From House to Library: 3. Drawing Room

Posted on 7/19/24

Authored & Curated By
M.J.G.

Unlike the reception room we visited in the previous chapter, the two views of the drawing room we'll explore today were likely taken around the same time, possibly even on the same day, in the 1890s or early 1900s. The current drawing room reflects trends from the late 1880s through the 1890s, with notable features like fretwork window transoms adorned with asymmetrical drapery. In the 1870s and early 1880s, the drawing room was probably decorated differently than we see today. Similarly to the reception room we saw last week in the older photo, this room probably featured frieze and fill papers or stencils and possibly a dado. Like we saw in the outside photos, the house was redecorated in the around the 1890s, incorporating elements like the new side porch, dark trim, and a leaded glass window piercing the brick wall. This room is located directly across the stair hall from the reception room and is accessible through double pocket doors.

Thanks to Julia Yardley, Library Director for her additional assistance and information.
All photos are used with permission from the Little Falls Public Library Collection.

Let's see where this room on the outside . . .

This is an exterior view of the room we’ll explore today. In the first chapter, you observed that this area initially featured a solid wall, possibly with a fireplace. During renovations, a window with a leaded glass transom was installed. Unfortunately, there are no interior photos of this room before the window addition. The left photo dates back to the 1880s, while the one on the right was taken after the remodel in the 1890s.

Entering the room from the reception room door and through the hallway, we face the newest window with the leaded glass transom, which we previously observed from the outside. This room appears to retain its original plaster ceiling design and corbelled archway into the bay. Though it is possible some changes and updates did happen during the big remodel. Through the left arched doorway, you will notice the family library.

Closeup of the Leaded Glass window today.

Arranging frames and plates in a juxtaposed manner on the wall was a popular trend in the last few decades of the 19th century. While some modern eyes may see this style as cluttered or messy, this casual arrangement was a departure from the more austere displays of earlier periods, giving the house a more playful and relaxed atmosphere.

Inspired by the popular late 19th-century Turkish Corner, with its haphazard throw pillows and foot cushions. Turkish corners can range from small accents in a room to larger setups featuring draperies, hanging lanterns, and mashrabiya screens.

The chandelier in this room is similar to the one in the reception room and remains in the home. It’s evident that the owners chose to retain the lighting fixtures instead of updating them during the remodel, possibly because they favored the style. By the 1890s, this type of gasolier was becoming outdated as lighting designs shifted to thinner, less severe styles reminiscent of colonial revival. This shift is noticeable in trade catalogs and interior redecorations from the 1880s and 1890s. It is does appear however that this was not converted to electric when you look closely as there doesn’t appear to be bulbs. If you look closer to the right you’ll see they also have added what appears to be a Welsbach burner or similar brand.

This type of alteration to fixtures is comparable to us installing a brighter bulb in a fixture. Gas lights were dim and flickered. These burner attachments had gauze impregnated with chemicals, providing a very bright and steady light. It is unclear whether the chimney is made of glass or mica, but both options were available.

Here are some examples of mantels available for purchase through catalogs. You could order various attachments for your gas lights. A catalog example from the turn of the century can be found here.

Here is a close-up view of the drapery and fretwork transoms, sometimes referred to in catalogs as grillework, grille work, or fret work. All the windows have roller shades to filter the light or for privacy, built-in shutters, sheer lace curtains and a valance or lambrequin. The fretwork grilles and screens were based on the screens seen in the middle east and sometimes stylistically combined with colonial influences that started to become popular by the 1890s.

There are some beautiful items on this table. The candelabra, which we will see later, will be moved onto the radiator, and a statue added to the stand. It is unclear whether the photos were taken at the same time on the same day with the room’s furniture and accessories rearranged for the photo (a common practice) or on different dates.

This room features wall-to-wall carpeting with a carpet border around the perimeter. This type of carpeting was popular at the time, though by the end of the decade, there was a shift towards cleanliness, leading many to replace carpeting with hardwood floors and central rugs. If you look closely in this photo, you’ll notice the seams, as wall-to-wall carpeting back then was rolled out in strips approximately 18 inches wide and sewn together. Additionally, you can see two throw carpets layered over the wall-to-wall carpet, a style that was completely acceptable at the time but is rarely seen today.

Facing back towards the entrance, you can see through to the hallway with the staircase and further into the reception room we explored in Chapter 2. To the right we get to see our only other view of the family library.

Here is a close-up view of the same table we saw before but repositioned. The candlestick has been replaced by a statue, which appears to be the same statue that stood in the middle on the mantel. It is now placed on this mirror stand where the candelabra was in the earlier photo.

Easels displaying artwork were a big part of the late 19th century and you’ll find them in many homes during this time. Sometimes they simply display a favorite painting, or like here it appears it is displaying a print on an attractive Eastlake easel. Affordable mass-produced prints were very popular in the late 19th century. The plate on the wall looks to have writing in a wreath on the top. Could that have been a gift from someone’s travel? An award from an event?

