264 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



July, 1907 



founder of the Postal Progress League of America, is now 

 the owner of this delightful old house, having inherited it 

 from his father. 



It was built in 1808, and is constructed of brick. It is a 

 grand old house, and is by far the most dignified and stately 

 mansion in Farmington, with an imposing facade, of Roman 

 character, facing toward the south. 



In the interior is a great hall containing a mahogany stair- 

 case of quaint design with a graceful triple window on its 

 landing. Fine old mahogany doors, with Huted casings and 

 pediments, open into other rooms of ample size. The 

 drawing-room has a fine old fireplace with a handsome Co- 

 lonial mantel carved with exquisite delicacy. The library 

 and dining-room, beyond the drawing-room, are furnished 

 in a similar manner, and are dignified and stately. Of old- 

 time charm there is abundance in this fine old house, a charm 

 beginning with its first upbuilding, and which is quite in- 

 separable from it. 



Rear-Admiral William Sheffield Cowles is also a distin- 

 guished member of this family, and with his wife, Mrs. 

 Cowles, a sister of Presi- 

 dent Roosevelt, now 

 maintains the most not- 

 able house in Farmington. 

 It is called "Old Gate," 

 and in summer is the scene 

 of much festivity. Among 

 its distinguished guests are 

 numbered many members 

 of the Diplomatic service, 

 as well as others prominent 

 in the naval and social life 

 of the country. "Old 

 Gate" is a charming place, 

 and the old gate, from 

 which it gets its name, is 

 located at the entrance to 

 the estate. It is classic in 

 style, and is the most beau- 

 tiful piece of architecture 

 in Farmington. A f t e r 

 crossing the threshold, a 

 short walk brings one to 

 the entrance, which is also 

 classic in design. 



The hall is a central one, 

 extending through the 

 house in the manner of the 

 old Colonial mansions. 



The interior is most interesting — paneled wainscoting, a mas- 

 sive wooden cornice, the fine old doors and trim, and the 

 grand old Georgian mantel and overmantel, very ably ex- 

 press the excellent taste of its builder. 



The hall has a fine old mahogany staircase. To the left 

 of the entrance is the drawing-room, furnished mostly with 

 antique furniture; and corresponding to the drawing-room 

 is the dining-room, containing a fine old Virginia dining- 

 table and Sheraton chairs. Back of the drawing-room is the 

 morning-room, which was formerly the dining-room. This 

 has an attractive old fireplace and mantel, and affords a 

 pleasant outlook into the garden. It also forms the entrance 

 to the living-room, which was formerly the kitchen, and now 

 the most important and interesting room in the house. 



In Colonial times an old house was seldom pulled down, 

 but passed through a sort of evolution like the one in the 

 present case. It was moved to the rear and made into a 

 kitchen for the newer structure, so that the house had equally 

 as many styles of architecture as it had dates of erection. 

 The living-room of the present house was formerly the lower 

 story of the original house built in 1660. It subsequently 



The Classic Porticos Are the Chief Charm of " Byde-a-Whyle 



became the kitchen to the newer house, built in front of it 

 about 1780, for Zenas Cowles, whose residence it was for 

 many years. At the death of Zenas Cowles it became the 

 property of Thomas Cowles, his youngest son, who married 

 Elizabeth Shefllield, and at their death, Admiral Cowles be- 

 came the owner. The style of architecture of this new house 

 was much superior to all the houses of the village at the time 

 of its erection, and is said to have been designed by an of- 

 ficer in Burgoyne's army, who was sent to Farmington as a 

 prisoner of war. 



In 1898 Admiral Cowles added another extension to the 

 house in order to provide for service quarters. Mrs. Cowles 

 subsequently transformed the old kitchen into a library, 

 and in its transformation, the old rough brick fireplace, 

 with its upright iron cranes, was retained in its original 

 form, and is now the principal feature of the room. It is 

 built in a curious manner of a mass of rock, placed at the 

 back of the fireplace to send out the heat into the room, and 

 to prevent its being drawn to the outer air through the 

 chimney flue. Bookcases were built in along the walls, and 



comfortable and homelike 

 furniture was properly 

 placed about the room, 

 and the whole presents a 

 delightful air that simply 

 expresses the characteristic 

 of good taste. The side 

 porch, off the living-room, 

 is a most attractive feature 

 of the house, and here the 

 family life centers on a 

 warm day. Access is ob- 

 t a i n e d from it to the 

 grounds, which are hidden 

 from the street by massive 

 shrubbery. Passing over 

 the grassed lawn, one finds 

 his way to the rose garden, 

 and thence to the river, 

 with its picturesque and in- 

 teresting boathouse. 



It was in this house that 

 President Roosevelt, on 

 October 23, 1901, received 

 the warden and burgesses 

 of the town, who in a dig- 

 nified address bid him wel- 

 come to Farmington. It 

 was also here that, later in 

 the day, he received, with Admiral and Mrs. Cowles, the 

 other guests who came to pay their respects. 



"Byde-a-Whyle," the old house built in 18 15 by Major 

 Fimothy Cowles, another distinguished member of this fam- 

 ily, is now the residence of Waldo K. Chase. It is a fine old 

 house, planned in the shape of a cross with porticos built on 

 the front and on either side, and which are supported on 

 graceful fluted columns with Ionic capitals. 



When Mr. Chase purchased this old house he saw great 

 possibilities for it, and, while its alterations have not been 

 excessive, such changes as have been made are in keeping with 

 its character. The alterations consisted in transforming the 

 old kitchen and pantries into a dining-room and the building 

 of an extension to contain the kitchen and servants' quarters. 

 The old hall has a mahogany staircase and paneled walls to 

 the ceilings. The paneled wainscoting of old Colonial style 

 is the feature of the house. Mr. Chase is a collector of 

 antique furniture, and he has the finest collection of furni- 

 ture of the Colonial period in Farmington. 



The drawing-room, with its fine old Chippendale chairs, 

 and its fine old mirror over the mantel, the library with its 



