Kevn is correct about the feelings of emptiness that Clemens experienced at Stormfield. Even before it was completed, he was exhibiting what I would call "builder's remorse." After Jean's death, he chastised himself for building a house to "shelter this vast emptiness." I address these issues in the essay "Mark Twain's Angelfish" in Kent Rasmussen's MARK TWAIN AND YOUTH (2016). Barb On Sat, Apr 2, 2022 at 7:42 AM Mac Donnell Rare Books < [log in to unmask]> wrote: > Those with copies of the Mark Twain Journal for Spring/Fall 2006 > (44:1-2) can make the comparison for themselves. That two-in-one issue > prints my virtual tour of Stormfield based mostly on previously > unpublished photos of the interior and exterior of the original > structure that later burned in the 1920s. It also includes the original > floorplans and plat map which are big folding inserts, and of course my > essay which describes the physical structure in detail as well as its > history. Copies of that issue can be ordered from the MTJ website. > > The present structure more or less sits on the footprint of the original > structure and parts of the floor plans do align with the original plans > (the library, hallway, stairs, part of the kitchen, etc., but the entire > loggia was not rebuilt, nor was the room above the loggia where Twain > kept his desk. The pergola at the foot of the pathway is long-gone but > its foundation seems to be intact under the lawn, to judge from > discoloration of the grass at that location. The steps leading down to > the pergola site are intact, but the gravel pathway itself, which could > easily be unearthed or recreated is oddly absent. Jean's farm and > farmhouse survive nearby but are now a separate property. The owners of > Stormfield generously allowed me access to the entire home and grounds > years ago, and I spent most of my time studying the cellar (which > survived the fire) and the grounds, but I did walk through all the rooms > to get a feel for the dimensions and layout. The long hallways and rows > of rooms gave it sort of a hotel feel, a big empty hotel. It must have > been a very lonely place for an aging widower with one daughter and son > long dead, and two living daughters--one estranged and the other > striking out on her own. It's no wonder he craved visitors and kept a > guest-book to memorialize their visits. > > Kevin > @ > Mac Donnell Rare Books > 9307 Glenlake Drive > Austin TX 78730 > 512-345-4139 > Member: ABAA, ILAB, BSA > > You can browse our books at: > www.macdonnellrarebooks.com > > > ------ Original Message ------ > From: "Peter Salwen" <[log in to unmask]> > To: [log in to unmask] > Sent: 4/1/2022 11:22:31 PM > Subject: 30 Mark Twain Lane, Redding, CT > > >Inside, the mansion that replaced Twain's Stormfield seems to have just > >about nothing to do with the house Sam Clemens built (I guess Kevin can > >tell us for sure), but this link will let you see for yourself. And the > >grounds, at least, are worth a visit: > > > >https://www.seetheproperty.com/story/387175/b > > >