New-York tribune., 1909-06-27
TOU1ER HILLS BEAUTIES.
Hartman Country Home and Its
surroundings 1rc Delightful

Friends Of F. H Hartman say that his choice
of a country house in the Ramapo Mountains
aupears svnrolieal of the man; that he likes to
b. at the. top of things. with an EXTENDED view
around him. Ills new home is set Squarely
upon the top of 4 mountain. and commands an
outlook over ranges of hills, shadowy forests
and sequcstcrcd meadows, through which GIeam
running waters and the cEpanse Of lakes,
This new hcInc of Mr. Hartman on Tower
Hill is. essentially. house in the country. and
not a country house" said one familiar with all
its details 1T is too modern for country
house. and is on the order Of 4 very handsome
Suburban residence
Perhaps its most striking feature is its thor
.Sngh AmericanisIn. From basement to the
4naIIcSt interior finish everything is Il product
Of this country This is according to MI Harr-
mans expressed wish. Whatever Of English
architecture has been borrowed in the erection
of the house has been Americauized and adapted
wholly to its situation and surroundings. 1t IS
supremcly modern. In it are to be found every
modern convenience and every appliance for
comfort that this country has produced Ele-
vators lift from floor to floor Even the
loggie are fitted with hot-water heating appa-
ratus. and arranged that they can be in
closed in glass during the winter and serve as
sun parlOrs when the forests blaze scarlet ana
gold in the autumn.
The house fmpresses one alike by its massive
simplicity and its outlines, which are those of an
irregular cross built about a court and fianked
BY several logSie, the most important and i'm
DOSING Of which is situated upon the western
side OF the house The mansion Is built over a
cellar that has been blasted out Of solid rock
Granite taken from this considerable quarry
has been used in building the superstructure
She stone is blush gray. which is therefore, the
color of the Tower Hill house. Indiana lime
stone has been used as trimming for the whole.
Pillars and supports are Of gray granite, and
the floors are Of the handsomest mosaic that
American materials could supply and American
Skill put together.
Plans for this home have been perfected under
Air Harriman's personal supervision and to
BARRY out his own ideas. Many OF the things III
Ind about the house are entirely original with
him He insisted that it should be built to CON
form to American ideals and that it should con-
tain the most modern appliances for home COM
fort known to the present day. Speaking of the
result SO far accomplished friend of Mr.. Har-
rilnan said: THE house is simply magnificent,
and magnificent because it is so simple"
The ceilings, particularly those on the lower
floor. are high. The latter indeed, may be bet
ter described lofty. Sculptured figures of
stag and hounds surmount the main entrance,
which gives access to d great hall arranged as
a chapel Here viii be placed large organ
with other accomplishments of worship and
choir galleries Will be fitted into the chapel.
Leading from this hall to the upper stories will
be a grand stairway. The house is constructed
so that basement story rises above the cellar,
with two complete stories above that, and an
immense attic that really constitutes fourth
story and is fitted with dormer windows under
the slate roof
All of the windows at the back of the gray
granite pile look out upon the clear waters of
Forest Lake so named because it lies, like the
house in the heart of the forest. While this
woodland is natural it has been improved and
forested scientifically under the direction of Gif
ford Pinchot. For several miles In different