Saturday, September 9. 1983
HALCYON HALL
The magnitude of the domestic and mechanical arrangements is what most impresses the casual visitor. The boiler, large enough to run a good sized steamboat; the engine, which would furnish power enough for a large factory; the washing machine and wringers, full ten times the ordinary size, and requiring steam power to run them; the dynamos, which would furnish light and power for a small village; the cooking range, extending the whole length of one side of the spacious kitchen; the brick ovens, far surpassing the great ones of our grandmothers’ days; the fireplace, wide enough to roast an ox, with its andirons that would require the strength of an ox to lift them; the coal bin, as large as a good sized room; the refrigerators, each one a fair sized ice house; these and many other things show what lavish provision has been made for the comfort and pleasure of the guests expected at Halcyon Hall. On the upper floors the work is mostly finished, and the bedrooms are in order. On the lower floors everything is ready to make guests comfortable, but some of the finishing will have to be done after the season is over, as paint and varnish take time to dry. It is well to open this fall, even if only for a short time and possible at a loss; for such a magnificent plant should not be suffered to stand idle a day longer than is necessary, and those who see it now can understand what to expect next summer.
Outside, the lawn is mostly grassed over, the flower beds and masses of foliage plants are looking their best. The dry weather has made Mr. Welling’s work more difficult, but it has been successfully accomplished, and any one who has not watched the process can hardly realize how much has been done in a limited time. His men are now grading on the lot near the new bard and carriage house, and arrangements for out door sports will be made as needed. Those who have money or time at their disposal will hardly find a pleasanter place to either than at Halcyon Hall.
The ball at the opening, Sept. 15th will be one of the great events of the season. Millbrook very well knows that Mr. and Mrs. Davison do not do things by halves and the ball under their management will be worthy of the occasion. As our readers will not care to wait a week for news of such an important event, we have arranged with a reporter to give us a full account of the festivities while in progress, which will be set in type immediately by the knight workers of the Round Table, and very soon after the ball is over the report will be in print. We hope to issue the paper in time for the morning mail Saturday, and mail subscribers will receive it at the usual time, but none will be for sale Friday evening. Any who wish extra copies are requested to give us notice in advance, that a full supply may be ordered.
