1874 Advertisement for Mansion for Sale Lockwood-Mathews Mansion, Norwalk Connecticut
The following is from a printed advertisement of the house dated 1874.
Elm Park-South Norwalk, Conn.
SITUATION-GROUNDS
Elm Park is situated on Long Island sound, about midway between the villages of Norwalk and South Norwalk, three-fourths of a mile from each. The grounds consist of about 25 acres, with a front on West avenue of about 1,200 feet. This front, and 150 feet on the south side, is enclosed with an ornamental wrought-iron fence four feet high, set upon a cut granite base. Remaining sides are enclosed as follows: south side, from end of iron fence to Pine Island Cemetery, 650 feet, wire fence; adjoining cemetery, 825 feet, tight board fence; on east side, from cemetery to shop, 400 feet, stone wall laid in cement, four feet high, surmounted by a picket fence of wood, three feet high; from the shop to the angle on Butler street, 600 feet, granite wall, cut face, laid in cement and covered with cut coping of granite; the top of this wall is nine feet above garden; from Butler street to West avenue, 600 feet of tight board fence.
The grounds are not fully laid out, but the drives shown on the map are well-constructed and in good condition. The garden, containing about two acres, is laid out in squares with graveled walks and box borders, and is well stocked with choice varieties of hardy fruit trees.
Adjoining the garden is a grapery and potting house, 30 feet by 190 feet, a hot house for plants, 63 feet by 33 feet, a forcing house for plants, 16 feet by 80 feet, and a sprouting house, 43 feet by 67 feet. All the buildings are constructed in the most perfect manner.
The main entrance to the grounds is from West avenue through ornamental wrought-iron gates hung upon cut granite columns. The lodge at the gate, 25-1/2 feet by 3? feet, is built in the Rural Gothic style, of coursed granite, rock face. It is one and one-half story, with cellar under whole building. The principal floor contains three large rooms and butler's pantry. Second floor three large and one small chamber and bath room and water-closet.
The principal and second floors are all finished in hard wood oiled and polished, and the ceilings and side walls are oil frescoed in tasteful manner. Near the lodge is a building, 13 feet by 20 feet, built of granite rubble and fitted up as a summer kitchen for lodge.
MANSION, BUILDINGS
The mansion is built of broken ashlar of smooth cut granite. The carriage-way leads through a port cochere of carved granite. The front door opening from this is of black walnut, carved and moulded and has bronze trimmings.
The vestibule floor laid in pattern with foreign marble, wainscot of American black walnut with English walnut panels, highly polished, the ceiling of plaster is groined, and together with the side walls is oil frescoed.
The hall floor laid in pattern with Italian marble, wainscot and woodwork Is of American and English walnut, with panels of Italian marble, the ceiling is of plaster paneled and is supported upon polished columns of Italian marble with porphyry bases, the ceiling and side walls are oil frescoed, the mantel is of black walnut, carved and inlaid, and the fire place is of Italian marble.
The Rotunda floor is parquetry formed of five different woods laid in geometrical pattern, wainscot and other woodwork is of American and English walnut with polished panels and hand carved mouldings, the mantel is of walnut carved and inlaid with box wood, and the fire place is of Italian marble.
A gallery runs around the rotunda at the level of the second floor, the railing of this gallery is formed of alternate balusters of carved and inlaid black walnut, and of bronze, the rail is of black walnut and is surmounted with light rails covered with red plush supported in gilded standards, the front of the gallery is paneled to match the wainscot of first floor. Gallery floor is laid with black walnut and ash, in alternate strips. The ceiling of the rotunda is arched forming a dome in the center of which at a height of forty-one and a half feet from the principal floor is a sky light of ground glass. The dome and side walls are oil frescoed.
The library floor is parquetry of five different woods laid in geometrical pattern, the wainscot and woodwork is of American and English walnut with polished steel trimmings, the mantel is of carved and moulded walnut, the ceiling is paneled with black walnut with plaster centers frescoed, the cornice is of walnut and frescoed plaster. The side walls are richly papered. The conservatory opens from the library. The floor is laid with encaustic tile, and the covering is of stained glass. The closet opening from the library is fitted with book-cases of black walnut.
