Norwich bulletin., 1911-04-10

Eiks but the city can be proud, the peer of any similar building in New England and hardly rivalled by the club homes of many larger and more wealthy organizations than Norwich lodge, No. 430.
 Erected in 1944-45 by J. F.@SIater.
 Rich in associations connected witia the best and most honored names iI the city's history. the builaing upon which the altera tien committee had to work was indeed an inspiration to high ideals in the task before. them. by John E. Slater, whose name is linked with the cotton industry and so much of local history, it stood in what was then called the Lan.nan meadows between the Shetucket turn pike and the old Providence stage road, and was a noble and stately ex- ample of the builders art, :. which places it today as one of the finest pieces of colonial architecture 4extart in New Ell gland. In 1865 Dr. Edwin Bentley purchased the property from Mir. Slater and occupied it about 15 years, when in 1870 1t was bought by William C. Osgood, who lived there until death. August, 1909. In the last years of his life. he frequently ex- pressed the wish that the Elks might be preferred as purchasers after his decesse. This kindly feeling towards t l1ens. facilitating the requirement. of the property by Norwich lodge.
 Standing hack from the street at a good distance and surrounded by spa cjous grounds it's proportions arc am ple and ifs grandeur impressive Four portico and the entrance is up q flight of stone steps through q. wide door way. of colonial Stvle. In making tho alterations the colonial type has been adhered to and the brick building is painted iu the colonial shade of pale yellow with white trimmings The inside woodwork and ceilings are all in colonial white.
 How It Is Arranged.
 : Adapted for the lodge uses s.as 1t now stands. the general plan of the house provides double parfors, recep-' tfon room, music rce1n and coat room on the first floor, besides the spacious entrance hallway running from front to rear, se>retary room, Sstwo scarsi- rooms library, lavatory and ladies' suite on the second floor, rathskeIler. and cellar in the basement, while the third story can be used for extra coat rooms whaa whists are held, or may be remodeled into rooms for @trarfsi- ents. The lighting throughout the house is by electricity and the heat is steam. A central switchboard in. the music room controls. the whole. lighting system. .s.szSa1
 Railways.
 Entering the stately building, tiirou gh the main hallway, the first ilnpres- sions of it's. elegant appointments are gained, which. are renewed with added force as each new beauty is{ unfolded by q tour through the rooms. From top to bottom in the halls the spaperins is uniform in a design 10 reprss siit heavy embossed leather iii quiet har- rneny with the adjoiHinE; roorns. On the. east wall Of the main hall m U heavy or1amented gold frame is an immense, costly. French pier glass, 5 feet by F iii size, the largest iii the city, and set eff a white Italian lnar- ble base. Throughout the first floor the fdsors are of hard w0syds selected qtfs rteged oak. and in the hall this is carpeted with a heavy Wilton runner of delicate design, sho-Tills margin of the hardwood flcer on each side