The present mansion, remodelled, is to-day a famous landmark. It is considered an excellent example of a colonial home, with its pitched roof, its huge stone chimneys covered with mortar, its dormer windows, and its Georgian porch. One enters through the wide doors into a noble hallway extending entirely through the house, the woodwork showing fine panelling of white pine. The box stairs rise by easy treads to the wide landing, where a colonial window gives light to the apartment. At the foot of the staircase is an arch, a great ornament to the hallway. The balusters are hand-carved, the newel post being plain. The balusters and stairs are of mahogany and the furniture is Windsor.
Opening from the hall at the right are double parlors. On the wall hangs a fine portrait of Governor Dummer and his wife, Katherine Dudley. The portrait of the governor is in oil by Smibert, while a copy of it by the late Frederick Vinton is in the Senate Chamber of the State House in Boston. The parlor shows woodwork in place of plastering or paper. The old shutters have been carefully preserved as have the window-seats. The furniture is of the colonial type, including Chippendale and Windsor pieces.
Plate XLIV.—Dining Room, Dummer Mansion; Den, Dummer Mansion.
Plate XLV.—Two Views of the Living Room, Dummer Mansion.
Opposite the parlor is the living-room, with its fine carvings shown in the mantel. This carving is done in wood and not in French putty glued on, as is the case with many ornamentations. Although there is fine panelling and woodwork in this room, it shows plaster and paper as well. Double doors open into the rear parlor, now used as a dining-room. These doors show strap hinges and are considered fine specimens of the colonial period. Wonderful woodwork is seen in this room, as in other rooms in the house.
When the parish was renamed, the name of Dummer was proposed. Finally, however, it was called after Judge Byfield on account of a handsome gift proposed by him. In acknowledgment of this compliment a bell was presented to the church by Judge Byfield.