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±5ATIi, MJti., J U JN JD Z (9 1880.A FINE OIjD HOME.[The Residence of the Shipping: City’sShip Owning Princes,Iaa9*j.s.hi.L.“The Cedura,” the 01(1 Houghton Family Kstnte—Improvements Under Way—The Crooltcr Homestead Purchased to Make Still Broader, Acres Broad—Klegant Interior of a Uicli Bachelor's Home—The FincBt Artistic Collection In Bath—Romance of a Young Cl Iris Diamond.The manager-has sometimes thought, as he has smoked his t. d. and tlins saved for Sunday’s consumption the stub of a live cent Havanna, that when the Tnukpkn-1 ext\s circulation got up to 2000 a week he would lav bv nickels wherewith Lto purchase an estate like that of our popular shipping owner Henry L. Houghton, esq. We have a liking lor the old style, tall, square, broad shouldered mansion, the crowning glory of the substantial green terrace and expansive acres surrounding. It looks like a home where fun-loving children have frolicked in days gone ; where lovers have strolled beneath the cedars, and whose brilliantly lighted roo.ns and halls have received many a time and often gay and beautiful merry makers. In these days ot beautiyfying homes The Cedars should not be allowed to be surpassed by more modern villas but that it should be, as it is, rejuvenated, and set in the fitting framing ot well graded landscape gardened acres.the ckh.vks, tiik iioikjutox homesteadwas built about 1820, by John Richardson an uncle of our well known citizen Hon. »J. G. Kichardson, who was, in the palmy days of Hath, a merchant, and later the cashier of Lincoln National bank. It was purchased from the builder in 1N20 by the late Levi Houghton, founder of the ship* ping business ot the world-known Houghton liras. From the other heirs it was again purchased, in 1lt;S7-1, by Henrv L. Houghton j esq., the present owner and occupant. Last year Mr. Houghton elegantly refurnished the interior and this season he is extensively improving the exterior and surrounding grounds. A broad verilmlatrlia^ljeciT bui 11 about the norths east and south sides of the main building, and both house and adjoining out buildings and stables have*been newly painted. At the apex ol the carriage house roof has been mounted the gilded figure head of the brig Clarissa Ann, theFIItST VESSEL OF THE IIOUUIITOX FLEET,built by Levi Houghton in 1821 and commanded by the late Capt. Chas. Owen. The figure head, a female bust, was theland millionaire. Especially interesting, both from an art point of view and choice ot subject is Hubbles by Ernestine Conroy. It represents a full length view ot a young girl very beautiful and very gracefully blowing soap bubbles in the open air.In the dining room, a large airy apartment, cheerful with its bay window admitting light and sun from the south, east and west, are hung on the walls paintings of the earlier specimens of Hath naval architecture built by the Houghtons. There isTHE liltUi CALEDONIAA fEntering the North Sea in (’apt,James Drummond in command. She would make a jolly boat for a coaster of tin *ee days. Her ‘•lines” are decidedly Japanese now. Then there is the Clarissa Ann entering Havre near the end of the first quarter of this century. She too is decidedly old style. We believe she was the first vessel commanded by Capt. Chas. Owen “the Kennebec Admiral.”Throughout the mansion of The Cedars artistic taste is manifest in the statuary and paintings, the latter constituting the finest collection in our city.IX THE XOItTH I’AKLOieis a window pane of glass which, strange to relate, his withstood the many gangers of over halt a century, unbroken. Upon this pane, cut into the glass by a lady’s diamond* is the name “Sarah Richardson. Miss Richardson we anise, little thought when, perhaps, some stupid rainy morning she idlv scratched her name upon this glass, that, over half a century later, the glass would be there bearing her name, and that some one should think it worth scribbling about. Miss R. was the daughter of the builder and first owner of the mansion. She married a Capt. Thompson the author of the well known “Three Years Before the Mast,11 bv whom she had one daughter,• ¥ OM iss Fannie, now living in this citv. She married a second time Mr. Sam‘1 Robinson, whose son, Frol. Orville 1). Robinson, is well known in Hath society, although in business -elsewhere. And thus in a rambling way we have written a good deal about this fine old place—a good ileal more than we anticipated writing when we glanced in upon The Cedars searching for aTritumiyct ween the 'showefs—orrMrmdav morning last.WKIT'JW.FirslCoLeIriPeKiHlt;Tht.carved likeness of one of the builder's daughters. At the base of the flalt;j staffo ^ non the ridge pole of the carriage house also is the old wheel of the brig Caledonia, Uuilt in 1821)7 alscTby a Levi-! I ought on.The entire surrounding lands are being graded the driveway newly built and the front terraces put in excellent .condition. The sweep of lawn between the first and second terraces in front of the house has been finished and seeded for this season, the whole place to be given next springinto the hands of a landscape gardener. Mr. Houghton this spring purchased the old Crooker Homestead adjoining the estate, on the south. The house, nine ty-five years old, was torn down, and , its lands graded to continue, the lawn of The Cedars.