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HIGH ON A BLUFF OVERLOOKING THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER IS A HOUSE THAT WOULD SEEM
OVERLOOKING THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER IS A HOUSE THAT WOULD SEEM TO BE MORE AT HOME ON THE
RIVER IS A HOUSE THAT WOULD SEEM TO BE MORE AT HOME ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
IN 1897, GEORGE METS EMBARKED ON A PROLONGED TOUR OF THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION WHERE HE
A PROLONGED TOUR OF THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION WHERE HE BECAME FASCINATED WITH THE MURE
MEDITERRANEAN REGION WHERE HE BECAME FASCINATED WITH THE MURE ISH STYLE OF ARCHITECTURE, A
BECAME FASCINATED WITH THE MURE ISH STYLE OF ARCHITECTURE, A STYLE HE WOULD TRY TO EMULATE IN
ISH STYLE OF ARCHITECTURE, A STYLE HE WOULD TRY TO EMULATE IN HIS OWN HOME.
STYLE HE WOULD TRY TO EMULATE IN HIS OWN HOME. BUILT AT THE COST OF $7,000, THE
HIS OWN HOME. BUILT AT THE COST OF $7,000, THE DESIGN WAS BASED ON SKETCHES
BUILT AT THE COST OF $7,000, THE DESIGN WAS BASED ON SKETCHES METS HAD DONE DURING HIS
DESIGN WAS BASED ON SKETCHES METS HAD DONE DURING HIS TRAVELS.
METS HAD DONE DURING HIS TRAVELS. IN FACT THE HOME IS ALMOST LIKE
TRAVELS. IN FACT THE HOME IS ALMOST LIKE A MINIATURE COLLAGE OF THE
IN FACT THE HOME IS ALMOST LIKE A MINIATURE COLLAGE OF THE PLACES HE VISITED.
A MINIATURE COLLAGE OF THE PLACES HE VISITED. THE VILLA IS STYLED AFTER THE
PLACES HE VISITED. THE VILLA IS STYLED AFTER THE VILLA BIN ABIEN IN MORACCO.
THE VILLA IS STYLED AFTER THE VILLA BIN ABIEN IN MORACCO. LATTICE WORK WAS HERALDED BY THE
VILLA BIN ABIEN IN MORACCO. LATTICE WORK WAS HERALDED BY THE SPAIN.
LATTICE WORK WAS HERALDED BY THE SPAIN. ON TOP, IS FAMOUS MOSQUE OF
SPAIN. ON TOP, IS FAMOUS MOSQUE OF TUNECE OF TUNESAI.
ON TOP, IS FAMOUS MOSQUE OF TUNECE OF TUNESAI. >> AS YOU WALK IN, YOU COME INTO
TUNECE OF TUNESAI. >> AS YOU WALK IN, YOU COME INTO THE ENTRY WAY.
>> AS YOU WALK IN, YOU COME INTO THE ENTRY WAY. YOU WOULD SEE ARCHED DOORWAY
THE ENTRY WAY. YOU WOULD SEE ARCHED DOORWAY THAT YOU WOULD GO THROUGH FROM
YOU WOULD SEE ARCHED DOORWAY THAT YOU WOULD GO THROUGH FROM THE ENTRY WAY THEN ON INTO THE
THAT YOU WOULD GO THROUGH FROM THE ENTRY WAY THEN ON INTO THE TOURIST INFORMATION CENTER.
THE ENTRY WAY THEN ON INTO THE TOURIST INFORMATION CENTER. >> ABOVE THE NARROW PARLOR ARE
TOURIST INFORMATION CENTER. >> ABOVE THE NARROW PARLOR ARE THE ORIGINAL CYPRESS BEAMS.
>> ABOVE THE NARROW PARLOR ARE THE ORIGINAL CYPRESS BEAMS. SURROUNDING THE ROOM ARE THE
THE ORIGINAL CYPRESS BEAMS. SURROUNDING THE ROOM ARE THE ONLY PIECES OF COLORED GLASS
SURROUNDING THE ROOM ARE THE ONLY PIECES OF COLORED GLASS WINDOWS IN THE BUILDING.
ONLY PIECES OF COLORED GLASS WINDOWS IN THE BUILDING. ADDING A MOR ISH FLARE, THESE
WINDOWS IN THE BUILDING. ADDING A MOR ISH FLARE, THESE SMALL AMBER DIAMONDS ADD A WARM
ADDING A MOR ISH FLARE, THESE SMALL AMBER DIAMONDS ADD A WARM GLOW TO THE AFTERNOON LIGHT.
