People's Pilot, Volume 6, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 January 1897 — PALACE ON KYKOUT HILL. [ARTICLE]

PALACE ON KYKOUT HILL.

4«ha D. Rockefeller's Plaaa For m *1,000,000 «, Boxwood. I* is reported on good authority that John D. Rockefeller, the multimillionaire, will positively erect, daring next Spring, • magnifioent residence on his country seat, Boxwood, at Pocantioo bills. Boxwood oovers an estate of near- j ly 800 acres. The highest point of the property is known as the Kykout hill end is a historical spot because Washington once stood there and from its height made a foray upon the British. This summit Mr. Rockefeller has selected as the site for his new manor house. During the past six months upward of SOO men mid 60 teams have been busy lowering the top of the Kykout so as to fcave sufficient room for the foundation and landscaping the slopes around about, under the direction of Engineer Hemingway, who was engaged as superintendent of the gigantio undertaking. Mr. Rockefeller has so far spent probably f 250,000 in thißWork. Aooording to the stories told by the contractors, the new manor house will cost over $1,000,000. An architect who is a relative of the Rookefeller family is drawing the plans. The style of architecture will be after French olassio designs, with a Greek finish. It will be built of highly polished granite, will be nearly 800 feet in length and will have a depth of something like 76 feet. The ornamentation will be of marble. The building will stand on suoh a high point that there will be a magnifioent View of the American Rhine for miles both north and south. The interior deoorations will be of pure Frenoh and Italian designs. There will be a grand salon, tapestry 4 ball, drawing rooms, parlors, reception and dining rooms and library, each finished in a different oolor. In addition to this building a large training stable, a conservatory, cottages for the superintendent, gardener and coaohman and a lodge will also be built. One of the features of the Rookefeller country house will be the private park surrounding it, which will be made as beautiful as landscapes can make it. A walled garden space of several acres will be devoted to grouping horticultural produots, suoh as orchids, chrysanthemums and roses, for which Mr. and Mrs. Rookefeller have a special hobby. Mrs. Rookefeller recently told a friend that she is in love with the charming scenery about Pocantioo hills, and when the new residence is completed she intends spending the entire year there instead of residing in the oity in the winter. The weekly pay roll of the laborers employed in landscaping the Rockefeller grounds and preparing the foundations averages from $2,000 to SB,OOO. —New York Journal.