I adore fireworks, so I was keen to go and watch, but in the event, the fireworks — which were fabulous — were overshadowed by the beautiful house. I'll let the photos do the talking. That's the house, below.
It's a guest house, so you can stay in this gorgeous red bedroom.
Sunset from one of the bay windows.
Another of the fabulous windows — one of the things I loved about this house was the beautifully carved woodwork throughout, like the screen that framed this window alcove.
Another screen framing the entrance to the dining room.
This staircase was magnificent, as was the statue set atop it..
And I practically drooled over this exquisitely carved fireplace surround and mantel.
The fireworks were stunning, but my camera wasn't up to any photos, even if I wasn't too busy oohing and aahing. But I managed to taste some of the delicious supper afterward.
It was a wonderful night and though I was a stranger, I felt very welcomed there. And as I type this, I'm smiling at the memories. Thank you, Dubuque. Happy 4th July.
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Wow! What a fantastic house! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Judy — I was very lucky to be able to visit.
DeleteGorgeous house! I love the way a lot of the older substantial homes in the US are named for the original owner, e.g. the John Smith House, even though John Smith may have been gone for 80 years. I've seen this in small towns right across the US. I like the tie back to an original owner - especially if it was someone who had a passion for design or fine workmanship. Although it might lead to identity crisis for some!
ReplyDeleteLouise, Dubuque reminded me in some ways of Rockhampton, in that both places had been thriving river ports in the past, and as a result had some stunning old buildings. Clearly there was a lot of wealth in the area at the time,
DeleteYou would have LOVED the woodwork in this place.
What a gorgeous house! We have some similar to that in our area, but it's a rare thing that one can 'go inside' and see what it's really like. You must have had a wonderful time.
ReplyDeleteTheo, I was lucky in that the friend I was staying with knew the owners and had mentioned they'd collected a stray Australian, and so I was very graciously invited for 4th July. It was a memorable evening.
DeleteBut this is also a guest house, so anyone can visit.
http://www.thehancockhouse.com/
So, were you in the big house? Or is there a guest house on the back? In the US, a guest house is a small house on the back of the property of a huge property. I'm guessing you mean the entire house is a bed and breakfast and they rent the rooms in the house out. Either way, it's absolutely beautiful.
ReplyDeleteAnd you could never be a 'stray Australian.' :)
Ah, the joys of terminology again Yes, I meant the entire house is a B&B and they rent the rooms out. Here, a guest house is much the same as a B&B, except you might be able to have dinner there too. The terms are more or less interchangeable, except that a guest house would be big, like this one, whereas a B&B might only have one or two extra bedrooms. We have a number of Victorian era large houses that were purpose-built as guest houses, where people went for holidays or weekends. More genteel than hotels. Now added to their numbers are old mansions converted like this one was. Don't take my word as gospel though — I'm making this up on the spot, so others might disagree.
DeleteI didn't stay at the Hancock House — I only came for the evening. I was staying with my friends at their home, nearby.
Well, it's just beautiful, like I said and you're very fortunate to have spent time there regardless of how. I love old houses like that. And hey! It's only an 8 hour drive from me ;o)
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