Lovers of the unusual are always fascinated by the handcarved teakwood mantel in the living room. Added by the Whitneys, it has a secret compartment on either side.
An unusual feature of the house is the huge dining room, which, despite its twin mantels, was always a single room. The large Musson family and the many friends they entertained dictated a dining room of tremendous proportions. The identical bronze chandeliers were originally for gas but later were wired for electricity. Mrs. Whitney, however, not fully trusting the new-fangled electricity, prudently had only half the arms wired. The rest she kept for gas "just in case".
The spacious side garden of the Bell home uses many typical Southern materials bordering a wide sweep of green lawn. The towering palm is a species of date palm tree. On the trellises by the house are Carolina jasmine (_Gelsemium sempervirens_) vines. At the corner of the house is a large golden dewdrop (_Duranta repens_), a showy shrub which has bright yellow berries and racemes of small lilac flowers, frequently at the same time. Near this spot is a Lady Banksia rose (_Rosa Banksiae_), for many years a New Orleans springtime favorite. In summer the famous "Whitney pink" oleanders are especially striking. This variety was propagated by Mrs. Whitney's gardener and is now one of the most popular in the Crescent City.
[Illustration: Molded plaster cornices are set out from wall in style locally called "double transparency".
This type of work is typical of that done by European artisans who decorated many great Garden District homes.]
ADELAIDE L. BRENNAN HOUSE 2507 Prytania Street
[Illustration: ADELAIDE L. BRENNAN HOUSE]
Nearly a century after it was built, this vast mansion, a newspaper editor's dream house, almost made the front page when a raging fire gutted the interior and threatened destruction. Fortunately the house withstood good times and bad, hurricanes and fire, and stands today lovingly restored.
The quarter square of land at the corner of Prytania and Second Streets was purchased in June, 1852, by Joseph H. Maddox, owner of the _New Orleans Daily Crescent_, a prominent newspaper of the period. Plans for his new residence were made by a local architect, John Barnett, and in August of that year a contract for construction was signed with John R. Eichelberger. As was often the case in those days, a different architect was employed to supervise the construction. Edward Gotthiel was selected for this job.