National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Dumbwaiter
Resource History and Description of Existing Conditions
The Dumbwaiter, west of the Scullery and north of the hall outside the Housekeeper's
Office, was modified during construction as compared with McKim's plan. 889 Its east and west
walls are angled to accommodate the service stair hall, and the swing of both doors was
reversed. McKim indicated swinging doors, but the south door opened only out into the hall.
The ceiling, walls, and flooring are identical to the Kitchen, but with a no border in the floor.
The Dumbwaiter is marked "Chas. W. Hoffman Co., 309 West 56 th Street, New York." It
operates on a two pulley, counter-weighted rope system with a locking mechanism, and the box
rides in a side track to steady it. The box has three shelves, the upper one hinged and folding up
to accommodate tall dishes on the middle shelf.
The room is small, and though its doors were necessary to minimize cooking noise and
smells drifting up the Dumbwaiter, they pose an inconvenience to service. The Dumbwaiter is
separated from the Kitchen by two doors, as recommended by Charles Hooper in his 1906 book
on country houses. Together with the sliding door on the Dumbwaiter itself, these doors serve
to trap cooking smells in the service areas. 890
Refrigerator and Kitchen Store Closet
The walk-in Refrigerator is accessed off the vestibule to the Service Dining Room and via
pass-through doors off the main service hall. This placement and access follows Charles
Hooper's recommendations for refrigerators in his 1906 book, The Country House, "It should
not be in the kitchen, yet near it . . . if it can be filled from the outside, or at least without going
through the kitchen or pantry, it is a decided advantage." 891 The Refrigerator was manufactured
by Lorillard, 1168 Broadway, New York City and purchased by McKim, Mead & White for
$1,070 in December 1898. 892 Ice was delivered daily from the ice house on the estate.
The Kitchen Store Closet is opposite the Kitchen and south of the Service Dining Room
and is accessed from the service hall. Its exact use is uncertain. It has been converted to an
alarm panel closet by the NPS.
Service Dining Room (MM&W: Servants' Hall, Farley: Helps' Dining Room, Curry: Not
listed)
McKim's plan for the Service Dining Room indicates its entry vestibule closed off from
the hall with a doorway. The entry from the vestibule to the Dining Room was proposed as an
arch. As built, the vestibule did not have a door off the hall, but was left open, and the arch into
the Dining Room was changed to a door. The change was likely due to the refrigerator opening
into the vestibule area, not indicated on the plan. 893 A servant's cloak closet and a Service Pantry
are on the Dining Room's south wall. 894
889
McKim, Mead & White, Drawing # 8.
890
Hooper, 179-180.
891
Hooper, 176.
892
Snell, "Master Plan Development Outline," 26; McKim, Mead & White Billbook #6, 437.
893
McKim, Mead & White, Sheet no. 8.
894
Snell, "Master Plan Development Outline," 26. Snell cites Wire Recording No. 7 with Mrs. Farley.
160