HOUSE WITH A HISTORY Press Contact: Jack Kelly, KNPB 775-784-4555 jack@knpb.org www.knpb.org/pressroom/ The Episodes • Season 1 • Show #101-108 Episode #101: Bliss Mansion The Bliss Mansion in Carson City, Nevada remains a testimony to lumber tycoon Duane Bliss. Built in 1879, it was, for a time, the largest residence in the state — nearly 8,000 square feet, including a third floor ballroom complete with a stage. The Victorian Italianate house was considered state-of-the-art for the time; 1897. It took six years to assemble the materials, and a matter of months to actually build the house. Three train-cars full of bricks were needed to build its four massive chimneys. Sandstone quarried at the prison east of Carson City was used for the foundation. Carved marble from Italy, Vermont and Georgia comprise its seven fireplaces. The house was the first residence in Carson City to be fueled entirely by gas. Episode #102: Newlands Mansion Francis W. Newlands served as an U.S. Congressman from 1893 to 1903 and as a U.S. Senator from 1903 to 1917. His Reno home was originally built in 1889. The front wing and arbor were added before 1908. George Thatcher, attorney for George Wingfield, bought the house in 1920. The house has numerous Queen Anne features including wings, bays, porches and a steep gabled roof. Because of Newlands' prominence in politics and water reclamation projects in the west, and his role as the developer of Chevy Chase, Maryland, this property is a National Historic Landmark, the highest designation of historical significance. Episode #103: Hart House In 1937, an emerging architect and a casino piano man conspired to build a house reminiscent of a Japanese pagoda on the edge of the Sierra Nevada. The exterior was designed with features unique to a Japanese style home, including a full-size moon gate that allows entrance to an enclosed porch. A high-pitched and widely flaring front gabled roof leads to pagoda corners. And the entire house is sheathed in a unique flush-mounted board siding custom milled to look like horizontally stacked bamboo. A massive wooden front door that is arched leads to the bungalow-style living room. And the interior shows off a collection of Oriental decorating techniques including a room wallpapered in gold on the second floor. The integrity of George Hart’s original design has endured over time. Episode #104: Beck-Barber-Belknap House A singular house for singular people, the Beck-Barber-Belknap House has been home to judges, lawyers and lawmakers since it was built in 1875. Designed in the Second Empire Style of architecture, the house features a Mansard roof — a dual pitched roof with dormer windows on the lower slopes. Named for French architect Francois Mansart, this style gives the exterior a distinctive look. The colorful ‘naturalized’ garden to the north and the expansive lawns to the south and east beautify the property. A quirky addition to the yard is the private bomb shelter, built in the early sixties during the cold war. The interior entryway features a Victorian staircase with an intricate wainscoting running up the wall. The untouched wood floor in the living room was a complete surprise to the current owners, who knew nothing about what lay beneath the outdated carpeting. Molding around the floor is original to the house and unusually high due to the 19th century standard use of carpet. Episode #105: Garvey House Noted Architect Paul Revere Williams contributed many designs to the Northern Nevada region, none more unique than his first commission, the Luella Garvey House. The widow of a Cincinnati steel magnate, Mrs. Garvey made news by building what was noted as the most expensive house built in Reno in 1934, with a price tag of $40,000. Designed in Colonial Revival mode and featuring French Regency details, the Garvey House appears rather unassuming from the street. But step inside and you'll find a myriad or rooms and corridors. The single-story section features decorative ironwork and a French Regency styled window. The two-story section boasts an open balcony with a railing of ornamental iron. The northeast wing has a lush walled garden, befitting the reputation of Paul Revere Williams, who enjoyed integrating landscaping with architecture. Williams was a rarity in his day, an African-American architect who stood out among his peers, and whose work still stands out today. Episode #106: Sadler House With plans most likely from a design book from the 1850's or 70's, the Sadler House is evocative because of its hidden facade and fanciful touches within. The exterior lends itself to interpretation as guests walk up the long tree-lined path to the wide porch and double front doors. Upon entry a steep and narrow staircase curves up to the ceiling. The house contains a stately parlor, living room, dining room and a large second story master bath, all of which were obviously built with care and artistry. This house was a home and also a place for the state's business. Although not technically a mansion, The Sadler House harkens back to a simpler time when a Governor’s home became the Governor's Mansion upon his election. Sadler House, still retaining the qualities of comfort and utility, paints an accurate portrait of Nevada in the late 1800's. Episode #107: Greystone Castle/Barnard House Built in the 1930's the Greystone Castle and its neighbor, the Barnard House, blend modern amenities with the charm and quaintness of two tiny traditional English cottages. Though each building plan is simple, the living areas are beautiful in their interaction with light and efficient floor plans. These houses share a number of design details, yet are distinct in their own ways. They were built to pay homage to the older English style of housing and to create a newer more sophisticated development in Reno, the Newlands Manor. Episode #108: Thunderbird Lodge The Thunderbird Lodge is one of the last and best examples of a great residential estate on Lake Tahoe during the period in which prominent San Francisco society was building homes on the lake. George Whittell, who owned 40,000 acres and 24 miles of Nevada shoreline at Lake Tahoe, began construction of the Lodge in 1936. In addition to the main house, there is a card house, a caretaker's cottage, a servant’s house, a small elephant house, an Admiral's House, a gatehouse and a boathouse with an adjoining 600-foot tunnel.