Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-25


The following description of Gunston Hall
appeared in the Olympian Magazine about
two years ago:
Built between 1856 and 17jS Gunston Hall
is a fine example of colonial architecture
1t is solid and substantial, yet with interior
decorations of the most delicate workman
ship, and it was probably without a peer
in that part Of Virginia at the time of its
erection. Eighty feet long by forty feet
wide, the house is built of bricks twice the
size of those made at the present day, and
they were put together with the most dur
able sort of mortar made of crushed oyster
shells, and SO hard as to be proof against
hammer and pick. The large building has
an immense, soping, sharp pointed roof,
with massive rafters and joists, and at each
of the four corners is huge brick CHM
ney rising high above the roof, these having
their firm foundation in the great cellar
that underlies the whole house.
''On the north front of the mansion, the
principal entrance, there is a square porch
built of brick and stone with pointed roof
and supported by four Doric stone pillars.
Above the front door is a lunette of glass
corresponding to the arched front of the
porch, and there are narrow hall windows
on each side of the door. On the south or
river front of the house is a smaller porch,
pentagonal in shape. and of classic grace
of form. Here, EMPOWERED In roses and
honeysuckle, with the beautiful water pros
pect before them, Mason and Washington,
1t is said, spent some of their less serious
hours engaged in their favorite game of
draughts. Each of these porches opens into
The wide hall. which is one of the most i'm
preSSive features of the house. And the
whole interior here is rich with wainscoting.
panelng and carving. combination. as it
has been described, of the Corinthian with
the flower and scroll work of the old French
architecture. This carving, tradition says.
was done by convicts brought from Eng
land The hall is wainscoted and paneled
IN North Carolina pine, and every door,
window and cornice is deliberately carved.
The ceilings are high, but the doors are
singularly low, though wide, and these
of mahogany, is the staircase. and the
deep paneled easements have broad, low
window seats. Half way down the length
of the hall are carved panels on each side
of the wall. reaching from floor to cornice.
where they form two graceful arches. These
meet in the center of the ceiling in a drop
in the form of a huge acorn carved in
wood A fine broad staircase at one side
ascends to the hall above.
ITO the right of the entrance on the north
front of the house is large room which
tradition associates with Thomas Jefferson"
Several years after the civil war Gunston
Hall, in dilapidation, was acquired by Col
Edward Daniels and partially restored dur
ing his ownership. Col. Daniels came TO
Virginia from the northwest. He edited the
Richmond Journal and was an intimate
friend of President Grant. He aspired TO
the Senate from Virginia and once ran for
the House of Representatives against Eppa
IIunton but Col. Daniels was republican.
Gunston Hall passed to Joseph Specht OF
St Louis, and by him completely re-
stored and beautified by shrubbery and
flowers Mr.. Specht died about two and
half years. ago, and the place remains in
possession of his heirs, but at the present
the only tenants are w. S. Freeman, the
colored overseer and his Wife