376 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



October, 1907 



including the raising of the 

 roof, which was one of 

 the familiar hipped style, 

 to the mansard roof, pierced 

 by rows of dormer windows, 

 which it now has; the addi- 

 tion of the two-s t o r y 

 porches at the two fronts of 

 the mansion, and the re- 

 moval of the partition which 

 originally formed a narrow 

 hall extending through the 

 depth of the house; the lat- 

 ter alteration permitting of 

 the extra space being thrown 

 into the dining-room on the 

 river side. It is supposed 

 that he also added the hand- 

 s o m e paneled walls and 

 cornices throughout the 



interior, for strangely enough when the present owner re- 

 moved some of the paneled wainscoting for the purpose of 

 installing a water supply she found very fine hand-finished 

 walls, which would indicate that the paneled walls were a 

 later feature added to ornament the interior when Charles 

 Carter took possession of "Shirley." 



The mansion is a square red brick structure, standing some 

 two hundred yards from the James River, and is well sur- 



" Shirley " Annex, Containing Household Offices and Servants' Quarters 



rounded by many beautiful 

 trees, which present a forest 

 effect when seen from the 

 steamer passing up the 

 river. The brick of which 

 it is built is laid in Flemish 

 bond, harmonizing with 

 the white-painted trim and 

 green-painted blinds. The 

 side porch, with its pedi- 

 mental roof and columns, is 

 an interesting feature of the 

 house, while the porches 

 and verandas, which are on 

 either end, are of later date 

 than the original steps 

 erected at the time the house 

 was built. Ascending the 

 dressed stone steps and 

 crossing the flagstone porch, 

 one enters the great square hall with its paneled walls; in 

 fact, the interior throughout has paneled walls with heavily 

 molded dentalled cornices treated with an ivory-white paint, 

 which has grown old with age, and is now rich in its an- 

 tiquity. This hall contains an open staircase of unusual 

 beauty, displaying the broad character of the early Colonial 

 builders. The old desk now here, and used for a post 

 office, formerly belonged to Charles Carter. There is also 



The Mansion Is a Square Red Brick Structure with a Mansard Roof Surmounted by a Pineapple, the Emblem of Hospitality, 



