Historic Homes of New EnglandNorthend, Mary Harrod
History
Historic Homes of New England
Northend, Mary Harrod
Architecture, Colonial; Historic buildings -- New England
On the left are the double drawing-rooms and showing an elliptical arch
that has a frieze motif with dentation ornamentation and reeded
pilasters. The dividing arch is gracefully ended in the cornice. This is
a feature in many colonial homes and is generally echoed in other rooms
of the house. There are no carved wooden fire-frames in the lower story,
but we find some of foreign marble that were set at the time the house
was built. This is an unusual feature in houses of that date, where
wooden mantels and elaborate hand-carving were the prevailing style.
Many pieces of furniture are historic. Some belonged to President Adams,
an intimate friend of the deWolfs, who were frequent visitors at the
Adams house in Quincy, Massachusetts. Over the fireplace is a charming
portrait, the work of a master, showing a child in an early
eighteenth-century gown. It pictures Mrs. Nathaniel Russell Middleton,
when only six years of age. About the time of this painting she was
visiting her uncle, and was present at the reconciliation of Lafayette
and President Adams, which occurred during Lafayette's second visit to
America. She was at that time a very beautiful child and attracted the
attention of the general, who finding she was of French descent, took
her in his arms and kissed her.
Every piece of furniture here is of the old-time type. The Hepplewhite
chairs have been handed down from generation to generation, as has a
great deal of the furniture that is used in this room, including the
chair in which President Adams died.
The long, or east room leads out of the parlor and is filled with rare
furniture. The most important piece being the French piano, one of the
earlier makes. This was imported by Henry deWolf for his daughter
Alicia. It was considered of such fine quality that it attracted the
attention of celebrated musicians all over the country. Pianos in those
days were rarely seen, for the old-time harpsichord and spinet had
scarcely gone out of style. Even to-day it would be considered a
wonderful piece of work, with its ornamentations of gold showing scroll
patterns and musical designs.
Directly above the piano is hung the most famous picture in the house, a
Madonna supposedly by the hand of the Italian master Mazzuoli, better
known as Parmigiana. This Madonna was originally known as one of the
world's lost art treasures, since its whereabouts were unknown for
several years. There exists abundant historical evidence of its value,
and prominent artists have pointed out the merits and the peculiarities
that stamp this canvas as a Parmigiana, although definite proof is
lacking.
The interior of the house is most interesting from an architectural
standpoint. The proportions are well balanced, there is a dignity of
design and a care in its finish that attracts experts. The value lies
not so much in the workmanship as in the choice bits of design shown
principally in the exterior, and that are well worth introducing into a
twentieth-century home.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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