Secret tunnel exposed

By David L. Cordes, Administrator

2001

There are many fascinating aspects of Terrace Hill that attract attention: its grand but whimsical architecture, its historic features and its stockpile of tales. For many, though, Terrace Hill’s most legendary attraction is its mysterious old tunnel.

In 1884, F. M. Hubbell purchased Terrace Hill and began renovating the 15-year-old property, which had fallen into disrepair. One of the more ambitious projects was to relocate the boiler that heated the home, moving it from the basement to a new, partially underground boiler house located just south of the Carriage House. At the same time, a steam tunnel was built leading from the boiler house to the mansion, where it connected to the basement level at the west side. This tunnel was constructed of brick with a vaulted top and dirt floors. About 3 feet wide and 4 feet tall, the tunnel easily accommodated the steam pipes. This arrangement moved the mess of the coal and cinders, as well as the heavy smoke, to a remote area of the property.

In 1924, when son Grover Hubbell was making numerous repairs and modernizing the mansion, he had a new boiler installed back in the original boiler room in the basement of the mansion. As a result, the tunnel was no longer used. However, Grover’s daughter, Marybelle, found the tunnel. Many years later, she recalled how she and some friends packed a lunch and spent part of a day exploring in the mysterious underground passage.

In the 1970s, as Terrace Hill was being rehabilitated for use as the governor’s residence, the tunnel was put back into service as a route for chilled water lines for the mansion’s air-conditioning system. This allowed the compressors and other outdoor equipment to be located away from the mansion, out of sight. The tunnel continues to be a tribute to the foresight of F. M. Hubbell, who saw the advantages of locating annoying machinery underground and far from the house.

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