Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-03
(lCHOLPALAC
(ESFOR PARKWAY
snator's Fine Residence
Now Being Razed and Fur
nishings Scattered
WORK sTIRs MEMORIES
Political History Made Both
There and in Blankenburg's
Home, Also Disappearing

cneos as progress cleaNes iane petWeeh
the palatlal homes which edge Logan
square. One can almost detect wall of
mutiny as the walls crash from stately mien
into a shapeless mass of debris.
And these common bricks and stone VIII:
housed the mighty in politics. finance and
art will go we know not where They will
~ scattered to all corners of Philadelphia
leaving tho earth at this important place
as II was before-a spot of green unfair
hished by power or caste.
For It has u~en decreed that through
these homes the Parkway shall march north.
westerly from City Hal-and the march Is
well under way. Thus the work of years
and the wonderful conceptions of famous
architects 60 Gathering into the dust. Even
the home of Senator McNchol, or at least
part OF 1t, has fallen in the fray In
few days 1t will join the ranks of the de-
parted in its entirety. A visit through the
battle-ton house of the smiling Senator
At 222 West Logan square revives interest
ing and in some cases thrilling memories.
DRAGONS GUARD STAIRWAY
incidentally, glance at the furnishings
u pertinent After one is swallowed up
In the wide hallway he is greeted by two
defiant dragons. which stand guard at the
bottom of the stairway. The spirit Of COM
bat shines in their wrathful eyes and one
almost forgets for the moment that they
cannot spring from their solid mahogany
base.
4 In the dining room, which is large enough
Tor small hotel, carvings encircle the
room. Four beautiful electric lamps sus-
pend from the ceiling, and but a few weeks i
ago they shed their opalescent hues on the
Senator and his family. II was in this
room that Senator McNchol ate the famous
strawberries which succeeded the beans of
the early McNichol days. when power was
in the distance waiting to greet him.
The bathroom on the second floor is |
poem in white. incidentally, the spacious |
tub was sold today and 1t required ten men |
10 carry II TO the street Eight men were |
needed to tote the shower bath outside and |
the outfit of the entire room went for $3.50. !
Wandering into the den on the third |
floor, where the Senator held his confabs |
and dictated ward majorities. one was i'm |
pressed with a sort of mysterious silence. 1t |
was here that the foundation of many polit. |
zeal battles were laid, and If the walls could |
speak now they would no doubt tell some |
interesting stories. There was evidence, |
too, that the political leader nsjdered the |
comfort of his family beyond all ease. for |
there Is nothing lacking in this direction.
The house generally has peaceful as
pect and perhaps the greatest discord that
Il ever faced was in October, 1905, when an
irresponsible independent leader, with many !
followers, marched on the place with the
threat to tear 1t down because he believed |
the Senator was responsible for deplorable
civic conditions at that time.
s-- HANDSOME EXTERIOR
Before leaving the McNichol home one
eznnot help taking a parting glance at its
exterior, which is handsome enough for an
ilIustrfous potentate of the old world
~ Mork of demolishing the front o. this
1ocat palace will start today, and t Is
whispered that the handsome wall intact
will soon appear as the piece de resistance
of West Philadelphia apartment house.
But what of the Senator? WE'LL less
than three minutes walk just around the
corner on Race street above West Logan
square another McNichol homestead is
gradually rising. II the first floor is n cri-
terion, It will eclipse even the famous es-
which Is now passing from
history. The site on which
the Senator's new home is being erected
was formerly a cemetery. where, it is said
some of our early patriots lay. The ira
ditions of the spot, many believe. will
influence the Tenth Ward leader toward
legislation which Is equitable for the pa
triots of today.
Just four doors below the McNichol home
on Logan square at PA is the domicile
formerly inhabited by ex-Mayor Blanken-
burg who has helped make stirring polti-
cal history for fully two score years
BLANKENBURG'S woRKROOM
The house of the "Old War Horse of
reform is the antithesis of the Senator's
It's silent rooms show that
simplicity was the keynote. The house
breathes an air of quiet elegance. Through
put the. color scheme Is white and silver
eray, except the library in the rear of the
gecond floor This is of green and red with
the green above the red, If you don't mind
II looks like a room OF action, and such 1t
was II was here that the snow-haired
fighter for reform planned his campaigns
IL Ntaax MI rad tod fro.
these very quarters, where the vigorous
youth of three score and ten sat up through
Ihe nights arranging the chess play which
landed him in the Mayors chair
Always sharing the vigil was his most
valuable adviser--Mrs. Blankenburg-and
that she was a valuable ally is shown by
the results.
garden in the rear of the home, easily
rained from the spacious dining room, was |
The former Mayors place for rambles and
reverie 1t seems almost a sacrilege that It
must be invaded for the demands of prog
ress
From an artistic standpoint the home of
the late Charles c. Newton at 216 was
probably the pacemaker of West Logan |
row. The Interior of the home Is still intact.
The art centers of Europe were invaded to |
bring out certain definite effects. and Mr.. |
Newton was always adding. One Of the
most striking innovations in this wonderful |
is a bronze staircase This,
was bought today by a down.
town furniture dealer. and will probably |
appear in some Philadelphia house in en- |
tirely new form
Everywhere this establishment is adorned |
with mahogany and gold. An electric ele-
vator from the first to the fourth floor
which is operated automatically, shows just |
how far ahead Of the building progress the |
owner Of the house was.
Mr.. Newton, who was head OF the Newton |
Engineering Company. died in Europe while |
otill hunting through the marts Of art for |
comforts Of his home. Many Of the most |
artistic sections of the Newton home were |
fought today by w. Austin Yerkes. of Fox |
Chass.
MALoNEY HOME INTERESTING
Much interest also attaches to the home !
of Martin Maloney. whose family has fir-
&rod In the news OF the day frequently
1urlng the last decade The Maloney home
- $50 West Logan square. drew much at,
con(ion about ten years ago when Helen
MnIoney caused a stir by eloplng with a
n@ominent Englishmap. Many weeks passed
61<ofs the AFFAIR quieted down. The fact
oAaf Miss Maloney's father had had con-
11r1o1 upon him the honor OF papal marquis
1<o1o TIE romance Of nationwide interest
E ~ l1ns Of the Parkway goes directly