Inventories of two residences, both in Germantown, Pennsylvania, owned by Sydney L. Wright. One house was called "Stone Gables," and was located at 129 Carpenter Street; the other house was called "Clifflawn," and was located on Carpenter Lane. The "Clifflawn" inventory was taken in 1910; the "Stone Gables" inventory was done in 1917. There is no indication of the purpose of either inventory, i.e. whether to settle someone's estate or for insurance purposes. Both inventories not only list but also give values for the furniture, silver, china, crystal and glassware, linen, clothes, jewelry, books (some titles are mentioned), kitchen wares, decorative objects, carpets, curtains, art work, and other home furnishings. Many of the items are described in some detail, with the "Stone Gables" inventory being the more descriptive of the two. For example, whereas the "Clifflanw" inventory listed souvenir spoons, the "Stone Gables" inventory specifies of what they were souvenirs. Furthermore, the "Stone Gables" inventory describes the Oriental carpets in detail, with notes as to size, where made, number of knots per square inch, type of yarn used, and a description of the colors and patterns. "Clifflawn" was the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Wright and their son Miers Fisher Wright. On the first floor was found a hall, reception room, library, conservatory, dining room, kitchen, butler's pantry, laundry room, bathroom and lavatory. On the second floor were five bedrooms, two bathrooms, a dressing room, and a hall. On the third floor were a hall, a guestroom, two servants' bedrooms, a storeroom, and two additional rooms. The contents of the cellar and stable were also inventoried. The kitchen inventory is sparse in details. Among other things, the Wrights had a gramophone, an electric vacuum cleaner, several carpet sweepers, a Grueby pottery dish, a Navajo rug, a gas range (in the laundry room), a clothes wringer, some colonial (i.e. antique?) furniture, a sewing machine, Mission style hanging book racks, several guns, a folding pocket camera, a child's hobby horse, an old Morris chair, an electric fan, a refrigerator, two sleighs, three carriages, two bicycles, and a 1906 Pierce Arrow. Laid into this volume are a bill of sale for and a letter about an Oriental rug and a list of table silver in the King pattern, dated July 1913. It is possible that this inventory was done after the death of Mrs. Wright. Sydney Wright lived in "Stone Gables" by himself. The first floor contained a porch, hall, living room, den, dining room, kitchen, pantry, and lavatory. The second floor had five bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a hall. On the third floor was a billiard room, two servants' rooms, a store room, bathroom, and hall. The laundry room and cellar were in the basement, and there was a garage, which seemed to be mostly used for storage. The descriptions in this inventory are more detailed than those in the one for "Clifflawn," and it is possible to find some of the same items in both homes. Among items found at "Stone Gables" are fire extinguishers, a thermometer, a barometer, a gas range, a refrigerator, scales, and a vacuum cleaner. Several pieces of furniture are noted as being antiques.
