Yes, Catbooks. You're welcome.
A garage with large glass windowed garage doors would be difficult to heat. Maplecroft's sliding garage doors would be difficult to seal. Large portions around the door were open to the elements. Thus, a huge heating system was needed.
Though I find no proof of it, I always thought that there were living quarters in the garage for someone (chauffeur?) since there was a working chimney or fireplace, though I could find no proof. Can't really prove if there was a working fireplace or just a chimney since it has been covered up. Judging by the size of the chimney tells me there was a fireplace. But heating for your car was certainly a luxury. I have worked in many old houses on the hill and found very few (if any that I can remember) with a steam heating system.
As for Lizzie's summer room? Not sure where that story came from. We are not sure, nor does anyone have any proof that there was a "
summer bedroom."
It is my belief that the room over the porch was built for one of Lizzie's maids or more likely as a guest room. Remember, 92 had a guest room.
The bedroom over the porch at Maplecroft is separated from the rest of the house. On the second floor was a door separating that room from the remainder of the 2nd floor, which included Lizzie's and Emma's bedroom. That bedroom was shut off from the remainder of the 2nd floor and somewhat isolated. Very private. Not only that but once you leave that room to access the bathroom you had to cross the rear stairway, on some very unsafe, parlous, and uneven steps. Furthermore, if you were the house madam (Lizzie) this would mean running into or crossing paths with the servants as they came down the back stairwell from the third floor and to the kitchen. Not likely.
Another particular worth noting is the very plain fireplace. One hundred percent functional, zero percent appealing. A very plain naked brick fireplace.
I don't believe Lizzie had such a place as a "summer bedroom."
I believe the story is just
folklore.
Adding validity to my supposition, in discussing the matter with the Fall River Historical Society, they cannot remember where the "summer bedroom" story came from and cannot supply any proof that the bedroom was used as "Lizzie's summer bedroom". We all agreed that the story is out there and it has taken on legs, but there is no undisputed proof written or verbal that Lizzie even had a summer bedroom, though it is pivotal to report that the bedroom over the porch is called the "summer bedroom" by the historical society in Parallel Lives. This being said they do agree that there is no proof.
I spent a lot of time in that room. I even removed a heater that was built into the wall and patched the wall with new shingles on the outside of the house. A bed was placed over the hole on the inside.
Of all the rooms in the house it was the one with the most vibes. I was spooked every time I walked into it. And I always had the feeling that someone was in there with me. When going into the house at night to make certain that everything was ok I never went into Lizzie's summer room or the third floor. But especially the summer room which chilled me.
No.
As far as I can tell, all signs point to that bedroom being supplemental sleeping quarters for visitors or even Lizzie's favorite servant. Think about it. If Nance was staying over, where would she sleep? On the third floor with the servants? In Lizzie's bedroom? No. Maplecroft needed a guest room. The room over the porch was a guest room... al least as far as this writer is concerned.
Though we can continue to call it Lizzie's summer bedroom. Just don't believe it.
I visited more and more, and the more I did the more responsibility I felt for Kristee and Maplecroft. After a while I found myself fixing things and keeping an eye on the building. More or less Maplecorft's caretaker. (The photo above is of my truck as seen from inside Maplecroft's garage as I move the last of my things)
I became attached to Maplecorft. Old houses have a soul to me. Some are almost alive. Especially old Victorians. I've worked in almost half the big houses on the hill, (the Highlands. Lizzie's Highlands) when I was younger. Architecture that can not be duplicated today. Build from old growth forests with grains that just don't exist today. Yep 
