National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Resource History and Description of Existing Conditions
The Curry inventory does not include curtains, however, original hardware and rods
survive on the south window, and the north window has two sets of window hardware. 913 The
floor is hardwood, and in 1938, the room had an 8' x 10' domestic rug. 914 The room is lit by two
electric wall sconces.
Regarding the room's use, Mrs. Farley said, "That was supposed to be the Chef's room
and we'd put anybody in that came that had company to fill in them, so they had butlers or
valets, well, we put them in there." 915 The double suite of furniture allowed two valets to share
the room. It is currently used for storage and the west plaster wall is heavily damaged by
moisture.
Main Laundry
McKim's plan differs from the as-built in that the coal stove was relocated from the
south wall to the north, allowing it to share a flue with the Service Laundry. Also, a small
wooden closet was added to the south wall. 916
The room has a baseboard and chair rail and was originally painted a buff color, as it is
currently. 917 A call bell is installed south of the doorway. The door's textured glass panel has
been replaced with plywood, and nailing evidence indicates sheers or curtains over the glass.
The doorway has a frosted glass transom.
The cast iron coal-burning stove was manufactured by Janes & Kirtland of New York
and sits on a small tin base on an area of floor covered with tin sheeting. The laundry originally
contained three laundry tables and two side chairs. 918 An original ironing board, without legs, is
currently stored in the Service Trunk Room. The five cast iron and porcelain sinks have painted
bands and highlights in copper color on their legs. The wooden boards between the sinks
appear original; the rightmost board has nailing evidence for a wringer.
No curtains are listed in the Curry inventory, however, there is nailing evidence at the
top of each window and NPS roller shades are there today. 919 The windows open into the room
and some of the long hooks survive which were used to hold the windows back. The flooring is
hardwood and is painted black. The ceiling lamps are identical to those in the Kitchen but with
two bulbs and two additional wall sconces are mounted over the sinks at either side of the
window.
The room is currently used for mixed storage and work areas.
913
Curry Inventory, 105.
914
Curry Inventory, 105; Hopkins, 42.
915
Theresa Farley.
916
McKim, Mead, & White, Drawing # 8.
917
Snell, "Master Plan Development Outline," 26. Snell cites an interview with Frederick Traudt,
February 15, 1957.
918
Curry Inventory, 95.
919
Curry Inventory, 95.
163