Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-11-23
5TH AVE, CHATEAU
OF vANDERbILTS TO
Be RAzED SOON

New York, Nov. 22.-(AP)-The
feet of the six million this week may
tread the very keep" of the four
hundred.
Held inviolate against the prying
curiosity of passing crowds for more
than two decades, the Vanderbilt
chateau at Fifth Avenue md Sind
Street will be thrown open tomor-
row morning and during the next
five days to Mrs. Tom, Dick and
Harry. for the modest sum of four
bits, may roam at will through the
frescoed halls, pillared libraries and
tapestried music rooms and she may
-as she probably will-probe the
intimate arrangement of kitchen,
pantry and linen closet. The en-
trance fees go to local charity.
The chateau, built in 1882, by
William K. Vanderbilt, repeatedly
has been described as the finest ex-
ample 'of French architecture in
America. It's three stories of match
ed grey stone are to give way to a
~ story office building.
From without the building resem-
bles some age-ripened romantic cas-
tie. with jutting turrets, leering
gargoyles and mullioned windows.
Tomorrow the great bronze doors.
which were tended by six footmen
when they swung open in the nine
ties to the imperious cards of the
Knickerbockers, will cape for the
who-so-will.
The entrance hall Is Of carved
caen stone, with huge fireplace
dividing the archways into the lib
rary. Over the mantlepiece are
three carved heads, and on every
side of the hall the caenstone is de-
licately carved in designs and figures.
To the right, rising the full three
stories, is the stairway, wide, wind
ing. and carved, with a central
chandelier from the third story
dropping eight or ten feet into large,
pearl-like bulbs that make a man,
moth circlet of lights. =
Straight through the entrance halt
under carved archways Is the BAN
quet room, also three stories high.
with the long mullioned windows on
one side. and on the other three
SdENcu pduSlS. ONoE tHS
tremendous carved mantle Is a row
Of life-sized carved wooden figures
which gives a slight suggestion of
the front Of Notre Dame, placed con-
ventionally and closely side by side.
A group Of people could be COM
fortably seated in the benches in
side the fireplace. AT the other end,
across the parquet floor, is a bench,
it's arms almost life-sized lions. Ov-
erhead a carved balcony looks down
on the hail. supported by carved
figures.
On the second floor are the apart
ments Of the family and another
large room. formerly used for bill
lizards and music. A series of FAM
lous murals are at either end OF this
room.
In the apartment used by Mrs.
Vanderbilt is the famous marble
bath. carved from a solid piece Of
Italian marble. The walls are hand
painted plate glass.
In every apartment there is large
fireplace. In one there is a wall
covering of rose satin brocade. The
doors are excellent pieces of wood
carving.
Opening from the banquet hall on
the first floor is the Persian room.
a colorful and lovely example of mo-
sale.
They all are to give way after the
public exhibition to the suffering
air drill and prying crowbar of
grimy wreckers, advance guards OF
the modern alchemists who will
translate the exclusive halls into the
teeming, busting corridors of q
modern commercial nerve center.