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Rockcliffe Mansion is located in Hannibal, Missouri (USA) and was built in 1898 by John J. Cruikshank, Jr., a descendant of Scottish immigrants, whose fortune was founded on lumber. He erected the residence on () Bird Street. It came to be acknowledged as the most imposing, beautiful and costly residential structure in that part of the state of Missouri. "By reason of its location on a high, rocky eminence, overlooking the entire city (the Mississippi River ), it () termed 'Rock Cliff' (known as "Rockcliffe" ), and is one of the many attractions of the city invariably viewed by strangers and tourists visiting Hannibal."〔C.P.Greene. A Mirror of Hannibal. (1905)〕 ==Structure== Rockcliffe is a massive Colonial Revival/Georgian Style residence, "with large columns and porches almost circling the building," built of double-brick wall construction, and designed by the St. Louis firm of Barnett, Haynes & Barnett, the firm which also planned "the Governor's Mansion in Jefferson City, the St. Louis Cathedral, and other fine buildings."〔J.H. Hagood & R Hagood, The Story of Hannibal (1976)〕 "The staid exterior featuring a monumental double-height portico with Corinthian columns gives no hint of the richness within - an interior embellished with exotic woods, South African pink marble, and Tiffany glass. The owner's business connection in lumber and construction presumably helped control building costs, which are nevertheless reported to have been $125,000. A St. Louis newspaper cited it as the finest residence in the state soon after (his wife and four daughters ) moved into the house in 1900. When the family moved out in 1924 after Cruikshank's death, no one else ever moved in; the house sat empty for 43 years, except for a caretaker family who lived there for a number of years.〔Oral history from caretakers' granddaughter, Charlotte Yount Cordry, who lived in the house from 1939 to 1943.〕 Arranged around the central hall are grand public rooms meant for entertaining. To one side is the Reception Room, with gilded wallpaper, quarter-sawn oak paneling, and Tiffany fixtures, furnished with a lemonwood sideboard and olivewood reception table commissioned in Florence. The pink and green Music Room is anchored at each end by a grand piano; the Green Room reflects the sensibilities of Mrs. Cruikshank in its gold leaf and garlands, lace and velvet drapes, and white onyx fireplace. Friend and writer Mark Twain (guest of honor on his last visit to Hannibal ) addressed 300 guests and Hannibal citizens from the double staircase (to ) the second floor during his visit in 1902. The Moorish Room provides the de rigueur eclecticism embraced by the period (L.C. Tiffany lighting fixtures and stained glass windows )." The house has 125 windows (several large Palladian windows ) and 10 fireplaces (marble and tile ). Cruikshank prided himself on the structural and decorative use of wood on the property, and employed mahogany, oak, and walnut throughout the house. Greek Revival and Art Nouveau decorative motifs recur in various rooms. "Most of the rooms had individual thermostatic heat control from a central coal burning steam heating plant. The building originally had electric lighting, but auxiliary gas lights were installed. Rock walls were constructed as part of the landscaping of the property."〔C. Millstein & C. Grove. Houses of Missouri 1870-1940. (2008)〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Rockcliffe Mansion」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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