Formal Side

Welcome to the formal side of the home. The families used this side of the house to entertain visitors and showcase their wealth in various ways. First, notice the chandelier in the parlor. This is a combination chandelier which means it was, at one point, both gas and electric. The globes pointing up were gas while the four around the bottom were electric. The mirrors above the fireplaces in the parlor were manufactured in France for Martin Wagner. If you shine a light onto the mirror, you can see small sparkles in the reflection. This is called "diamond dust" and is what happens to mercury and silver when they settle in together over time. In the dining room, there is a china set that belonged to Charles T. Gorham, a local banker, and ambassador to the Netherlands. The set was a gift from the Dutch Government to Charles Gorham for his service there. The door on the northwest side of the room once served as the entrance to the other bedroom wing.