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Samuel Penney House is a historic house at 78 Maple Street in Mechanic Falls, Maine. The house was completed in 1902 by William R. Miller and is considered the finest example of his residential work. It was, originally, one of two identical houses that stood side-by-side until the early 1920s when the, "Almont Penney", house was split into two houses and moved a couple of blocks away. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. MECHANIC FALLS LEDGER, VOL. 15., NO.51., MECHANIC FALLS, MAINE THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 1901. OUR TOWN AND HER PEOPLE For nearly a year our citizens have been watching the construction of the fine twin residences on Maple Street of Messrs J. W. and A. R. Penney. Although there are yet some finishing touches to be put to them, they are practically complete and the families have occupied them for several weeks. They are very imposing in appearance from the street, with the fine classical architecture of the colonial mansions that were once scattered (and occasionally seen now) along the banks of the historic rivers of the Old Dominion. Indeed the colonial idea is strictly carried out both outside and in. They are large, square, two story buildings, with ___?____ ells, the fronts embellished with ___?___ Grecian porticos upheld by fluted columns and pilasters with ornamental Corinthian capitals, the tympana being covered with elaborate ornamentations (as are the casings about the doors and windows), and the trimmings about the pediments and eves heavy and ornate. The floors and roofs of the porticos are surrounded by heavy and ornamental balustrades and the former are canvas covered after the manner of decks of ships. There is a wide Piazza on each house extending along the southern side of the ell, built in a manner similar to the porticos except that the floors are not covered with canvas. The windows are prominent features, being large so as to flood the rooms with light, fitted with fine French plate glass except those which have upper sashes of Pilkinton white English Glass, in small fancy panes, leaded, breaking the sameness and adding an exquisite finish. Screens for these windows as well as the doors have just been made by the E. T. Burrowes Co. of Portland, so adjusted as to be absolutely insect proof. So much for the exteriors. They are both alike both outside and in, so the ledger will confine itself the description of the interior of Mr. S. R. Penney’s residence which was recently inspected by courtesy of the owner. On entering the massive oak door with the ground glass panel, the colonial knocker (although the push button of the modern electric bell can be seen in the trimming at one side) and a knob of oxidized brass, the vestibule is reached and then the hall. Perhaps the first thing which attracts attention is the delicate shading and handsome design of the fresco work. The whole house is frescoed, each room in different colors and designs appropriate to its use, done by H. Hartwell of Auburn. In addition to frescoing there is stucco work in dining-room, tastefully tinted. Perhaps the next thing is the beautiful arched double doorways leading into the reception parlor and library, resting on double pillars, with doors sliding into the partitions, and hand carved panels. There is a similar archway between the library and dining-room, except that above the doors is open grillwork. The knobs and trimmings throughout the house are of gilt except in the bathroom, where they are nickel. The woodwork is painted white, as is all over the house with the exception of the kitchen and bathroom, of which the first is southern pine and the second of quartered oak finished natural. Another thing about the woodwork attracts attention and that is the oddness of the paneling and trimmings about the doors, all after the patterns of colonial mansions. The floors all over the house are of polished oak and covered with rich rugs. In the reception parlor are the stairs leading to the story above. They are of polished oak, broad and of easy ascent. The finished end next to the room is covered with rich carving, and the balustrade is of delicate work, ending on the ground floor in an artistic circle, after the colonial style, instead of the large newel post. At the first landing is a semi-elliptical recess in wall, lighted by a cathedral glass window of pretty design, flooding the staircase and rooms above and below with soft mellow light from the many colored panes. The general style of the hall above is like that below. Passing through a vestibule and a Palladian window of tasteful design one can go out upon the balcony. Opening from the hall are chambers in the prevailing style of the rooms below, large, square, and high posted, conducive to coolness in the summer, and, as each has a radiator of its own, to warmness in the winter. In fact, the whole house is built on that plan. It was back plastered before lathed and finished, serving the double purpose of keeping out the cold in winter and the heat in summer. One noticeable thing about these sleeping rooms, is the set lavatories, made in one solid piece of porcelain, without any square joints, so as to be easily cleaned, and each provided with both hot and cold water. The bath-room is furnished in the same manner with large porcelain bath tub and other appliances. Returning to the first floor, on the left of hall is the library, a large, square room, with bay window on the southern exposure, making it one of the pleasantest rooms in the house. One the corner is cut off with a fireplace, as is the chamber above, set with tiles and surmounted by a wooden mantel, the supervening space ornamented with quaintly shaped mirrors. Connected with an arch and sliding doors, is the dining-room, occupying the southwestern corner of the main building, with a window looking out onto the piazza, and a large single square of plate glass to the south. The china closet is set in the wall with glass doors glazed with diamond shaped panes so common to colonial architecture. A noticeable thing in this room and all others as for that matter, is the handsome electric light fixtures----handsome chandeliers with globes of frosted glass or pale yellow. Everywhere are push buttons in the wall, and sometimes whole batteries of them controlling all the lights in the house. The kitchen occupies half the ell next to the main building and is fitted up with every convenience of the modern kitchen. In the rear of the kitchen is the pantry, a very fine piece of work-----a veritable series of cabinets in southern pine. Back of this is an open room which can be used for storing wood or any other purpose. Last but by no means least, comes the cellar; for without a good foundation, no substantial building can be erected, and at a glance at the solid granite walls and neatly laid brick underpinning will convince anyone that this building is not lacking in this respect. It is light and airy, with a cemented bottom, containing a hot water heater from the house of the Smith, Anthony Co., who furnished all the plumbing material throughout, guaranteeing that it is the best, and is connected with the radiators in all the rooms. In the cellar is situated the laundry, with two set porcelain tubs, connected with hot and cold water, the pipes being of polished brass, as they are all over the house. Everything is connected with the sewer through the cellar, even the rainwater falling off the roof passes off that way. Not least among the conveniences is the coal bin, built of brick and cement and dust proof. The surroundings add a great deal to residences of this kind, and the grounds around the Penney mansions are ample, extending from the P. & R. F. Ry. Tracks to Summer Street and from Maple Street to the factories of the J. W. Penney & Sons Co. near the Grand Trunk Railway tracks. These have been graded into fine looking lawns, and some work is yet being done on them. The ground around Mr. S. R. Penney’s residence at the corner of Summer Street is nearly level, while that around Mr. A. R. Penney’s, slopes toward the P. & R. F. Railway tracks, and is terraced supported by a wall of granite. Just in the rear of the buildings and western edge of the lawn is a driveway, which is now being built for the grocer, the baker, the coal man, etc. Beyond the driveway is a vegetable garden. These houses are both elegant and comfortable, and it is the hope of the ledger, that the Messrs, Penney and their estimable Ladies may long live to enjoy them. ==References== 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Samuel Penney House」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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