[Crowded Out Last Week.]For the Independent.TIIK SKOLFIKLIVS Sllll*.Full Description of a HandsomeVessel.etaceslejrasmiller,on,S.,id by'ath.ipt. K.AmosEJYork.StoresmintingTins old liorsE has a history of great interest. It wasa * #built by Johnathan Crooker, a blacksmith, who cut all the timber used in its construction in the woods about Witch Spring, and who hammered on his own anvil all the nails it took, llncle Win. Donnell, a rich old bachelor, lived and died here, as did likewise Miss Rachel Bishop, since her time a Mr. Varney a teamster, and it has been occupied for the last twenty years by John (iilmore, a teamster also. When the old place was demolished many relics of olden time were found, among them being a cannon ball,a penny of date 1760, and other coins.Returning to The Cedars, however. It is nowtjl' IT E A N M K-AI. \ ttt? 11E LOU*S 110 M E,within as well as without. Substantial and elegant heavy English carpets deaden the foot falls, in the north parlor a tiled and brass protected fireplace adds cosiness to the elegance of-the surroundings. _ A new-Steck piano invites the musical to play, and exquisite oil paintings the artistic to enjoy their beauty. The south parlor, the halls and chambers are equally elegant and on every wall rare paintings and engravings hang, the most of which would be prized by any gallery of art in our land. We make below a partial list: —Belle of Naples; Young (»irl awaiting her Lover; Bubbles; Swiss Feasant (Jirl; Summer and Autumn, companion pieces; Swiss Mountain Scene («) Saluting the Cross; (6) the Feasant’s Lunch; Two panels water colored Cascades in the Adirondaeks; water color scenery on the Schuylkill ;Feeding the Chickens; a lady's head and bust; The Holy Family after A»id.ii»n.iU*l-Sarta;Chemist_and Alchemist, companion paintings (originals by David Teniers;) a panel Hollyhocks by Mrs. Andrews of this city; marine view oil Dover bv W. L Knube; head ot theyounger Rembrant; Soldier Hoy and Dogby .1. (iyselinekc; The Holy Family; a Modonna; a Beatrice; Mother and Babe.Besides these and family paintings are many others, and fine engravings. Most of the paintings were purchased abroad. Those obtained in Europe by Mr. John Houghton were wrecked on the voyage home and were retouched by Harris.OF THE IWIXTINliSEspecially beautiful is the Belle ot Naples, and exceedingly fine is the portrait ol the younger Rembrant. The Holy* Family alter del Sarto was purchased in EuropeThe ship (Jeo. R. Skolfield, built at Ilarpswell was successfully launched last Saturday at 11 .i»0 p. m. About a thousand people gathered in the morning to witness the launch, which was deferred unTil'cvening on account of low tide, much to, the disappointment of the assembled throng.The (ieo. R. Skolfield is a finely'modelled ship and is much admired by those versed in shipping, both on account of her beauty and durability, neither time nor money has been spared to render her stanch and handsome. She (I suppose a ship is called she even when endowed with a masculine name) measures 2ol feet over all; beam 10 feet, .depth of hold 21 feet, and wili register somewhat rising sixteen hundred tons measurement. Ninety-eight tons of iron were used in the construction of her hull, and she is said by competent judges to he one of tin* best, if not tin*, best ship, ever built in Maine. Her cabins arc finished in walnut, rosewood, ash and California cherry, and are very handsome. Capt. Clement S. Dunning of Ilarpswell is to command her and Mr. A. II. Fivblc of Woolwich is to be her first oliiccr.She towed directly to Portland to receive her spars and a few finishing touches, after which she will ■prybablv-charter for the East Indies or California grain trade. This fine ship, commanded by a young captain, whose capabilities have been thoroughly tested, with so efficient a first ofUeer as Mr. Preble is known to be. will doubtless be a source ot much pride as well as income to her owners, and is destined to plough the ocean for many years, carrying the products of different countries from port to port. ***— —The surviving Confederate Commanders, say the Macon. Ga., Telegraph, could save nnic 11 tro u bl e and m a ivy heartburnings by meeting in convention and agreeing upon a history of the war. The result of their labors would be of inestimable value to posterity and would settle many vexed questions.\V1aside we la lay li in tli lirigl disia travcresteunchwithand A brea fresl none Still han* to (b sam: Aim cml) bur Vt!l* pass as si fort an e hanlioolt;vietrialendlikehog*entiV• tjiintslmis.”Vofthe1sailmerocAshi wi sid litt ovt ofUKSOIahoti bu gn en *heion to hit so: tinistiV“ItiltilintliTorrctlisidgisiStTHE BELLS OF SHANDON.licv. Francis Mnhonri/t author of the “Trout/) ‘ u *pens\With deep atteetiou and recollection I often think of those Shandon bellH,Whose sound ho wild, would, in days of childhood, Fling round my cradle their magic spell*.On thi« I ponder, where’er I wander,And thus grow fonder, sweet Cork, of the**; With thy bells of Shandon,That sound ho grand on The pleatmnt wateis of the river Lee.f;itoStfVslpurby Capt. (1. C. Goss and bought by Mr. Houghton from the captain. The painting of the Maiden at the Balcony was purchased in Europe by Dr. Merritt, the Oak-I’ve heard bells chiming full many a clime in, 'foiling Hubllme in cathedral Hhiine;While at a glibe rate brans tongues would vibrate, liut all their music spoke not like thine;For memory dwelling on each proud swelling Of thy belfry knelling ita bold notea free,•Made the hells of .shandon Sound far more grand on The pleasant waters of the river Lee.I’ve heard bells tolling “old Adrian’* Mole” in, Their thunder rolling from the Vatican,And cymbals plosions, swinging uproarious In t»;e gorgeous turret* of Notre Dame;Hut thy sounds were sweeter than the dome of l*etcrFlings o’er the 'fiber, pealing solemnly.lt;), the hells of Shandon.Bound far more grand on 1 The pleasant waters of the river Lee!There's a hell . In Moscow, while on tower and Uiusko,In St. Sophia the Turkman gets.Ai.d loud In air calls men to prayer From the tapering summit of tall minnrctB.Such empty phantom, I freely grant them;Hut thcre’ii an anthem more dear to me;•Tirt the bells of Shandon,That sound so grand on The pleasant wutera of the river Lee.
Newspaper Details
Independent Junior
Bath, Maine, US
Sat, Jun 27, 1885
Page 2
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Anonymous
ME, USA 13 Feb 2020
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