New-York tribune., 1905-08-06
BY Susan Ethel Hodge

4 through various vicissitudeS and trans r
formations has become the object of renewed l
interest among New England visitors by the
reason of the fact that it has passed into the
possession of n. G. Pierce, wealthy business
man. for many years resident in st. Louis
who now makes it his home.
Lord" Timothy Dexter was most eccen-
tric man. and the old mansion is intimately |
associated with so many of his eccentricities
that it has been of the most interesting
landmarks in Newburyport for more than
century. The story of Dexter, therefore, has
been an oft-repeated tale, but one that loses
no whit of its interest in the retellng.
Born in Maiden, Massachusetts, in I746,
he began as a leather dresser in the village of
ChdrlestOwn. Later he removed to New
burvpOrt, where he married a widow nine :
wears his senior. She kept a hucksters
shop and her income added to his aided
him in amaSsing several thousand dollars.
lust at this time, which after the adoption of
the Constitution Continental money became greatly
deprecated in value. Securities worthless,
but several influential men in order preserve the
confidence of the people and to assist friends bought
many of these securities. Taking his cue from
these leaders, Dexter began buying in small amounts
all the securities he could afford to purchase. Then,
with the institution of Hamtons funding system,
the securities began to increase value until they
could be redeemed at par. Dexter therefore sold
his formerly useless possessions and was rich man.
Having attained to this position of wealth, he
determined to live became a of means
according to his notion. To begin with, he
affixed the title of Lord to his name, and
pleased only when he courted and f6ted and
received the sauteS and attentions usually accorded
to royalty.
He bought the Tracy House" now the New
huryport Public Library, but took up his
abode a Chester, New Hampshire where he pur-
chased expensive country seat. Here he showed
to a marked degree his great desire for notoriety,
styling himself /" King of Chester" But he made
b,+
for him, and he returned to Newburyport, where in
1903 he bought a large house Hgh-st., erected
by Jonathan acksOn in I77I He at once proceeded
to adorn this residence in accordance with his
peculiar tastes.
He had gilt balls placed the minarets of the
house, and ordered forty columns, fifteen feet high
to be erected in front each column bearing statue
of a noted man. Washington, Adams, Jefferson,
Franklin, William Pitt, Bonaparte, George ".
Lord Nelson, General Morgan, the Goddess of
Liberty and an Indian chief were among the cele-
brated group and apparently for variety he changed
the names of these heroes the fancy struck him.
These efigies have been widely scattered. Some
were blown down and neglected, others were sold
at auction the Goddess of Fame bringing the highest
rrile and that only five dollars and still others have
been given away by the various successive owners
of the estate. Several of them, still in fair state
of preservation owned by residents of New
huryport One reposes in Haverhil Massachusetts,
@nd still another purchased and removed to
Florida where it graces Southern garden. The
eagle surmounting the cupola has been the only
figure to remain undisturbed. 1t has lately been
ded, its four feet of height and of breadth
rc 'lring two layers of gold-eaf in the operation
The carving, unlike that of many of the figures is
sad to be excellent piece of work and is sup
posed to have been done by a grandfather of Wilson