SMALL AMBER DIAMONDS ADD A WARM GLOW TO THE AFTERNOON LIGHT. YET THE MOST IMPRESSIVE SPACE IS
GLOW TO THE AFTERNOON LIGHT. YET THE MOST IMPRESSIVE SPACE IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HOUSE.
AFTER LEAVING THE PARLOR, VISITORS STEP INTO A TWO STORY COURTYARD WHICH OPENS UP ON A
VISITORS STEP INTO A TWO STORY COURTYARD WHICH OPENS UP ON A SHALLOW REFLECTING POOL.
COURTYARD WHICH OPENS UP ON A SHALLOW REFLECTING POOL. IT IS A POOL THAT HAS BEEN
SHALLOW REFLECTING POOL. IT IS A POOL THAT HAS BEEN RECENTLY RECREATED.
WE EXCAVATED IN OUR LAST RESTORATION FROM 95 TO 98, WE DID NOT FIND ANYTHING LEFT OF
RESTORATION FROM 95 TO 98, WE DID NOT FIND ANYTHING LEFT OF THE REFLECTING POOL BUT
DID NOT FIND ANYTHING LEFT OF THE REFLECTING POOL BUT MR. METS' HAT.
THE REFLECTING POOL BUT MR. METS' HAT. NO PLUMBING, NOTHING.
MR. METS' HAT. NO PLUMBING, NOTHING. IT HAD BEEN ALL TAKEN OUT AND
NO PLUMBING, NOTHING. IT HAD BEEN ALL TAKEN OUT AND FILLED.
IT HAD BEEN ALL TAKEN OUT AND FILLED. ONLY THING WE KNOW FOR SURE IS
FILLED. ONLY THING WE KNOW FOR SURE IS THE DEPTH OF THE POOL.
ONLY THING WE KNOW FOR SURE IS THE DEPTH OF THE POOL. WE HAVE THESE BEAUTIFUL GREENS
THE DEPTH OF THE POOL. WE HAVE THESE BEAUTIFUL GREENS AND BLACK AND BEIGE DESIGNS THAT
WE HAVE THESE BEAUTIFUL GREENS AND BLACK AND BEIGE DESIGNS THAT WE WERE TOLD IS A POPULAR
AND BLACK AND BEIGE DESIGNS THAT WE WERE TOLD IS A POPULAR DESIGN.
WE WERE TOLD IS A POPULAR DESIGN. YOU WILL SEE THE SPIRAL COLUMNS.
DESIGN. YOU WILL SEE THE SPIRAL COLUMNS. THEY ARE MADE OF SOLID PIECES OF
YOU WILL SEE THE SPIRAL COLUMNS. THEY ARE MADE OF SOLID PIECES OF WOOD, AT AN ANGLE, LOOK LIKE A
THEY ARE MADE OF SOLID PIECES OF WOOD, AT AN ANGLE, LOOK LIKE A DE MOND, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN
WOOD, AT AN ANGLE, LOOK LIKE A DE MOND, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN CALLED THE STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN.
DE MOND, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN CALLED THE STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN. IF THERE WERE TOO MANY PEOPLE TO
CALLED THE STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN. IF THERE WERE TOO MANY PEOPLE TO SIT IN THE DINING ROOM WHICH IS
IF THERE WERE TOO MANY PEOPLE TO SIT IN THE DINING ROOM WHICH IS RATHER SMALL FOR A DINING ROOM,
SIT IN THE DINING ROOM WHICH IS RATHER SMALL FOR A DINING ROOM, HE WOULD SET UP TABLES AROUND
RATHER SMALL FOR A DINING ROOM, HE WOULD SET UP TABLES AROUND THE COURTYARD IN THE REFLECTING
HE WOULD SET UP TABLES AROUND THE COURTYARD IN THE REFLECTING POOL AND HAVE PEOPLE SIT THERE.
THE COURTYARD IN THE REFLECTING POOL AND HAVE PEOPLE SIT THERE. OCCASIONALLY HE WOULD HAVE
POOL AND HAVE PEOPLE SIT THERE. OCCASIONALLY HE WOULD HAVE DANCERS, BELLY DANCERS COME AND
OCCASIONALLY HE WOULD HAVE DANCERS, BELLY DANCERS COME AND PERFORM FOR HIS FRIENDS.
DANCERS, BELLY DANCERS COME AND PERFORM FOR HIS FRIENDS. AND OCCASIONALLY THEY WOULD GO
PERFORM FOR HIS FRIENDS. AND OCCASIONALLY THEY WOULD GO AND INSTEAD OF THE SITTING ROOM
AND OCCASIONALLY THEY WOULD GO AND INSTEAD OF THE SITTING ROOM FOR THE AFTER DINNER DRINKS AND
AND INSTEAD OF THE SITTING ROOM FOR THE AFTER DINNER DRINKS AND CONVERSATION, THEY COULD GO UP
FOR THE AFTER DINNER DRINKS AND CONVERSATION, THEY COULD GO UP ON THE ROOF AND ENJOY THE SUN
CONVERSATION, THEY COULD GO UP ON THE ROOF AND ENJOY THE SUN SET.
