The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-03-22
GOVERNORS MAN
SION PURCHASED
,ANnsomE HOME or JOHN NJ,
GRAY. JR., SECURED FOR
$32,5oo.
o-i,inaI Cost Was 100000, and It Is
One of the Handsomest Homes
Of Nashville.

Although IenneSSe0 has oeSh ioh6
time about acquiring mansion Tor
i,s Governor, and in that respect Is
babind nearly all its sister States, it
i going to have one that will conf
,,ora favorably with similar buildings,
and one that will be a credit to the
State and to the Legislature that auth
orized the purchase. Negotiations
have been closed for the purchase OF
the John M. Gray, Jr., residence at
214 Seventh avenue, North, and just
&C soon as the sale can be approved
in the Chancery Court the title to this
property will pass to the State OF
tennessee, says the Nashville Ameri-
can.
Gov. Patterson authorized the state
ment on Monday that the deal for
the Gray property had been closed,
and that the final contamination of
the matter by proper conveyance only
awaited the action Of the Chancery
4 Court A bill has already been filed In
equity to remove legal difficulties In
4 the way of the transfer.
Price $32,5oo.
The purchase price for the proper
tv is s32,5OO, or $4,000 below the
amount appropriated for the mansion.
The house is one of the handsomest
in the State and the land upon which
If is located is one of the most valu-
able lots in the city. The house Is a
stone structure of classic design, with
basement. and is one of the most or
nate buildings in the city. Its inside
fnishings are probably equal to those
Of any residence in Middle Tennessee,
much of the wood work being hand
carved.
That the committee making the pur-
chase has obtained genuine bargain
will be readily admitted. The commit
tee making the purchase on behalf OF
the State is composed OF GOV. Patter-
son REPRESENTATIVE Gordon and Sena-
tor Ewing.
The bill in the Chancery Court was
filed by John M. Gray, Jr., against
Mrs. Reba Wilson Gray. The resi-
dence was decided to Mrs. Gray 1ol
life with remainder to her heirs, Dy
her parents, Col and Mrs. B. F. vii
son. The bill states the residence Is
one of twenty-three rooms, railways
etc. and the purpose is TO sell Tue
house and lot. and have the FUNDS re
invested under the supervision OF the
conrt for the interest of the parties
The complainant asks that there Dc
!. a reference to the Clerk and Master
and that the sale negotiated by MI
GRAY be approved. Mr.. Gray is 1t un
darstood is contemplating the erection
81 of a handsome home near the country
Mace of Col. Wilson, on the Harding
road.
Description Of Mansion.
The house is built entirely or Whlt'
stone, and is four stories h1gh' mcluu
ing the basement. The house Is OF th'
French renaissance design, and
comparatively a new house, belns
built about fifteen years ago at a cos
of more than 100000.
The location, appearance and gener
al arrangement is ideal for the cover
nor's mansion. It has most lmpos
ing appearance from every dlrection
The front entrance is large, with
stone porch across the front
The hall doors are massive, douDl
oak doors, with wrought iron trlm
m,ngs The hall is wide and deep
and the main stairway in the hall eS
tends from the first floor to the tol
story circling in the dome.
To the right of the entrance IN TN
hall is the library, which Is a Deaut'
full room, trimmings Of mahogany VIII
the book cases built in the wall.
The dining room, which is also OF
the right hand side Of the hall, IS
handsome room finished entirely II
oak with wainscoting almost to tn
cei0t,g. 1t has magnificent side
hoard built in the wall, that exteno
from the floor to the ceiling; also
very large mantel-piece to match
Back of the dining room Is the ou'
ler's pantry, store rooms and kitchen
4 Drawing Room.
To the left Of the hall on the mrs
floor is the large drawing room. I'M
is All oblong shaped room OF Frencl
design with the windows opeh'n,
ont in the French style. 1t is beauti
4 fully decorated the work having beer
done by the well-known painter ant
decorator "Maroldi," who spent thre
months doing the work. 1t IS finishe'
in pale green with a superb onyx man