The Brucemore mansion is a building located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Under the name of "T.M. Sinclair Mansion," it is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places.1 The mansion has three stories, and contains twenty-one rooms. Notable features of the home are its steeply gabled roof, five chimneys, and several turrets.
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History
The Sinclairs (1871-1906)
In 1871, Thomas McElderry and Caroline Soutter Sinclair moved to Cedar Rapids from New York. Thomas started his own meat packing business, the T.M. Sinclair & Co., which became the largest business in Cedar Rapids. Unfortunately, Mr. Sinclair died in 1881 in a fatal accident at the plant. Caroline was left a widow, with six children from her marriage, the youngest was only six months old. Three year later, at age 33, Mrs. Sinclair purchased the land and started work on the home. Originally titled "Fairhome", the Queen Anne-style mansion was completed in 1886. The home cost $55,000 and was the most expensive home or building at that time. At the time of its construction, Brucemore was in the country, as Cedar Rapids had not yet grown to that radius.
The home was designed by Maximillian Allardt, an Indianapolis architect. When his daughter fell ill, Allardt left the job, and Henry Josselyn and Eugene Taylor continued where he left off. The home was described as "the grandest house west of Chicago" to the local paper. The original plan for the house included a great hall, eight bathrooms, nine bedrooms, fourteen fireplaces, and a grand staircase. Mrs. Sinclair also requested a conservatory to be added to the south side of the house.
In 1906, when all her children had grown, Caroline traded homes with George Bruce Douglas, and moved to 800 Second Ave SE.
The Douglases (1906-1937)
George Bruce Douglas was a partner in his father's business, the Quaker Oats Company. George moved into the home with his wife Irene, and daughters Margaret and Ellen and renamed it to Brucemore. Under George's direction, the size of the property was increased to 33 acres, and several new buildings were constructed, including a guesthouse, greenhouse, carriage house, squash court, and servants' quarters. He also had the entrance moved to the south side. The interior was also upgraded, with exposed ceiling beams and butternut paneling added to the great hall. This expansion cost over $30,000 and was designed by Howard van Roren Shaw, a Chicago architect known for his North Shore mansions. In the 1920s, a mural was added that showed the story of "The Ring of the Nibelung" from Richard Wagner. A play organ from the Skinner company that had 678 pipes was also added to the third floor. In 1925, Grant Wood designed a sleeping porch which was added to the house. in 1927, a swimming pool was added.
In 1923 George passed away. Fourteen years later, Irene followed him and willed the home to their oldest daughter Margaret.
The Halls (1937-1981)
Margaret Douglas married Howard Hall in 1924. The couple lived on the Brucemore grounds, residing in the Garden House from the start of their marriage until the death of Margaret's mother. While they lived there, they sold off some of the property, reducing the estate to its current 26 acres. They also enclosed the western porch, and added picture windows to the master bedroom, the library, and the dining room. In two of their more unusual enhancements to the house, the Halls added two basement recreation rooms, "The Tahitian Room", and a "Grizzly Bar". The Tahitian room is designed to resemble a tropical island, including a faux hut roof, and a switch that can create artificial rain. The Grizzly room is decorated like a Wild West or Alaskan saloon.
The Halls had several pets kept on property including two German Shepherds and several birds. But their most famous pets were the three lions, all named Leo. Jackie, the lion that roars at the beginning of MGM movies, is related to one of the Leos. One of the lions, along with 20 dogs, are buried in the pet cemetery near the gardens.
Margaret died in 1981. She willed Brucemore to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Brucemore today
Margaret Douglas Hall envisioned her home as a public historic site and a place for a broad range of community activity. To insure local control, Mrs. Hall required a separate non-profit organization to operate the site in co-stewardship with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Brucemore Inc., was established in 1981 and is governed by a 15-member Board of Trustees. Brucemore's mission is...to engage the public in the history, traditions, resources and on-going preservation of Brucemore for the enrichment of the community. Brucemore's vision statement is...to be a premier National Trust Site through excellence in stewardship, education, preservation and programming for the benefit of the community.
The basic visitor experience is the guided tour of the mansion. The interpretive period is from 1915 to 1925 during the Douglas years. In addition to discussing the families, guides incorporate such themes as the experiences of servants, technology, arts and music, and life on a country estate.
Brucemore is alive with numerous events throughout the year. "Classics at Brucemore" presents classic theatre in an outdoor amphitheatre while "Bluesmore" attracts thousands to a blues festival on the First Avenue lawn. A garden show, holiday open houses, children's activities, garden walks, plant sale, concerts, lectures, workshops, and educational programs are scheduled during the year. Non-profit organizations and Corporate Members of Brucemore are eligible to utilize the estate for their exempt purposes.
Brucemore is a hub for cultural, philanthropic, and educational activities for Cedar Rapids and Eastern Iowa. Its community can call Brucemore "home."
Brushes with fame
Brucemore has many connections to famous people and events. George Douglas' brother died on the Titanic, and Howard Hall had contacts with many famous celebrities. He took behind the scene home movies of Gone with the Wind, which are the only known candid footage of that film. The home has also played host to at least two Presidents, when Herbert Hoover and Harry Truman visited during the dedication of the Hoover Presidential Library in West Branch.
References
- ^ IOWA (IA), Linn County, nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com. Accessed 2008-12-28.
External links
- Brucemore's website
- Back Stairs at Brucemore:Life as Servants in early 20th-Century America, a National Park Service Teaching with Historic Places (TwHP) lesson plan
Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 28 December 2008, at 17:01.
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