The music room-the floor is of white pine and requires a carpet. The woodwork is of bird's eye maple with rosewood mouldings, and is Inlaid In delicate pattern with ebony and boxwood. The doors have ebony panels inlaid with boxwood in pattern and figures. The mouldings are lacquered and gilded. The mantel and fire place are of Italian statuary marble, carved. The celling is paneled and, together with the cornice and side walls, is beautifully frescoed in oil.
The drawing room-the floor requires a carpet. The woodwork is of rosewood inlaid with boxwood, ebony and cedar of Lebanon, in designs. The mouldings are hand carved and gilded. The doors are of rosewood inlaid same as other woodwork, and the panels are ornamented with bronse medallions. The centerpiece of the ceiling is an oil painting 12 feet by 16 feet on canvas by Galland. The rest of the ceiling is paneled and, together with the cornice and side walls, is elegantly frescoed.
The card room opens from the drawing room. The floor requires a carpet. The wainscot and woodwork are of bird's eye maple with boxwood panels and exquisite ebony marquetry. The mouldings are of mahogany and Spanish cedar, and the base-board of English walnut. The mantel is of wood, carved and moulded to match woodwork. The ceiling is arched, paneled and frescoed in artistic representations of birds and flowers. The side walls are ornamented with fine frescoes representing music, painting and poetry.
The dining room floor requires a carpet. The wainscot and woodwork are of oak paneled with cedar of Lebanon and with Mouldings of American black walnut. The mantel is of oak carved and moulded and supported on figures of carved oak. There are three large mirrors in this room, one over the mantel and one on each side of the bay-window. The celling is paneled and frescoed, as are the cornice and side walls.
Opening from the dining-room is a fire and burglar proof vault for silver. In two corners of the dining room are stationary buffets of carved and inlaid oak. From the dining-room through a hall is the butler's pantry, kitchen pantry, kitchen laundry, etc. All these are fitted up with hard wood floors, and woodwork of yellow pine and walnut and have all the modern conveniences. The walls and ceilings are painted.
The billiard rooms have parquetry floors of five different woods, wainscot and woodwork of oak with ash panels and black walnut mouldings, the mantel of wood carved and moulded to match the woodwork, the ceilings are paneled and with the cornices and side walls are oil frescoed. The wash-room opening from billiard room is fitted up in hard wood in best style.
The main staircase has treads and risers of black walnut, carved and inlaid black walnut newel posts, rail and balusters of American black walnut carved and inlaid with boxwood and English walnut, the strings have panels of English walnut inlaid with box wood and ebony. The wainscot on stair landing and from there to second floor, is of American Black walnut with English walnut panels inlaid with box wood and ebony.
Servants' staircase has treads and risers of oak and sawed scroll balustrade of oak with black walnut rail, wainscot to match balustrade. The height of ceilings on principal floor is fifteen feet.
The floor of hall around gallery on second floor is of yellow pine and black walnut laid in alternate strips, the woodwork is of English walnut, the walls and ceilings are frescoed.
Chamber "A" and dressing-room "B", woodwork is red cedar with rosewood mouldings and the doors arc inlaid with cedar of Lebanon and walnut. In the dressing-room is a wood mantel carved and moulded to match the woodwork, also a wash-stand with Italian marble slab. Opening from the dressing-room is a bath-room and water closet, fitted up in the best style. Ceilings and side walls of all these rooms are oil frescoed.
Chamber "C" woodwork of birdseye maple with rosewood mouldings, mantel of Italian marble carved and inlaid, the ceiling paneled and together with the cornice and side walls oil frescoed.
The small room in tower opening from this chamber is fitted up in oak and black walnut, the celling is arched and with the side walls is beautifully frescoed. The bath-room opening from chamber "C" has floor and woodwork of hard wood, and is furnished with wash-stand, Italian marble slab, water-closet and bath-tub all fitted up in best style.