ON THE ROOF AND ENJOY THE SUN SET. FROM ALL HIS TRAFERLS, MR. METS
SET. FROM ALL HIS TRAFERLS, MR. METS DID COLLECT A LOT OF PIECES, AND
FROM ALL HIS TRAFERLS, MR. METS DID COLLECT A LOT OF PIECES, AND THAT'S WITH A WE ARE TOLD IS HOW
DID COLLECT A LOT OF PIECES, AND THAT'S WITH A WE ARE TOLD IS HOW HE FURNISHED HIS VILLA, FROM THE
THAT'S WITH A WE ARE TOLD IS HOW HE FURNISHED HIS VILLA, FROM THE PIECES HE HAD COLLECTED.
HE FURNISHED HIS VILLA, FROM THE PIECES HE HAD COLLECTED. UNFORTUNATELY, THOSE ITEMS WHEN
PIECES HE HAD COLLECTED. UNFORTUNATELY, THOSE ITEMS WHEN HE SOLD THE VILLA IN 1912, IT
UNFORTUNATELY, THOSE ITEMS WHEN HE SOLD THE VILLA IN 1912, IT WAS SOLD CONTENTS AND ALL.
HE SOLD THE VILLA IN 1912, IT WAS SOLD CONTENTS AND ALL. >> BUT A FEW PIECES OF METS'
WAS SOLD CONTENTS AND ALL. >> BUT A FEW PIECES OF METS' FURNITURE RETURNED HOME.
>> BUT A FEW PIECES OF METS' FURNITURE RETURNED HOME. >> WE HAVE IN LAID MOTHER OF
FURNITURE RETURNED HOME. >> WE HAVE IN LAID MOTHER OF PEARL CHAIR.
>> WE HAVE IN LAID MOTHER OF PEARL CHAIR. WE HAD A PICTURE HE DONATED TO
PEARL CHAIR. WE HAD A PICTURE HE DONATED TO THE QUINCY PUBLIC LIBRARY OF THE
WE HAD A PICTURE HE DONATED TO THE QUINCY PUBLIC LIBRARY OF THE JAPANESE LADY.
THE QUINCY PUBLIC LIBRARY OF THE JAPANESE LADY. WE HAD IT RECONDITIONED AND ON
JAPANESE LADY. WE HAD IT RECONDITIONED AND ON EXHIBIT.
WE HAD IT RECONDITIONED AND ON EXHIBIT. >> IT DOESN'T APPEAR THE HOME
EXHIBIT. >> IT DOESN'T APPEAR THE HOME COULD HAVE HELD MUCH TURN
>> IT DOESN'T APPEAR THE HOME COULD HAVE HELD MUCH TURN FURNITURE IN THE SMALL ROOMS,
COULD HAVE HELD MUCH TURN FURNITURE IN THE SMALL ROOMS, PLUS THERE IS ALMOST NO STORAGE
FURNITURE IN THE SMALL ROOMS, PLUS THERE IS ALMOST NO STORAGE SPACE.
PLUS THERE IS ALMOST NO STORAGE SPACE. UPSTAIRS THERE IS A STOREROOM
SPACE. UPSTAIRS THERE IS A STOREROOM REACHED BY GOING OUT THE BAY
UPSTAIRS THERE IS A STOREROOM REACHED BY GOING OUT THE BAY WINDOW AND TAKING A FEW STEPS
REACHED BY GOING OUT THE BAY WINDOW AND TAKING A FEW STEPS ACROSS THE ROOF.
WINDOW AND TAKING A FEW STEPS ACROSS THE ROOF. BUT WHAT THE BEDROOMS LACK IN
ACROSS THE ROOF. BUT WHAT THE BEDROOMS LACK IN SPACE WAS MORE THAN COMPENSATED
BUT WHAT THE BEDROOMS LACK IN SPACE WAS MORE THAN COMPENSATED FOR BY THEIR VISTAS.
SPACE WAS MORE THAN COMPENSATED FOR BY THEIR VISTAS. >> FROM HIS MASTER BEDROOM
FOR BY THEIR VISTAS. >> FROM HIS MASTER BEDROOM WINDOW, HE COULD WATCH THE
>> FROM HIS MASTER BEDROOM WINDOW, HE COULD WATCH THE STEAMBOATS COME IN AND OUT, JUST
WINDOW, HE COULD WATCH THE STEAMBOATS COME IN AND OUT, JUST A BEAUTIFUL VIEW UP THE RIVER.
