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ARCHITECTURAL HIGHLIGHTS |
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The central hall of the house reflects predominantly the Italianate additions of the 1850s. The interior woodwork-including the heavy handcrafted wainscot with deep molding and broad panels--is a combination of walnut and curly maple. It is continued in the winding staircase to the second floor. The black and white marble tile floor also dates from the 1850s. The large plaster scroll brackets extending below the ceiling beam are attributed to the original Greek Revival design. The pocket doors were added in 1876. MAIN GALLERY (2) In the original 1836 room plan, this space was probably two rooms, but by the 1850s it had been altered to one large parlor with a bracketed arch and two marble fireplaces. In the 1920s Case renovated the room by installing mahogany paneling with fluted pilasters in the simple Colonial Revival style. Also in the 1920s, Case replaced the two hearths with a single central one--it has a split flue which uses both of the original chimneys. Case also removed plaster details at the ends of the two ceiling beams which echoed the plaster brackets in the hall. This space in the north wing was added to the house during the remodeling in 1876. At that time it served as the dining room. The character of the room is defined by the massive machine-carved Renaissance-style fireplace on the west wall. The east wall had a large mirror to reflect the opposite one over the fireplace, creating an illusion of unending space. Large china and silver closets were built behind sliding glass doors in the east and west walls. The costs of the 1876 remodeling were in excess of $40,000--at the time the average home cost $2000. GALLERY (4) This room was partitioned by Case in the 1920s, when the Case Research Lab offices were located on the first floor and basement. This space was the original location of the 1836 dining room and it was constructed with a fireplace on the east wall. The mantle was removed and the hearth plastered over following a fire in 1973. This partition was removed during the 2003/2004 renovation making it more historically accurate. Also during this renovation, in the space between locations 4 and 6, an elevator was installed into the existing shaft making the museum entirely accessible for the first time in its history as a public structure. The rectangular west wing with it domed semicircular foyer was added during the 1850s. It is believed that the space was used by Dr. Willard as the offices for his medical practice. This space originally had a central hall leading to the curved foyer with small room to each side of the hall that were the size of the present day rest room. The stained glass window in the center of the foyer is a Tiffany design, purchased by the Willard sisters near the turn of the century. The wainscot and doors are curved to follow the shape of the outer wall. FRONT PARLOR (6) The front parlor was modified by Case in the 1920s, but maintains its Greek Revival character in the high ceiling and window trim. An ornate mantle piece was replaced with the present mahogany Colonial Revival design. The narrow walkway landing at the top of the Italianate stairway was probably added during the 1920s, when the second floor was part of the Logan School. The walkway banister is constructed of old stair rails, possibly from the 1836 Greek Revival staircase. The large figural stained glass window is part of a sliding door which conceals another room, part of the 1876 addition. |
