Visitors of all ages
thrill to the splendor and elegance of this award-winning Victorian
Mansion Museum of the Romanesque style. Twenty-six rooms are
skillfully restored and furnished with the finest of the Victorian
era. It is obvious upon first glance that a fortune was well
invested.
A century ago a great
architect worked with gifted craftsmen of the day from 1888 through
1893 to create this fine mansion. As visitors enter the Walton
Avenue carriage entrance, they will see the splendor and elegance of
fine carved oak fretwork with a winged griffin thought to prevent
misfortune. To the right is the lovely dining room with the first of
nine fireplaces and carved wood mantels with the original parquet
oak floor. At the left are the twin parlors with moldings, mantels
and doors completely finished in butternut, the fines native wood in
this area. It is used again in the two front bedrooms on the second
floor.
Passing through the fretwork visitors come into the great main hall,
finished in the finest quarter sawn oak used throughout the first
and second floor. Pause to see many features, especially the
inglenook “Courting Fireplace” with scenic cast iron firebox. The
great oak stairway leads to the third floor. Visitors will not want
to miss the powder room with 22k gold decorations and ruby marble.
Off the landing is the growlery where the men gathered after dinner
to discuss business. Decorative locks and hinges shine like fine
jewelry to this day. The Lincrusta wainscoting with copper and oak
cap is in all halls and stairs to the top floor. All lighting
fixtures of the first and second floors are combination gas and
electric, although electric lighting was not yet in general use. The
second floor consists of five bedrooms, two dressing rooms and
lavatories. There are two bathrooms; the one between the master
bedroom and the children’s bedroom has 22k gold trim. Running water
was supplied by two 540 gallon tanks on the third floor. Historical
documents and articles are being collected and displayed.
As visitors descend the “back stairs” to the first floor, they will
see a photo of the mansion in its original state with “wrap-around”
porch and a cone on the tower. To the left, in the kitchen can be
seen the original soapstone sink and a coal stove similar to the one
originally installed. The butler’s pantry has the original copper
sink and lovely china. All cabinetwork is native “northern pine,”
now extinct. In the basement is a fine collection of tools and
utensils, some of which were used to build the mansion.
The Belmont County Historical Society invites you, your family and
friends to open the door to a bygone era.
Guided tours are conducted from May 1 through Oct 1., Wednesday
through Sunday 1:00 - 4:30 p.m. (Last Tour begins at 4 p.m.)
Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for children 18 and under.
For information and appointments call the museum at (740) 425-2926
or 425-3505, 484-1350, 425-2343 or 425-2273. To arrange private and
bus tours any day or evening write to: Belmont County Museum, PO Box
434, Barnesville, Ohio 43713.
