Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-04-01
AN ITALIAN VILLA.
An Unique Innovation in Bar Harbor's
Architecture.

Many times have Bar Harbor's for
tunes been read, and many dinerent
seers have foretold her future. Now, a
dealer successful in land venture
looking through rose colored spectacles'
would predict a glorious future Tor the
resort with wealth and afiluance for all
her inhabitants; then, a merchant
gloomy, with small profits. would fore
tell an Impoverished condition OF
affairs.
And so the wheel turned round and
round and one thing came to pass no
more than another. AS a novelist once
said she was neither so good as she
was painted nor so bad as she was
painted." No one died Of starvation
from the poor returns OF the season
and no colossalf ortunes were made in
a day.
1t IL only by n backward glance of
years that the immense amount Of pro-
gress made can be comprehended, 50
gradually have changes taken place
Each year sees n more prosperous sea-
son, each year beholds n larger popu-
lation, each year brings a wider inter-
est, each year secs the cottage list
swclled by the construction OF nan u
dozen or more cottages, cottages tnat
are such in name only, being in reailty
beautiful residences on which immense
amounts Of money have been expendec
AS the years roll around these summer
hornes have becomc more and more pre-
tentious. until some of them at the
present time are veritable palaces.
Ore of the most unique houses ever
bui,t I'm the village and one that Is
pertaps. for its size. the most expen-
siye is that now in process of construc-
ton for Miss Ann Archboid. Miss
Archbold is n native of TarrytoWn, n.
Y. and has passed several seasons at
Seal HarbOr. She is an artist of no
little talent and has spent many years
of travel and study in Europe. The
IDEA for her cottage was conceived
from the beautiful castles in Italy. and
I'm Paris n tiny model. perfect in every
detail. was made Of the proposed villa.
1t was sometime before n suitable To-
cation could be found, and Bar Harbor
and surrounding resorts were thorough
" inspected. Finally Miss Archbold
purchased some four acres On the Cleft
stone road and the house is being erect
ed on n slight cminence which gives
beautiful view. It's appearance from
the road Is picturesque in the extreme,
and when completed, surrounded by
lawns and gardens. it will form
quaint and harmonious picture.
From the south side there is an en-
trance to the reception room. approach
ed by winding steps and from the court
H. another entrance.
The house Is somewhat in tho form OF
n hollow square. In the basement is
largo kitchen extending the entire
length OF the main body Of the hOuSn.
In addition to this. there is pantry.
the servants dining room, four scrV-
ants bed rooms, besides 4 number Of
closets.
On the first floor the main body of
the house Is taken up by the living and
dining rooms, whose united length is
about 10 feet. They are rough plIs-
tered. and the cypress beams overhead
are finished In the rough. In the west
wing are two small bed rooms with
bath and In the east a hall with fire.
place.
The dining room is several steps
lower than the living room and the but
ler's pantry. with dumb waiter smart
opens from it. one of the accessories
of the old Italian villa is vanishing
table" which disappears directly the vi
ands are eaten, and If practicable. the
dinieg- room of Miss ArchbolTs house
will he equipped with one of these
mysterious agents.
On the second floor in the east wing
small chamber is directly above the
hall. Miss ArChbold's chamber is
large pleasant room in the east wing.
From ii. a spiral iron staircase leads To
the tower above. where a beautiful pam
Drama of mountain. forest and ocean
spreads out before the eye. Opening
from this room is 4 large bath room
with tiled tub set deep. after the old
Roman fashion ana reached by several
steps. In the west wing at the ex-
treme end is small bed room and
bath. Opening form this is the studio,
n large airy room.
The center of the second floor is oc
cupied by the loggia. which will be
delightful place when completed. The
floor is to be tiled and the sides of
glass. which will open readily so that
a cool breeze can sweep across. Open
ing from the loggia is Il long narrow
balcony which later will be hung with
trailing vines and blossoms. At the
back n cement stairway leads from the
loggia to the terrace below. This ter
race will be one of the most interesting
features of the house. 1t fills the "hol-
low of the square. a narrow, open
walk the height of the second story
rooms surrounds it and is upheld by
twelve arches of stucco work. orna-
mented with carved wheels and sur
mounted with handsome panels of
carved wood. In the center of the ter
race n fountain will play and the entire
enclosure will be covered with grass.
Beyond the terrace a large plot will be
devoted to the garden which will be in
keeping with the other appointments.
On the southern side of the east
wing is the conservatory. which will be
a unique feature OF the house. The
sides. OF course. will be of glass and the
roof viii be upheld by carved figures.
When completed. the villa will be
quaint and characteristic. Miss Arch
bold has arrived and will probably re-
main until the house is ready for occu-
pancy. which will be some time in June