Peirce mansion delicacies

I love to see the traditional ornamental woodwork of the old houses.  The depth of the colors as the stain sets deeper in some areas than others.  In this house they use a lot of dowel work to create wooden grates also called spandrels.  


Ornamental Woodwork

Behind the wall is the stairwell, intricate and dynamic at the same time.  A nice wide staircase that goes in a modified square down the center of the house.  

2nd Story Stairwell view

I like to look at everything from different angles.  There is not enough space to look straight down the center from the third floor.  But there was enough space to look down all three floors.


Looking straight down from the 3rd Floor

As I looked down I saw this strange metal pole down the center.  It was obvious that it was some type of a sprinkler system.  Harold told me that to the best of their knowledge it was installed around 1951 when the house was used as a dormitory residence for Lutheran Hospital student nurses.  It was a dormitory until 1957 when it was purchased for $10,000 by the Junior League of Sioux City and donated the next year to the City of Sioux City for use as a cultural building.


Sprinkler System added in about 1951

As I walked up the back stairwell it reminded me of the stairs at my grandparents house.  The base had a few wider stairs that were triangular in shape and allowed the stairs to be entered from the side.  If you enlarge the photo you can see that the newel at the bottom of the stairs was a less ornate and a very smooth pattern.  The less stylish woodwork around this staircase was a good representation of the lower class of the people using this stairwell.


Back Stairwell (old fashioned steep)

In the area where the family resided and entertained the woodwork was extravagant.  Look at the detailed carving at the top of the post.

Ornate Woodwork

The renovation in the late 1920's included adding ceiling beams on the first floor. The beam were significantly more plain so decorative painting was added as a beautiful feature.

Decorative painting on ceiling beam

Most of the weddings are held in the now open floor plan from what used to be the music room, dining room and living room on the first floor.  Those room have a doorway that gives this beautiful side-view of the staircase. 


Entryway Stairwell Details

I must say that I can understand why a bride would want to descend this staircase as part of her processional. Hide that coat rack and this would be an exquisite wedding photo.



Close-up of ornate newel