Twickenham
Van Valkenburgh-Johnston House
The story
Behind the sketch.
Built for Wilfred and Emily Van Valkenburgh, this exuberant mansion pairs Victorian rooflines, curved bays, and ornament with a monumental Classical portico. Attributed to architect-builder Herbert Cowell, its design closely follows a 1901 mail-order plan by George F. Barber. Inside are parquet floors, curved walls, a hand-carved cherry staircase, and a ballroom. A large stained-glass window, traditionally said to depict Odysseus bidding farewell to Penelope, appears modeled on a Tiffany design, but has never been authenticated. During the Depression, the house reportedly failed to sell for $6,500 (about $150,000 in 2026 dollars), proof that even grandeur could not overcome the heating bill.
- Neighborhood
- Twickenham
- Book location
- Page 36