Chamber "D" woodwork is of oak with lacquered and gilded moulding, the door panels are of oak inlaid with box wood and ebony, mantel of wood carved and moulded to match woodwork, and with porphyry panels and fire place.
Chamber "E" woodwork is of oak and cherry mantel of wood paneled and moulded to match, washstand with Italian marble slab, encased in oak, ceiling, cornice and side walls oil frescoed.
Chamber "F," woodwork is of oak and black walnut, mantel of wood carved and moulded to correspond with other woodwork, wash-stand has Italian marble slab. Ceiling, cornice and side walls all oil frescoed.
Chambers "G," "H" and "I," woodwork is of red cedar with lacquered mouldings, the mantels are wood carved and moulded: ceilings, cornices and side walls are frescoed in oil. The bath-room opening from chamber "C," has hard wood floor, woodwork of red cedar, pine and black walnut, and is furnished with wash-stand, Italian marble slab, water-closet and bath-tub. The dressing-room opening from chamber "H," is fitted up in hard wood, wash-stand, marble slab In end, and closets and drawers on side.
Chamber "K," and the suite of rooms connected with It from "L" to "Q" inclusive, are fitted up in pine, grained and varnished. The mantels are of hard wood, carved and moulded, ceiling and side walls are oil frescoed. The bath-room is fitted with wash-stand and bathtub.
The ceilings on second floor are 12 feet high.
The second and third floors of servants' quarters are fitted up in pine with mahogany mouldings. The walls are painted and the mantels are of marble.
The stair case from second to third floor is same as back stairs from principal to second floor.
The third floor, main building, is fitted up throughout in pine with mahogany moulding. All wash-stands have marble slabs and, together with the bath-tubs, etc., are fitted up in best manner. The mantels are all of marble.
The attic in roof is all plastered and painted, but is not divided into rooms. There is a cellar under the whole building, containing a bowling alley, a fire and burglar proof vault, wine cellar, coal bins, etc.
There is an electric burglar alarm connected with all the exterior doors and windows on principal and second floors. It has two indicators, one at the door of chamber "C" on second floor, and one at end of the hall on second floor of servants' quarters. There is an annunciator at the kitchen door with 23 bells connecting with principal rooms.
There is an elevating lift running from principal to third floor.
The windows throughout building are fitted with inside folding blinds to match woodwork.
All glass throughout building is French plate. Roof of building is covered with black slate and tin.
The building is heated by steam. Gold's patent indirect radiation. The cold air is brought into the cellar, is there passed over steam radiators and then distributed over the house through pipes controlled by registers in each room.
There are four boilers for heating located in cellar.
The house throughout is fitted with gas, as are all the other buildings on the premises, and all the driveways through the grounds are lighted by lamps.
There is a reservoir belonging to the establishment, capable of storing 20,000 gallons of water, it is situated about one-half mile from the house and is connected with it by a three inch cast iron pipe.
All bath-tubs and wash-stands are supplied with hot and cold water, and each wash-stand has in addition a drinking fountain.
There is a distributing tank in the attic, with a capacity of 2,000 gallons. The water from the main flows into this tank, and is then distributed over the house.
All the buildings on the premises are supplied with water.
All materials in the building are the very best and the workmanship is absolutely perfect.
The outbuildings on the place are extensive, comprising the carriage house 50 feet by 70 feet, two story with standing shed 25 feet by 30 feet stable of coursed granite. It contains stalls for eight horses, carriage and harness rooms, granary and hay loft, and sleeping-room for coachman. It is all fitted up in best manner in hard wood. The farm stable and gardener's cottage in one building, 35 feet by 56 feet, is of wood, two stories, with cow-house underneath. The shop, two story, 24 feet by 30 feet, is built of granite. The farm cottage is built of wood, 26 feet by 36 feet, two story, with cellar under whole building. The icehouse, 30 feet by 45 feet, is of wood.
