In the house could be found the heavy mahogany furniture, the brass fire-sets, the warming-pans, the rose blankets, the woolen coverlets, which, with stores of spotless linen, were the housekeeper's pride in those days. The solid silver tankards, the cream pot, the butter boats and porringers, the tiny teaspoons and sugar-tongs, would make a modern collector envious.
The house stood very near the street, but back of it, screened from the public gaze, was a beautiful garden containing nearly two acres of land.
It was laid out in terraces on the southern slope of Pasture hill. The plots were bordered with box, and contained vegetables, fruit, and flowers in profusion. At the highest point was a garden house,1 from which a beautiful view and pure air were assured even in the warmest weather. This garden was jealously guarded by its owner. A contract made with a gardener after Mr. Hall's death concludes as follows:
‘Also that he shall not admit any person into the Garden without the consent of Mrs. Hall. The roses are all for Mrs. Hall.’
Mr. Hall's brother Richard, ‘Hatter Hall’ as he was called, lived in the next house west, which is still standing on the westerly corner of Governor's avenue. Mr. Hall's own house was known after the death of Mrs. Hall as the Dr. Swan House.
Benjamin Hall was always interested in any improvement which would benefit his native town, and proportionately jealous of anything which would detract from it.
He was an earnest remonstrant against building
