The Republican journal., 1912-09-05
THE CODE ESTATE.
What is Being Done at Hillside Farm,
Northport.

w ilct Is DeilS lone dI f1lliSlQe Farm,
Northport.
Recent visitors to Northport have had much
to say of the work in progress on Hillside
Farm the property of Mr.. Ira M. Cobe of Chi
cage, preparatory to building what will be one
of the finest summer residences in the State, a
three story colonial mansion with all the mod
ern Improvements and conveniences The
first work done on the place was the boring of
an artesian well to secure abundant and
never-failing supply of water, and to make as
surance doubly assured second we'll was
bored. The power house has been completed
and the pump installed at the second we'll
water tower rs feet high. with capacity of
22.500 gallons, is to be built and there will be a
duplicate system of power to provide against
accident. The supply is practically inexhaus-
tible, and the water has been analysed at the
Maine State laboratory and pronounced per-
fectly pure.
A crew of fifty or sixty Italians has been
employed all summer under ex-street commits
sioner Cunningham, who has used the city rock
crusher and steam roller in building the roads
Seventeen thousand feet of btuminous mae
adam road have been completed. The road
through the estate starts from the town road
opposite the custodian's house and winds in
graceful curves over the hill in southerly d.
rection past the rear of the house. The SER
vice drive, which leads to the servants quar-
tiers, is parallel with the main road in the rear.
from which it is separated by hedge. The
roads were laid out in accordance with the plan
made by Warren H Manning of Boston, land
scape gardener. The grounds comprise 100
acres, of hill and dale, with many hardwood
trees. The hill on which the mansion will
stand is of glacial formation, principally gran
lite, limestone and trap rock and many of the
surface rocks are to be kept in their natural
positions. including an immense boulder near
the road in the front. In the rear is glen,
where the wild flowers, of which Mrs Cobe is
specially fond, will thrive. Through the grove
on the north and west will be several miles of
roads and trails. The plan for the grounds
calls for the retention of the natural beauties
SO far as practical
In front of the house will be large lawn,
and on the south side garden. 140 by 80 feet,
with a natural rock border, which is nearly
completed. In the rear will be another garden,
100 by 40 feet, to be devoted exclusively to the
old fashioned flowers. There is ample room
near the rear of the house for croquet grounds,
and tennis court, and there will also be golf
links, so that the guests of the Cobe's will
have every opportunity for enjoyable out
door exercise. large number of Italians
aro still
grove on the west. There is large black
smith shop on the grounds, and men are busily
at work in every direction. 1t took an average
of 80 men 60 days to fill in the grade in front
OF the house, using the debris from the ex-
cacation for the foundation. Work was begun
on the cement foundation ten days ago, Mrs.
Cobe laying the corner stone. Mr.. and Mrs.
Cobe are on the grounds daily enjoying the
busy scenes.
Marshall & Fox OF Chicago are the archi-
tects for the mansion, which is OF colonial de-
sign, and all the materials and details are to
be carried out in that style. All the material,
including the Harvard brick, is on the grounds
and work on the house will begin in the early
spring. The blue prints give but a faint idea
what the completed building will be. The
house is to be las feet long, the main house So
feet deep and the wings 80 feet. There will
be eight marble pillars on the front and rear
of the main house and the roof will be slated.
There will be twenty rooms. The hall, which
will extend through the main house from front
to rear, So by 80 feet, with its colonial stair
ways. will be an attractive feature. The lower
floors are to be of marble blocks. The living
and dining rooms, Sc by 26 feet, are to be con-
nected by gallery n feet long. The porch
lining room can be closed in by glass when
needed and heated by fire place. There will
be ten fireplaces in all. Each sleeping room
will have an outside porch. dressing room
and bath, and there will be an immense num-
Der Of closets, etc. The Cobes' room will be
on the second floor, south, overlooking both
gardens. the lawn, and commanding beautiful
views of the surrounding landscape.
The custodian's house, just across the town
road. is nearly completed. It is two stories
and has all the modern improvements. All
the buildings on the estate will be lighted by
electricity and the Penobscot Bay Electric Co.,
which has the contract for hundreds Of elec-
trio lights, will soon begin work in extending
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