Evening star., 1938-04-12

THE house is of brick laid in Flem-
lsh bond, with the mortar never
more than one-fourth inch wide. so
That 1t is almost indiscernible. It is
two, stories high, the main house be-
ing connected on either side by a wide
passage to large wings with octagonal
bays. They say" that Mr.. Chase, who
lived across the street and was Just
completing his house when Matthias
Hammond started his, paid him price
SO that he would not build his house
high enough to shut out the view of
the bay. If that is true, Mr.. Chase
was responsible in large way for the
perfect proportion of the Hammond
house. There is no ornament on the
front except the beautiful carving
surrounding the entrance door and
the medallion window set under the
peak OF the roof. William Buckland
was great artist, and the perfect
proportion of his work makes it out
standing without further decoration.
The entrance hall is of good size
and has very beautiful carved cor
nice, with the rosettes which distin-
guish this architects work. On either
side of the hall are rooms with large
flreplaces, not ornamented except for
fine molding at the cornice and win
dow frame. These were at one time
family dining room and small drawing
room. The doors are small and low,
In comparison to modern doors and the
Size OF the room. This was done so
that the heat, provided by the fire.
place only, might not escape.
Straight through the hall, looking
out over the garden is the great ball
room or banquet room. William
Buckland was given free hand to
decorate this room as was seldom
given to any architect then-or now.
The huge fireplace whose over
mantel is exquisitely carved with
fine scroll, has fine plaque above it.
On either SIDE Of the fireplace is a
door, one the entrance from the nall,
the other opening on blank wall, and
placed there merely to balance the
room. These doors are surrounded
"AeA1 1AoSOA aICAy Sdl NCu 11dl1llS anu
topped by lofty pediment In this
way interest and size brings the doors
into better proportion in this large
room without enlarging the opening.
The windows are deeply recessed Will,
inside shutters which fold back tc
reveal delightfully."- carved rosettes and
panels, and the whole is surrounded
with frame carved as are the doors.
The deep cornice below the ceiling
adds even more richness to this lovely
room. without for moment allowing
1t to become overdone The walls are
light, middle blue, with the doors,
windows. mantel and cornice painted
white. This room must have been a
perfect background for the rich bro
cades, satins and powdered wigs of the
gentlemen and ladies of the period
To the right of it is smaller room
called the retiring room" where the
ladies awaited the gentlemen after
dinner.
THE second floor has three bedrooms
and another ball room. not quite
as elaborate as the one on the first
floor and more chaste in design. It
might have been used for polite COM
ing-out parties of the young ladies
of the family. while Governors, states
men and visiting noblemen were enter
tanned downstairs.
To the right of the entrance on the
ground floor is the kitchen wing, with
its huge fireplace for cooking. and the
servant hall. To. the left the wing
cannot be entered from the main
house. 1t was designed by Mr. Ham
mond as his Office, but as he did not
use the house it has always been used
for guest rooms.
The Hammond house will soon be
open to the public by the Garden Club.