Grille work in the reception room architrave on the opposite side of the hallway.

Here’s a close-up view of the stair hall where we can see a nice view of the newel post and lamp. While there are no current photos of the stair hall, we will delve into the staircase in a later chapter, providing views from its present state.

More pictures and prints and a nice view of the candelabra that was moved from the table.

Here we observe one of two Renaissance Revival chairs. Previously seen in the reception room as shown in an earlier photo, these chairs have now found their place in this room, likely after the remodeling. A prominent style from the late 1870s through the 1890s featured tufting, often with a pleated or gathered band of fabric across the front. Sometimes this fabric was flat or pleated with a contrasting color scheme.

This beautiful ornamental corner radiator was a popular option featured in many radiator catalogs of its time. According to some sources from the 1880s and 1890s, radiator systems using hot water or steam were often twice as expensive as traditional coal furnaces with grates fed by hot air in ductwork from the furnace in the basement. Similar to today, where people may splurge on modern conveniences despite budget constraints, individuals then faced similar decisions.

This image displays a Bundy Brand “corner radiator,” resembling the one currently in the drawing room today, although not identical in design. The last two decades witnessed a proliferation of radiator styles and designs as they gained popularity. There’s a misconception that hot water radiators were not used until the 20th century, and early radiators were exclusively steam-powered. While the preference between steam and hot water systems in the 1880s and 1890s isn’t entirely clear, most sales catalogs offered both options and both are said to have been common options.

A chair with captivating inlay. Comment below in the comment section if you have more information on this style chair or any other items you see in these rooms.

Upon closer inspection of the floor, you can discern the pattern of the carpet border.

Here is a small sample of wall-to-wall carpeting available for purchase by the yard. This Axminster carpet allows you to choose the amount of border and fill yards you wish to order from a catalog. Similar to today, you could also visit local stores for purchasing options.

Since there are no photos of the family library, except for views from the adjacent room, we should carefully examine what we have. The large wooden fireplace mantel is likely not original to the 1870s but was replaced a decade later. This style, featuring tall columns, came after the popular 1880s Eastlake mantel etagere with shelves for bric-a-brac.

Zoom in closer onto the mantel shelf. While difficult to discern at first, a closer inspection, you’ll notice two tall statues flanking a central one. Later, we’ll see the central statue that ended up in the second photo of the parlor view facing the staircase. These items remain part of the library’s collection to this day.

Here are the items in the library today that were previously displayed on the mantel in the family library seen through the drawing room.

Upon closer inspection, the built-in bookcases still in place in the house today reveal their historical significance, even though all the fretwork or grilles have been removed. The preference for using portieres over doors was frequently promoted in design catalogs as an alternative to large doors. In architectural plans of some homes, the term “portiere” was noted if homeowners opted not to install doors, seen as a softer and more decorative choice. While the portiere trend gained popularity, it never completely replaced doors but was often used alongside them.

A closer examination of the fretwork above the door and the built-in bookcases that remain installed in the house today, though all of the fretwork or grilles have been removed. I am unable to identify the lady in the frame on the wall hanging from the wire. Perhaps a relative from the midcentury with that older hairstyle? Notice the casual display of photos and other objects on the shelves.

When trying to establish the timeframe of a photo, thorough examination of all items in the room is essential. Chairs, pictures, and other decor may have been owned for decades, making identification challenging. It’s helpful to look for clues such as calendars, new inventions, and the latest trends visible in the room. Understanding the specific decades we are focusing on is advantageous. Take this lamp, for instance—it’s an early electric light, and pinpointing its manufacturer could narrow down the date range. Exploring when the house was first wired for electricity is also intriguing. Reviewing newspapers from that era might provide valuable insights to accurately date this photo.

A closer inspection of the library table adorned with the family’s collections. What are all these objects? Magazines? Photos? Much like today, these items represent the frequently used objects that enrich our daily lives and fill our time with our interests.

The room, as it appears today, retains much of its original charm. Although the walls have been simplified and whitewashed, the room remains largely intact. The leaded glass window casts beautiful prisms of light throughout the space, illustrating why people of that era cherished art glass and leaded beveled glass. The beautiful, heavy original gas light fixtures are still in place and match those in the reception room. While I haven’t been able to identify this exact lamp, It might have been produced by a high-end gasolier manufacturer such as Mitchell, Vance & Co., who were popular when the house was built.

Update! 8/12/2024

During a recent visit to the library and a tour of the building, I noticed an original piece of stenciling was discovered years ago above the arched doorway leading into the stair hall. This stenciling likely dates back to the late 1870s and was possibly uncovered when the library removed wallpaper. While further details are unknown, this discovery offers a fascinating glimpse into the earlier style of the room that sadly no photo exists of.

Previous Chapters of this home:
From House to Library: 1. The House
From House to Library: 2. The Reception Room/Parlor

Next Chapters of this home:
From House to Library: 4. Bedroom
From House to Library: 5. Dining Room

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