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Page B-10TkSuvUcmWBiloxi-Gulfport-PsacagouIa, Miss., Sunday, July 4, 1976Old Man River created the imposing homeContinued from B-8 second and third levels.The fluted stucco-over-brick columns had iron Corinthian capitals and were joined at the galleries by an ornamental iron balustrade.Windsor contained a total of twenty-three rooms and three hallways, with the flcor plan of the main block consisting of central hallways with three rooms measuring 19 feet by 30 feet on each side. The basement was given over to such utilities as a dairy, store rooms, commissary and doctor’s office as well as school room.The second floor on the south side of the hall contained double parlors and the library, and on the north was the master suite, bedroom, study and bath.The third floor consisted of bedrooms and a second bath. Both baths were supplied with rainwater piped from the attic, where it was stored in tanka eight feet wide, 20 feet long and five feet deep. The basement floor of the ell contained the kitchen and the second stairs the dining room, with pantry and dumb waiter was located directly above.On the third floor were three bedrooms.The Interior features of Windsor included a spiral staircase in the rear of the hallway and 25 mantelpieces made of Georgia and Tennessee marble, as well as two marble bathtubs.Ebony-framed mirrors surrounded the dark marble of the library mantelpieces and chandeliers, f (c o r-1 o -c e 111 ng mirrors, and luxurious red velvet draperies lined with white silk were included in the decor of the parlors.The builder of Windsor, Smith Coffee Daniel II, was born in Mississippi in 1826, the son of a promi-runt landowner. Danletl holdings were ao vast that he studied law at the University of Virginia in order to better administer his estates.In 1849 he married his cousin, Catherine Freeland, by whom he had six children and in 1859 he began building Windsor,Windsor remained the home of the Daniell family until February 17, 1890, when a fire broke out after a house guest accidentally dropped cigarette ashes into debris left by carpenters making repairs to the third floor. All was destroyed except a few pieces of china and the coi-umns, balustrades and ;iron stairs.The property was Inherited by a daughter, Pris-cilia, who had bedn married at Windsor on December 13, 1888, to Joseph Moore Magruder,A wedding party given at Windsor in honor o: Priscilla was described by a descendant of the Daniell family.Dinner began at two o’clock and continued until five, as was customary Guests were first served turtle soup. It was quite formal and the plate was pul in the two already at each place. After the soup plates were removed, the fish course was served. There were at least half a dozen Negro waiters, splendidly dressed, who carried trays completely covered with delicious dishes.Next there was placed a large roast turkey on the table, besides the dishes passed; also a baked ham, ducks, pickled peaches, stuffed celery and homemade pickles.After everything was re-moved, including thehandsome lace tablecloth, leaving another heritage tablecloth still on the tabic, two large glass pyramids with circular br.scs on which were fine cut-glass dishes were then brought in, filled with about 70 delicious different mounds of homemade jellies and creams.Then was passed a seemingly infinite variety of cakes, preserves, fruits and nuts. Handsome china plates were used with the giant D in the center and gold embossed edges.Dessert after dessert was passed, including various pics — mincemeat, lemon, chocolate, apple.Finally each guest was given a wine glasB somewhat larger than the ordinary size. The oatawamba sparkled. The corks ficw and each glass was filled and refilled as toasts were made to the engaged couple.Until lit:le more than a hundred years.ago the land around Windsor was dotted at intervals with handsome cotton mansions. It was a dream world.F»»r and near the acres of cotton si retched away — some as high as the headof a man on horseback — walling in the planters from -he fast encroachingouter world. Then the wheel of fortune whirled. Fields become roads.roads • streets, streets • broad highways of the jetage.The Twentieth Century came to the land of Cotton and Cavaliers.Created in 'Steamboat 'round the bend'days
Newspaper Details
Biloxi Sun Herald
Biloxi, Mississippi, US
Sun, Jul 04, 1976
Page 22
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 20 May 2020
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