| Construction of the house began in 1907 and the house was occupied in 1908; the architect was H.D. Johnstone (his fee was $1,000 and he received a $50 bonus); the contractors were May and Sharpe (they were paid $29,590).
Drawing room woodwork was bleached mahogany; other downstairs woodwork was oak; floors were maple and oak; the verandah pillars were laminated with Louisiana cyprus wood.
The furnishings included: furniture made to order in Grand Rapids MI ($4,825); crystal, china, curtains, statuary, linens and antiques imported from France and Italy; silverware, including some gold plated spoons; sterling silver teaset ($3,500) and punchbowl; and a Steinway Concert Grand piano ($5,000).
The home was named Chateau Rochelle because of a long-ago association with La Rochelle, France. During the persecution of the French Huguenots, Ambroise Sicard (spelling later changed to Secord) (1631-1712) and his family sought refuge in England, then emigrated to America. They settled in Westchester County NY and with other refugees founded New Rochelle in 1689. | |