June 4, 2020 / Joanne Yeck

Buckingham Houses: Rose Terrace, Part III

Rose Terrace, restored. Photos by Kenny Sink.

Mrs. R. J. Wojnicki continued her article, offering an exceptionally detailed description of Rose Terrace as she found it in 1958:

“Rose Terrace” is a charming, three-story house built of brick laid in Flemish bond. The entrance is composed of a large, six panel, double-cross door still having its original lock and small brass knob. The classic design of the original fan light over the front door lends beauty to both the inside and outside.

To the right of the front hall is the living room which measures 18 by 20 feet. In this room is a cornice and on the ceiling is a matching diamond-shaped design, giving the room a feeling of beauty and grace. The walls are of wedgewood blue with the ceiling of off-white. All the fireplaces are original — the one in the living room being 78 inches across. Above the inornate mantle hangs an antique beveled mirror with an eight-inch frame of gold-leaf. Its overall dimensions are 55 by 45 inches. The living room ceiling is 11 feet high while ceilings in the other rooms are of varying heights.

Mrs. Wojnicki went on to describe the winding stairway to the second floor and the three-room basement, with floors of brick, which was accessed by the original closed-string stairway. The original well house still sat in back of the main dwelling. A variety of roses and beautiful trees, including poplar, osage, orange, holly and magnolia, continued to thrive in the back and side yards.