Community Life at Rochelle Park 
THE HOUSE OF E. W. KEMBLE 
is used with agreeable effect to enhance rus¬ 
ticity. Particularly fortunate is its share in 
one of the most ingratiating architectural en¬ 
sembles found in the park, that afforded by 
the house of Mr. Ernest Albert, designed 
by Mr. Wilson Eyre. The illustration shows 
little of this rocky lawn, but gives a fair idea 
of the dwelling itself—long, low, and of 
happy proportions, with stone arches forming 
a porte-cochere, and a 
steep roof, seen under 
shady trees. Another 
dwelling truly set off 
by its stone outcrop is 
that of Prof. Hermon 
C. Bumpus, of the 
American Museum of 
Natural History. Still 
another is that of Mr. 
E. W. Kemble, the 
illustrator. The house 
of Mr. Benjamin E. 
Smith, on the Serpen¬ 
tine, is typical of the 
best class of Rochelle 
Park residences, and 
its entrance, v i n e - 
covered and shaded by 
trees, is exceptionally 
attractive. 
Unique is the only 
word strong enough 
and vague enough to 
apply to the house and 
grounds of Mr. Na¬ 
than F. Barrett, whose 
situation has already 
been described. Seen 
from the front, it ap¬ 
pears an ordinary 
square structure, of 
four stories, with large 
indented piazzas at the 
second floor corners. 
Approaching nearer, 
one finds an open pas¬ 
sage or tunnel on the 
ground level, under 
the first floor, leading 
on either side to a series 
of cellar gardens, in 
which plants and flow¬ 
ers grow the year 
around. Thick shrubbery isolates the dwel¬ 
ling from the road ; Mr. Barrett still remem¬ 
bers that in England a man’s house is his 
castle, and despite his American energy and 
boldness, there is still British tradition behind 
some of his most personal and instinctive 
work. This shrubbery is used with remark¬ 
able skill to provide little avenues and vistas 
about the house. The rear of the latter is a 
esq. 
THE HOUSE OF BENJAMIN E. SMITH 
240 
