House & Garden 
windows from both stories on the street end 
of the house, added a fireplace in the center 
and presented to the aggressive approach of 
the growing city nothing but a blank wall. 
This piece of work was executed by no less 
an architect than William Strickland.' T he 
consistency with which this shutting out of 
all that is offensively new and modern has 
been accomplished gives to this lovely old 
place one of its chief charms. 
The front entrance admits one to a tiny 
stair hall, in the center of which is found a 
curious and perhaps unique set of four doors. 
These are so pivoted at top and bottom as 
to serve for the parlor and living hall, as 
1 A notable figure among Philadelphia’s early generation of architects. 
Born in that city in 1787, he studied under the architect Benjamin 
Latrobe, and designed many prominent buildings in his native city, such 
as the old Masonic Hall, the Mint, the Exchange, the Naval 
Asylum, numerous banks and other public institutions. He died in 
1 854., while engaged in superintending the construction of the State; 
House at Nashville, Tennessee, 
arranged in the photograph, or to fit equally 
well when closed across the hall to screen 
the stairs and form the vestibule. On the 
right we enter the parlor, which, faithful to 
local custom, seems comparatively but little 
used,—the sunny freshness of the living 
hall being far preferable. The walls are 
colored a very pale green, the woodwork, as 
elsewhere, white. The finish is of the sim¬ 
plest, although the window heads and 
jambs are of wood and paneled. Venetian 
blinds with their green slats help to give 
character to the windows. The old open 
fireplace has given way to a modern 
register; but the marble chimney-piece, 
surmounted by a gilt framed mirror, still 
remains. Expensively inlaid tables and 
curious pieces of furniture of various 
kinds speak of discriminating taste and 
appreciation. 
To the left of the stair hall and opposite 
553 
