DOURON EDUCATIONAL FURNITURE

This is a front view of Rose Hill Mansion. Now a little bit of history: Robert Selden Rose and his wife moved from Virgina in 1803. They purchased 1,100 acres of prime farmland on the northern shore of Seneca Lake. They constructed a two-story farmhouse which is now used as a Carriage House/Reception Center. This grand mansion was built by Wm Kerley Strong. In 1850 Benjamin Swan purchased the mansion and gave it to his son Robert and Robert's wife, Margaret as a wedding present. Robert went on to turn Rose Hill into one of the premier farms in the state. He was one of the first farmers to install a drainage system underneath the fields to remove excess water which would improve his crops. The two-story mansion consists of four indentically sized rooms downstairs and upstairs. There are two wings projecting to the north and south but lower in height and recessed from the main building. Six fluted Ionic columns support the pediment spanning the entire width of the main block of the mansion. These construction elements are borrowed from Greek temples. Under the molding of the wood pediment you'll find the popular Greek Key design. The mansion is constructed in wood and painted pure white, with the front being covered with flush sheathing which provided a flat surface. On the sides and back you will see the traditional overlapping clapboards where appearance is less important. Recessed from the tip of the pediment is a handsome square cupola surmounting the roof. Less visible from the ground is a skylight. At the back of the mansion is a two-story veranda which the servants used. From 1890 to 1960 Rose Hill passed throught the hands of eight owners. By the 1960s the grand mansion had started to fall into ruin. To the rescue came the grandson of Robert Swan, Waldo Hutchins Jr. He contributed to the restoration when the Geneva Historical Society asked for his help. Over the years the furnishings which had been in the house had been dispersed but since the restoration many of the belongings found their way back to the mansion. Many generous people in Geneva donated Empire furniture to decorate the house since that was the style prevalent during the Greek Revival era (1820-1850). Today the mansion is splendid, I really enjoyed going through the rooms which were ever so elegant. Rose Hill Mansion is located on Route 96A in Geneva, NY.

In this photo you can see our custom made furniture - Bookcases, Mirror, Fireplace Screen and gilded Armchair for our Belgium Buyer.