Southern Illinoisan from Carbondale, Illinois • Page 20

SQtltHESN ILUN0184N SUN MAR 11 1956 '4. I iS 9 i i 'V 2 1 i i. I '-i i v.v,j.-.wa.,.. The state dining room, at the southeast corner of the first floor, is one of the most impressive rooms in the mansion. Probably all nine of the Presidents of the United States who have been Herbert Hoover, Franklin D.

Roosevelt and Dwight D. Eisenhower Abraham Lincoln and Mrs. Lincoln attended numerous social functions at the mansion before he became Presi- entertained in the old building, had dinnner here. The nine are Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B.

Hayes, Benjamin Harrison, William B. McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, dent. Lincoln was close friend of the first two governori wh lived there, Joel A. Matteson and William H. Bissell.

Lincoln vi-ited Bissell, only governor wh has died in the mansion, the day before Bissell'i death. -J C4 4 III' I 1- i A 4 via '3 4 3 'I v. '2 i 1 1' ft 4 'a 4 if Vv5 ministration of John R. Tanner or basement level to the second just before the turn of the cen- floor. Its handsome balustrade is In the 100 years it has been used by Illinois governors and their families and many thousands of public visitors, this grand stairway of the executive mansion has been extensively altered.

Originally spiral, its landings were added during the ad tury. It extends from the ground of solid mahogany. The living room faces west, ith a beautiful mantel and fireplace on its south wall. This fireplace is the only one of about a dozen in the building that is still used. The Governor and the state's First Lady do most of their receiving here at large functions, and the room is a favorite spot for teas and on other oc- casions w7hen small groups are being entertained.

Above the ireplace hangs a large picture of William G. Stratton, the present governor. iPH inow imrns The executive mansion in from a flagpole in the center of Springfield, occupied by Illinois' this platform. if i 1 last 11 governors and their fam- lost noticeable other outside I i change was adding the first and 1 15 cntcnnS lts second century second floor sunrooms at the south- I 0 scnice west corner. Tl-ie one on the first Fossibly more than any other floor js used as a library.

Springfield citv water was building in this state, it has an atmosphere of early Williamsburg, Va. It cost $45,794 and its furnish- piped into the building just before the turn of the century and more bathrooms added. Earlier, water rv 1'WHWKWJHwiyiw TB.lim(Wjj,igiiHinilwJH ,1 i i My, i' III. II nil 1,111 I i 4 I .1 I' I A 1 I n-uV -fi "44 I rr; illliilll-llti-iimnlH' jiJi, a v. MMMMIIIJ III III II III ings $6,487.

Its first occupants pressure came from a tank on the were Gov. Joel A. Matteson and roof, supplied by cisterns. his family, who moved in on Nov. Early governors had to pav ex 30.

1855. penses of the entertaining they did. 1 1 it vifiS the years since, the main 'Last year the Legislature provided north entrance portico has been $90,000 for this purpose. made more elaborate than the Some of the governors' wives -''-'j original one, and all chimneys on 'have been more socially inclined the building replaced. An observa-! than others, and social life at the tory that rose 28 feet above the cor- mansion has varied accordingly.

nice on the building was removed The second wife of Gov. Richard by Gov. Joseph W. Fifer in Oglesby and Mrs. Frank O.

rJ the roof raised higher andiLewden (who was a Pullman) are This is the northeast drawing room, whose tall windows front east and north. To the left, 1 across the open hallway from the ing room. They originally were north portico entrance, is a separated from the other first similar room, the northwest draw- floor rooms by sliding doors. a Daiustratea piattorm ouiit at tne saia to nave oeen among tne most peak. The mansion flag is flown (lavish entertainers.

2 y. '4 o9 yr. 4 I 'i 5 1 V. Jf I 9 A cs i i A 0 if lU? i toy- vxtf -i --if 1 9 fi shades that range up to a dark green. Only in the last two vears have the ground and first floors been air conditioned.

original fixture still in use in the mansion. The woodwork and walls of the rooms are painted in a variety of conservative The music room is on first floor east and between the state dining room and northeast draw-N ing room. Its ornate glass chandelier if taid to be the onlr The 28-room mansion fronts north from a knoll at the south edge of what was once a heavily wooded two-acre tract. Original ly of red brick, the building ha? been painted white for many years. The main entrance is on the ground floor where guests can alight from a drive that passes under the portico.

A double outside stairway leads up to the portico level. Mrs. Helen Van Diver of checking the candles at the state East Louis, housekeeper at dining room buffet. The silver the mansion since 1943, is is from the Battleship Illinois. I.