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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAdditional Historical Info-Villa MarreVILLA MARRE 1321 Scott Street Little Rock, Pulaski Co. Arkansas In 1883 Angelo Marre, an immigrant Italian from Genoa, Italy who prospered from the saloon and liquor business in Little Rock, had his home completed at the corner of 14th and Scott Streets. Mr. Marre owned a very elaborate saloon on the north side of West Markham Street between Main and Louisiana Streets. The saloon had a black and white marble floor, an elaborate bar with brass rail and a backbar deco- rated with gilded paper-mache relief figures and alabaster lions. The ceilings were frescoed with clouds and cherubs. After the turn - of -the -century, this saloon became a restaurant know as "Brsiers Fine Restaurant". Marre's home was even more elaborate - being in a style called "MaMsardic Victorian" or "Italianate Victorian". The woodwork and detailing were massive and yet delicate in overall feeling, and the whole interior was more intimate than was typical of the period. A circular staircase, tall narrow windows, hand frescoed ceiling, painted, stippled and glazed walls in delicate shades of venetian red, aquamarine and a soft, yet vibrant green combined to create unusually elegant interiors. The furnishings were rich dark walnut elaborately carved. Page 2 Villa Marre But time and changing curcumstances paid its cruel toll on Angelo and Jennie Marre's home. When James W. Strawn, Jr. purchased the house in 1964, the circular staircase was gone - the walls and ceilings were covered with layers of paper and the parquet floors installed by the E. B. Kinsworthy family about 1905 were scarred and blackened from neglect and misuse. Mr. Strawn named the house "Villa Marre" in deference to Angelo and Jennie's Italian origin and today, though still being improved in detail and furnishings, it stands as a unique and out- standing example of the flamboyant and elegant Eighties. Open to the public. HISTORIC AMERICAN BUILDINGS SURVEY moi- ��ZD PART II. ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION A. GENERAL STATEMENT: 1. Architectural Character: Classified locally as Italian Victorian. style. House has received two major remodelings. Exterior appearance close to original except for front porch, kitchen, rear porch enclosures, and painted brick. Elaborate cornice and slate roof are original. Unusual brick gable and tower on front. First alteration occurred about 1889 when a kitchen building was built in the ell of the rear porch. The kitchen had originally been in the basement. It is assumed that a first major re- modeling occurred about 1906 when house changed ownership. In this re- modeling three (3) rooms along the south side of the house were altered into two (2) larger rooms and the interior changed to the style of that time a (Edwardian). All trim and doors were changed in this area and crown mould (with beams in some rooms) was added in all the main floor rooms. The second floor was apparently not changed. The front porch was rebuilt t �} in a different style and enlarged at a later date by this same owner.. I G In the 1940's the spiral stair was removed. From the 1930's until 1964, N' many changes and additions were made to the rear of the house. In 1964 d the second major remodeling took place when all additions were strippedfrom x the house except the ki�chen and the floor (and foundation) of the front porch. 2. Condition of fabric: Doo(:, well maintained. B. DESCRIPTION OF EXTERIOR 1. Over-all dimensions: Go' x 69'. 2. Foundations: Built c. 18 +] -1882. Approximately 15 inches thick of native granite in regular coursed ashler pattern with rusticated face. Windows have rusticated granite flat arch lintels. 3. Wall construction: solid brick 13 in. thick with cast stone belt course, quoins, and lintels. 4. Chimneys: brick -laid in elaborate pattern. Most chimneys original. Two (2) at rear were rebuilt in original pattern from roof line up. 5. Openings: a. Doorways and doors: Doors on front porch are original. Heads of doorways are flat arched with cast stone ornamented lintels (except rear side has brick arches). Original doors are two panels high and two wide. These no,,rs and frames have elaborate mouldings. Front doors are one panol wide with the top panel arched glass. All doors have glass transoms. Thresholds are cast stone. b. Windows: vary consilerably in size and shape. All windows are dou- ble hung with window., in west side of southwest room opening onto the porch having slip hoad. South windows in this room originally went Page 2 of 5. to floor, but without slip head. First floor and basement windows have flat arches. Second floor dormer windows have semicircular heads. Narrower windows are two light, with wider windows four light, and taller windows six light. Dormer windows are four light. Window lintels are cast stone except on rear which are brick. Design is same as for doors. Exterior sills are also of cast stone. The windows had no shutters. 6. Roof: a. Mansard style with slate in a patterned design. Corners are metal. Flat portion built-up roof - modern. Slate on rear is modern. b. Framing: rough sawn dimensional lumber. c. Cornice, eaves: original in elaborate carved design. Original built- in sheet metal guttcrrs and conductors. d. Dormers (see windows) have arched top with metal roof and buttress E' design wood trim at sides. C. DESCRIPTION OF INTERIOR: 1. Floor plan: Two stories and basement; ell plan, five rooms and center hall each floor. House faces west: two rooms on north with northwest room projecting forward and three rooms on south extending back to form ell (on first floor three south rooms were converted to two rooms after 1905.) Porch on front at center hall and southwest room. Porch in ell at rear. Kitchen originally in basement, moved to room built in ell of porch about 1889. Second floor has four bedrooms and one bath. Page 3 of 5. 2. Stairways: Main stair in center hall rises from first floor to second in spiral design with open stringers forming approximately a 5/6 circle. Stair re- moved in 1940's, but rebuilt in 1965 as closely as possible to original using ballisters and handrail which was found in basement. Newel not original but from a house of the same period. Original carpenter's penciled layout of stair was found on floor when later hardwood flooring was removed. A small stair rising from the second floor to a small tower, was removed at some time and has not been rebuilt. Stair from porch to basement relocated when kitchen in ell was built. Present stair is modern. 3. Flooring: Original floor single layer cypress approximately 1 1/4 in. thick and 6 inches wide. Present floor of hardwood in elaborate parquet design installed when second owner lived in house (1906 - 1927). 4. Wall and Ceiling Finish: Plaster, elaborately painted originally. Northwest room, main floor, restored to original painted surface, color, and design. Main floor hall restored to original painted surface and color, with original hand stenciled border design. Other rooms papered. 5. - Doorways and doors: Original doors on first floor, four panel (two wide and two high) with sliding pocket doors being so wide as to be three panels wide and two high. Original sliding doors on north side of house. Doors have raised panels and doors and frames have heavy mouldings. Those changed in first remodeling are two panel with simple mouldings. Second floor doors are original with four panel with raised panels and no moulding. Page 4of5. 6. Trim: Originally limited to baseboard and around doors and windows. First remodeling added wainscoting, crown moulds, and beams to most rooms on first floor. 7. Hardware: Brass butts and mortise locks with brass knobs. 8. Lighting: Chandeliers of the period, combination gas and electricity. 9. Heating: Northwest and southwest rooms, first floor, had fireplaces. Other rooms had flues for stoves. Present heating and cooling system is forced air. D. SITE 1. Corner lot with original wrought iron fence on front and side to side gate. 2. Enclosures: None. 3. Outbuildings: None extant. 4. Walks: Original .5. Landscaping: Simple. Original large magnolia on front lawn. Also, Japanese weeping mulberry on front lawn a gift to second owner from Japanese.Ambassador. . (Information on weeping mulberry from interview.) An American chestnut at the northwest corner of the lot is making a come- back. Prepared by John J. Truemper, Jr., AIA Architect for the Preservation March, 1970 Page 5 of 5.