1875.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
453 
A Brick House Costing $4,000. 
BT 8. B. REED, ARCHITECT, CORONA, LONO ISLAND, N. T. 
This plan was designed for the residence of Dr. 
Samuel McClure, of Olney, 111. The style and gen¬ 
eral characteristics are significant of elegance and 
comfort, and suggest its adaptation to suburban, 
*ather than the more rural situations... .Slleva* 
■ELEVATION OF HOUSE. 
tiom, (fig. 1.)—There is a peculiar compactness in 
the outlines of the principal building, while the pi¬ 
azza and tower contribute largely to the symmetry 
and gracefulness of the entire structure. The gen¬ 
eral details of the exterior are quite simple in them¬ 
selves, and are so proportioned and arranged, as to 
adapt them to each other with artistic effect, and 
to produce marked features of unity and complete¬ 
ness. .. .First Story, (fig. 3.)—Hight of ceiling 
11 feet. The general divisions and arrangements 
are simple and practical. The Principal Entrance 
from the piazza is through outside and vestibule 
doors. The outside doors are made in pairs, with 
solid panels heavily molded on the face. The ves¬ 
tibule doors are of similar construction, except 
that their upper panels are of glass. There is a 
seeming extravagance in such “ vestibules,” or du¬ 
plication of doors at the entrance of any dwelling, 
and they may be regarded as a luxury, rather than 
Eig. 2.—PLAN OF CELLAR. 
a necessity—and would be superfluous and inappro¬ 
priate in the ordinary cottage, or farm-house ; but 
in residences of this character, where there is abun¬ 
dant space, such vestibules are manifestly proper, 
adding a feature of elaborateness, and providing 
for many contingencies of times and seasons. The 
outside or storm-doors afford protection against ex¬ 
treme cold, and severe storms, and furnish addi¬ 
tional security. The vestibule or “glass” doors 
admit an abundance of cheerful light to the hall. 
The main hall is roomy, and contains the principal 
stairs, which are of platform construction, are wide, 
and have hardwood rail, ballusters, and newel. The 
Parlor and Dining-room adjoin the hall through 
large double doors. The parlor and bed¬ 
room are separated by sliding doors. The 
bed-room has doors leading to the princi¬ 
pal hall, and to the bath-room, which has 
a wash-basin and water-closet. The 
kitchen is supplied with a range, with 
elevated oven and a water-back; a 30- 
gallon copper boiler, a sink with closet 
underneath, a pump, and stationary wash- 
tubs in three divisions, and it connects 
through doors with the dining-room, rear 
lobby, cellar stairway, a large pantry, and 
a dish-cloSet. The rear lobby is arranged 
to connect with the rear entrance, kitchen, 
bath-room, and principal hall. The bath¬ 
room contains a tank, with a capacity for 
four hogsheads of water, (placed near the 
ceiling), bath-tub, wash-stand, and seat- 
closet. Lead-pipes necessary for the sup¬ 
ply and distribution of cold and hot-water 
are provided in the kitchen and bath¬ 
room. Marble mantels are provided for 
the three principal rooms of this story, at 
an average cost of $25 each. Double 
architraves are intended for the trimming 
of the windows and doors in the princi¬ 
pal apartments, and neat chair backs are 
provided for the dining-room and kitchen 
....Second Story, (fig. 4.)—By the 
peculiar method of constructing the 
roof and framework, it will be found 
that the inside walls of this story are vertical or 
plumb, instead of angling as in the usual mansard 
roofs. The ceiling is nine feet high. This story 
has a hall, four large and one small, rooms, five 
closets, and a stairway to the tower. Each of the 
four large chambers has marble shelves resting on 
plaster trusses, as described in the July American 
Agriculturist. Single architraves are intended for 
the trimming of this story_Construction 
of the Walls and Roof.—The excavations are 
made 11 foot deep, and the earth thrown out is 
used in grading around the house at completion, 
raising the surrounding surface one foot. The 
foundation and cross-walls (fig. 2) are 61 feet 
high. The principal walls resting on the founda¬ 
tion, are 14 ft. 3 in. high, and the walls of the 
tower extend 11 ft. 6 in. above the principal walls. 
The walls inclosing the wing in the rear are 10 
ft. high—all of hard burned brick and good 
mortar. The exterior walls of the foundation 
are 12 inches thick, and all other walls are 8 
inches thick, and have heading courses every 
2 ft. The bottom courses of the exterior 
foundation to the hight of 21 feet, are laid in 
mortar composed of hydraulic cement and 
sharp sand, to prevent the absorption of damp¬ 
ness from the earth ; all other mortar is com¬ 
posed of lime and sand. All exterior surfaces 
of brick work that are exposed to view must 
have “flush joints,” and if intended for painting, 
should be rubbed smooth. All windows for the 
cellar and first story have sills of dressed stone, 
and have heads neatly arched of brick work. 
The window caps for the first story windows, 
are laid of brick, as shown in sketch, (fig. 5). 
These caps are easily executed while con¬ 
structing the walls, and are quite ornamental; 
the figures on the sketch denote the distances 
or projections of the several parts beyond the 
face of the wall... .Plates of 3 x 8 timber are laid 
flatwise on top of the brick walls, and the 
upper or roof framework is added as shown in 
section, (fig. 6) : A, foundation, 12 inches thick ; 
B, principal wall, 8 inches thick ; C, C, tower walls ; 
D, D, tower posts, 4x 6 inches, adjoining the upper 
portion of tower walls, and forming a part of the 
tower; E, E, principal plates, 3x8 laid on brick 
work ; F, tie, 3x8, resting on 2 x 4 studding, plac¬ 
ed inside the wall, and nailed to the principal 
plates ; G, G, rafter sawed to pattern, the lower 
end projects one inch beyond the face of the wall. 
IT, ceiling timbers resting on the tics. The remain¬ 
ing framework will be readily understood. The 
roofs are inclosed with rough hemlock boards of 
even thickness, and thoroughly nailed to the rafters 
—and lastly covered with I. C. charcoal tin. The 
method of laying the tin on the upright or mansard 
part of the roof, is known in the trade as the 
“raised groove” plan, in which all the vertical 
joints of the tin are raised and folded, leaving an 
elevated seam or ridge, which stiffens the general 
surface, and adds to the picturesqueness of this 
form of roof, without increasing its cost. The bal¬ 
Fig. 4.— PLAN OF SECOND FLOOR- 
ance of the tinning is laid with the ordinary lock- 
joint and soldered. Gas pipes are inserted in the 
framework so as to be concealed, except where 
they appear for attachments foi 4 ceiling lights, 
m 
Fig. 5.— WINDOW CAPS. 
and 4 side lights in the first story; for 8 side lights 
in the second story ; for 1 ceiling light in the tower, 
and for 1 side light in the cellar. Ample oppor¬ 
tunities for a thorough Ventilation are provided for 
