the house. 1t contains on
the lower floor the kitchen, pantry, lauh-
dry, and servants room; on the upper
floor two servants rooms. The cellar has
floor of brick pavement. The masonry
there exposed shows the thorough charac-
ter of the work.
The second story of the main house con-
tains four chambers with ample closets,
linen closet, and large bathroom fitted
with the most modern and perfect appli-
ances. The finish of the owners suite is
of mahogany. The other three chambers
are finished in ivory white enamel, quar-
tered sycamore, and North Carolina pine
respectively.
On the third floor is a large room or
hall, occupying the full length of the
house, and having chamber in 'front.'
The foundation of the house was put in
by the architect, work beginning in May,
1896. Frank H. Dibble of Holyoke was
the contractor for the carpenter and mason
work complete. The outside work was fin
ished last January. Work on the inside
began with the opening of the present sea-
son.
The Sanitas system of plumbing is en-
ployed throughout the house, and this and
the steam heating were put in by John Gal
vim of Brattleboro. The Roland T. Oakes
company of Holyoke were the contractors
for the electric wiring and lighting fixtures.
Perry & Whitney of Boston were the deco
ratOrs.
The entire work has been done after
plans and specifications and under the
personal supervision of N. A. Plummer,
the architect. 1t has been his pur-
pose to produce in this house an example
of pure Colonial architecture showing
unity and consistency of design through
out. That he has succeeded admits of no
question. The result is rarely commodi-
Gus, homelike house, which has no superb
or in Brattleboro in point of absolute
thoroughness of construction and careful
selection of material. 1t is welcome ac-
quisition to the town, and all Brattleboro
friends will give Mr.. Slack and his family
sincere congratulations on being so hand
somely housed for whatever part of the
year they may choose to spend here.