|
|
 Open to the Public., but the secrets are hidden . . .
| The Chancellor |
|
from the top of the ivory tower
Group: Administrator
Posts: 106
Member No.: 304
Joined: 11-November 08
|
 On the official Monroe College campus map, this building is labeled as the Rudyard Afton House, named after its builder and first occupant, Rudyard Afton, the 6th Chancellor of the university and covert alumni of the Graves and Roses Society. Afton House was used as the official Chancellor’s residence for four decades, until the new Chancellor’s house was established on the East campus after the campus expansion of 1904.
The main floor of the house is accessible to the public 12 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Guided tours are available 15 minutes past the hour and last 30 minutes, however the tour covers only the main floor and the garden. Admission is free, though a modest donation of $10 is encouraged. Visitors can view Rudyard Afton’s antique furniture, restored to the same state it was kept in when he was the primary occupant. Also on display is Afton’s extensive collection of still-lifes (a mixture of vegetable and industrial), a 14th century Ming vase, and a large portrait of Afton himself.
On select evenings, this floor may be reserved for campus functions. The kitchen has been fully renovated to support a full catering staff, although those interested will have to hire their own caterers. The Afton House is maintained by the University Building Services, and its only dedicated staff is the Afton House director, who is also the curator of the Afton exhibits. Tours are led by student volunteers from the Monroe Historical Society.
In the off hours, Graves and Roses members surreptitiously come and go as they please.
What you see
Upon entering the expansive foyer visitors will first notice the grand staircase, however a decorative gate and a forbidding note make it clear that the upper floors of Afton House are off limits. The kitchen has also been left off the tour, but since it has been renovated and contains none of the antique charm of the rest of the house, no one much feels that they are missing out. Another closed door in the kitchen is marked for staff only, but most people do not venture in far enough to even see the sign.
There are plenty of rooms in the main floor to keep a casual visitor interested: the Great Chamber, the Drawing Room, the Dining Room, Afton's office, the Library, the Solarium, and the Servants' Hall. Outside, there are the Stables (unfortunately, the horses are long gone) and the restored Victorian era garden.
|
|
|
Track this topic
Receive email notification when a reply has been made to this topic and you are not active on the board.
Subscribe to this forum
Receive email notification when a new topic is posted in this forum and you are not active on the board.
Download / Print this Topic
Download this topic in different formats or view a printer friendly version.
|
Help
Search
Members
Calendar
