Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1902-07-11
IN THE CENTER OF A FORT.
A Medieval Mansion One Of The Gl0u'
eester (Mass.) Showhouses.

a mlllonalre having cdSGle sur
rounded by moat, drawbridge and
earthworks is Henry c.. Rouse, rail
road president, of Cleveland and New
Y ork, says the Chicago American. His
summer home at Gloucester, Mass, has
been built inside of what was known
as Fort Independence, and everything
| connected with it has an atmosphere
of mediavalism.
The residence inside the fort is a
picturesque Norman castellated struc-
ture and the grounds take in about %
acres Mr.. Rouse has spent about
$3.50, 600 ON it.
During the Civil War company was
stationed there for the defense, of tbs
town. They threw up an imposing
earth work fort, which was constructed
in solid fashion and lined with turf cut
in the shape of bricks. By this agency
the fort was kept in shape during the
years that have elapsed.
The soldiers chief amusement seem
ed to be in cutting their initials in the
turf, and these we're evident for years
after the close of the strife. The ex-
cavation for the embankment left a
ditch of moat inside the earthwOrks,
although such an adjunct was not
planned, and this heightens the medi@-
val aspect of things and played into
the decorative scheme of the owner.
During the Spanish War the Fifth
Regiment, Col. Whitney, and bat
talon under Major Duchesney made its
rendezvous there.
Right inside the fort the residence
has been erected. The lower part is of
stone, the upper story being of wood,
covered with large clapboards, while
the gables are of the open Elizabethan
style. The two towers of rough field
stone, one on the end of the house and
the smaller somewhat apart, add a mill
tary aspect and serve as in old times
as points of observation of the sur
rounding country. The latter is used
as water tower, the supply being de-
rived from an arteSian well.
His tract extends to the water and
includes fine sandy beach on the har-
Dor side, well adopted for bathing pur
poses. There are barns and boat
houses, in keeping with the rest of the
Mr.. Rouse is an enthusiastic yachts
man and prominent member of the
New York and other clubs. More or
less yachting punctillo is displayed at
the ramparts.
The quartermaster of the place dis
plays at all times from the tall staff On
the tower the various signals indicat-
ing the presence of the owner. and the
entire code of signals is at hand for
used if wanted.
Inside the residence is finely ap-
pointed, fitted with everything that
money and good taste in conjunction
can desire.
The owner of this fine place is a
bachelor about so, man of action,
energetic, decisive and full of business,
fond of entertaining his friends and |
whose chief luxury is yachting.
Last year he chartered the English |
yacht Lady Godiva, and this year his
lag will be afloat on an equally impos- |
ng sea home. The anchorage right un
1er the caves of his property, known as
The pancake ground" is the best hold
ng ground in the harbor.
The Government is constructing the
Dog Bar breakwater at the end of the
point, which is making a complete pro-
lection for craft anchored there, and |
makes the place an ideal one for this
purpose, easily accessible from the sea.