Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-04-20
RESTORING FAMOUS
OLD READ MANSION
New Castles Stately Colonial
Residence to be Occupied by
the Philip lairds.

The announcement tndt lnt piu AN'-tu
Mansion at New Castle is being re-
stored, and will soon be ready for the
occupancy Of it's new owners, the
philip l.airds. viii bring anticipations
AZ much real pleasure. 10 many in VIII
ninrton society who have not had the
opportunity TO attend any functions in
th,, famous old house. The Mansion
IS uHdOubtedly the most interesting one
On this whole section of country. possi-
hiv one of the most notable homes in
America and the fact that IL is to he
reoccupied after IL has been brought
back 10 its original state of beauty is
matter for congratulation for all
lovers of the beautiful in art and arChi-
lecture. Those who may be hidden to
thc social gatherings of the new own
crs and occupants of the old structure
Will hc delighted TO find a residence 50
sumptuous and spacious and one that
has preserved so splendidy the old
characteristics that must have made It
conspicuous among the elegant homes
iu this country when 1t was completed.
a century ago.
The wonderful interior with its beau
tifully carved wood work. high ceilings.
hig square rooms and Railways and
cavcrnous fireplaces will delight every
th, exterior with its Incompatible
grand doorway and it's approaching line
of stone steps The sweeping stairs
with it's railing Of hand wrought iron.
SIS graceful curve at the bottom step.
ls indeed a feature that will challenge
open admiration. but possibly the fea-
lures OF even more Charm-the piece
de- resistance. so to Speaks the great
window above the front doorway with
~ seInicircular top and enclosed by a
graceful bulging iron grill al the bot
tom This Palladin feature is said to
have been the progenitor of all other
windows of its kind that are doing
service in American houses of the Gre
rorian period.
One cannot register his admiration
for this old Mansion without seeming
10 be extravagant in adulation, but
surely no one who loves the beautiful
things in architecture can but rhapso-
dize 20 some extent over the beauty of
tho wood carving Of the interior. or the
richness OF the big solid mahogany
doorways, or the slender graceful hand
railings ~ the same material following
up the stairS av as it winds from the
fr~t IL the second and third floors
Lower fences about the surrounding
PIT reveal great possibilities for the
earlN restoration OF tho old gardens
ITerc are uur lanes of box wood only
awaiting attention 10 transform II at
prcc into tho beautiful garden ii must
have been when under the eye Of its
original owner Here, too. are two or
three fine old trees and doubtless there
ar ,mvriads Of old fashioned blossom
irg plants ready to pop up and into
flower with the advent OF seasona bic
1ay>
ON. can picture nothing so attractive
- this house must be after II has been
refreshed by the artisans who are bring
rs every thing back 10 its original
h.au uty and elegance, and with furni-
tHr 81 harmonic with the art Of the
architect.
survey of the Old Read House sug-
E.st how extensive must have been
a., entertaining al New Castle in the
earlitr days, when it was the most
sli~to,l itic and exclusive community
a. thc Delaware or in the middle states
on, an picture the grand functions
that drew the FIRST people of the colo
rlrs % the town intended 10 have been
thr most important on the Delaware
from an parts of the settled portions
nf tho country. for the Reads were no
l,ss renowned as hosts than they were
rs statesmen and scholars and men Of
C.llture. The men indeed were the very
embodiment Of manly. charm and physi-
CO le tuty Of face and figure if we may
iuds, The portraits that have come
davi .Iom the family gallery.
on, Is told that there was no other
VINE cellar in America selected with
such discrimination. or that comprised
such a splendid assortment of choice
NlutaEes Of the old world as were here
assembled by the signer il the former
house. or his descenda nts in the present
cre that IS on the site Of the older
homo. which must have been more
than three quarters OF a century old
y hen il was partially burned down in
1>-+ about the date Of the construction /
Of M present residence
IN, house gives US some idea of the /
C.-nrDcr,Ial importance Of early New
castle when one recalls that after the
Beads had removed, the old mansion
vas sold 10 William Cooper, the mer-
chant prince" of New Castle. as he was
called and who must have been very
prosperous business man 10 keep up
such an expensive establishment. Fol
lowing Mr.. Cooper came Miss Hettie
Smith, a charming lady OF the old
school, who seemed to fit exactly into
tn dignified old Mansion, and there
she lived TO a ripe age in the midst Of
such wealth Of precious antique fur
niture that she must have been greatly
envied in her latter days when Colonial
period furniture came into its just
measure of appreciation.
II is indeed pleasant 10 know that the
house has come TO possession oil occu-
pants. who are abundantly able to main
tain il in a style Of its original owners
and who may re-estabIish its fame for
hospitality and cheer, for elegance and
culture. The old Read Mansion Is in
deed classic, in illustrating the beauty
Of the mass and line in art and arcbi-
lecture.