The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-05-03
Huge Home
Is Boast of
New Jersey
Shadow Lawn Contains
100 Rooms; Theater
Among Features.
BY HELEN WORDEN
Times Special Writer

NEW YORK, n Y p, MAY d
Shadow Lawn. the West End IN.
j. estate spot-ughted during Wood
row wilson's administration as the
summer White House, shines in all
Of its old-time glory.
The present owners. Mr.. and Mrs.
Hubert 7. Parson, Che IS former
president Of the Woolworth and 10
cent stores). Will sail early in May
for England. AS a farewell gesture,
they invited $50 friends to see the
glory Of the tapestry-hung drawing
room. marvel at the magniflcence Of
the indoor swimming pool, gasp
over the private motion picture the
alter and run out Of adjectives as
they toured the Conservatives.
Shadow Lawn is Hubert Temple
ton Parsons hobby. He has made
It the most completely equipped
summer estate in the country. Youn
ind as many gadgets about the
place as you would run across in
all the and 10 cent stores put to-
eether. with this exception-the
conveniences at Shadow Lawn did
not come at ) and 10 cent store
prices
The stars dressing room which
adioins the moving picture theater,
would meet the demand of Bar
rymOre or Hepburn. The cleo
trically QUILTED sewing room that
is a portion Of the solarium, would
make Bergdorf Goodman or Hattie
Carnegie green with envy. The
electric pipe organ in the main hall
is desigred on the same elaborate
scale.
The paneled mirrors that line
the walls of the swimming pool are
plated IL gold and from the ter
raced roof gardens, expensive high
powered telescopes focus on passing
ships.
Even the dollhouse flowers arc on
the superlative side The chrysan-
themums Il wish you'd make note
that these chrysanthemums are
blooming in the spring instead of
autumn carried Off first prize at
the annual flower show and the
Calcaria which decorated the rooms,
bloom only in the Parsons con-
servatory. It is one of the rarest
of dollhouse plants. The Parsons
raise it in all colors.
Former House Burned
The late Myron Henry Osborne,
who died early this year, was the
first owner Of Shadow Lawn, and
it was he who turned Shadow Lawn
over to Woodrow Wilson for the
summer White House.
This house burned. The present
home is the Parsons idea. The
gardens, the Lighthouses and the
teudal magniflCence of the estate
are famous the length Of the JERSEY
coast.
They say there are 100 rooms in
the main house. Mr.. and Mrs.
Parson nave no children. Her sister.
Miss Bertha basque, Is usually with
them. And until her marriage, Mrs.
Parsons niece. Miss Maysie basque.
also lived with the Parsons.
Maysie Dasques husband is John
Roland Robinson, Great Britain's
youngest member of Parliament.
1t is for the christening of the
Roblnsons' little boy, Richard Henry
Anthony Robinson. that Mr.. and
Ms. ParSon Will go to Europe. The
christening Will take place the
middle Of May in the chapel at the
House of Parliament.
Mr.. and Mrs. Robinson live in
London. He is NJ p. from HamD-
stead. the historic suburb of London
Just beyond Camden Town. where
David Copperfield stayed. Hamp-
stead is also famous for the
Spanish inn-highwayman. Dick Tur-
pins haunt.
Motor Trip Arranged
After Richard Henry Anthony
Robinson IS christened. Mr.. and
Mrs. Hubert Templeton Parson Will
leave for a motor trip through Eng
land, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
The Parsons final destination is
Paris, where they have a home in
the Bots de Bologne done on the
same gorgeous theme as Shadow
Lawn.
Magnificent as the New JERSEY es-
tate is. however. the place can't hold
a candle to the Parsons town house
at 1911 Fifth-av Here. the same
infinitely worked out electrical
equipment prevails. even to a re-
mOte-controlled radio system which
SmackS OF robot perfection.
Mr.. and Mrs. Parson are former
Brooklyn residents. In 1892. he be-
gan life as an accountant for the
Woolworth stores. And. though a
Baptist. Republican and member of
the Hardware Club. has a keen
sense Of fun and good humor.
Money has not spoiled the Par
sons their friends say