STEAMBOATS COME IN AND OUT, JUST A BEAUTIFUL VIEW UP THE RIVER. THERE WERE NO WING DAMS.
A BEAUTIFUL VIEW UP THE RIVER. THERE WERE NO WING DAMS. THAT'S WHEN IT WAS THE MUDDY
THERE WERE NO WING DAMS. THAT'S WHEN IT WAS THE MUDDY MISSISSIPPI, JUST LIKE MARK
THAT'S WHEN IT WAS THE MUDDY MISSISSIPPI, JUST LIKE MARK TWAIN WROTE ABOUT.
MISSISSIPPI, JUST LIKE MARK TWAIN WROTE ABOUT. >> THERE IS A SLIGHT MYSTERY IN
TWAIN WROTE ABOUT. >> THERE IS A SLIGHT MYSTERY IN THE VILLA IN THE NAME IT WAS
>> THERE IS A SLIGHT MYSTERY IN THE VILLA IN THE NAME IT WAS GIVEN.
THE VILLA IN THE NAME IT WAS GIVEN. SOME FEEL IT WAS NAMED AFTER HIS
GIVEN. SOME FEEL IT WAS NAMED AFTER HIS MOTHER CATHERINE, BUT SHE
SOME FEEL IT WAS NAMED AFTER HIS MOTHER CATHERINE, BUT SHE SPELLED HER NAME WITH A C, AND
MOTHER CATHERINE, BUT SHE SPELLED HER NAME WITH A C, AND NOT A K.
SPELLED HER NAME WITH A C, AND NOT A K. THERE ARE OTHER STORIES.
NOT A K. THERE ARE OTHER STORIES. >> MY FAVORITE VERSION IS THE
THERE ARE OTHER STORIES. >> MY FAVORITE VERSION IS THE ROMANTIC VERSION.
>> MY FAVORITE VERSION IS THE ROMANTIC VERSION. AND MR. METS HAD COME BACK FROM
ROMANTIC VERSION. AND MR. METS HAD COME BACK FROM HIS TRAVELS IN 1900, BUILT THE
AND MR. METS HAD COME BACK FROM HIS TRAVELS IN 1900, BUILT THE VILLA FOR SOMEONE HE MET IN THE
HIS TRAVELS IN 1900, BUILT THE VILLA FOR SOMEONE HE MET IN THE MEDITERRANEAN THAT HE HAD ASKED
VILLA FOR SOMEONE HE MET IN THE MEDITERRANEAN THAT HE HAD ASKED TO JOIN HIM.
MEDITERRANEAN THAT HE HAD ASKED TO JOIN HIM. SHE WAS ON HER WAY AND DIED
TO JOIN HIM. SHE WAS ON HER WAY AND DIED ENROUTE.
SHE WAS ON HER WAY AND DIED ENROUTE. THAT'S THE ROMANTIC VERSION.
ENROUTE. THAT'S THE ROMANTIC VERSION. BUT THERE ARE OTHER STORIES THAT
THAT'S THE ROMANTIC VERSION. BUT THERE ARE OTHER STORIES THAT TRAVEL AROUND THAT MAYBE SHE
BUT THERE ARE OTHER STORIES THAT TRAVEL AROUND THAT MAYBE SHE JUST CHANGED HER MIND AND SHE
TRAVEL AROUND THAT MAYBE SHE JUST CHANGED HER MIND AND SHE DIDN'T COME AND SOME OTHER
JUST CHANGED HER MIND AND SHE DIDN'T COME AND SOME OTHER VERSIONS.
DIDN'T COME AND SOME OTHER VERSIONS. >>
TODAY THE VILLA IS HOME TO QUINCY'S TOURIST INFORMATION CENTER AND OFFERS SELF GUIDED
QUINCY'S TOURIST INFORMATION CENTER AND OFFERS SELF GUIDED TOURS OF THE HOME, A HOME THAT
CENTER AND OFFERS SELF GUIDED TOURS OF THE HOME, A HOME THAT HAS BEEN ATTRACTING THE
TOURS OF THE HOME, A HOME THAT HAS BEEN ATTRACTING THE ATTENTION OF RIVERBOATERS FOR
HAS BEEN ATTRACTING THE ATTENTION OF RIVERBOATERS FOR OVER A CENTURY.
ATTENTION OF RIVERBOATERS FOR OVER A CENTURY. >>
FOR TIMES THE VILLA CATHERINE IS OPEN FOR TOURS, CALL (217)224-3688.