Former residence of Leighton Stuart

Former residence of Leighton Stuart

In 1874, the southern Presbyterian Church of the United States allocated funds to build two houses on this foundation. Soon after, the simple bungalows were demolished and the chapel was rebuilt on the original site of "huhaoli chapel", which is No.2 of Jesuit Hall Lane. It was officially named as Christian Tianshui chapel. Two missionary houses, five to six men's and women's study rooms and dormitories were built behind the chapel A large area of buildings, construction land has been allocated to more than 80 mu. John Stuart, an American missionary, traveled thousands of miles to Hangzhou to preach. In 1875, Stuart presided over the work of Tianshui church and set up the charity church, the medical bureau, the women's school and the baby rearing hall. In June 1876, he gave birth to his son Leighton Stuart.

Hangzhou former residence

Located in Xiacheng District, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, Jesuit Hall Lane is an East-West Road (Lane). It starts from North Zhongshan Road in the East, ends at the north section of Yan'an Road in the west, Xingfu Temple Lane in the Song Dynasty, and Jesuit Hall Lane in the Qing Dynasty. Although it is surrounded by seven storey residential buildings nearby, its style can be seen from its white walls, vermilion doors and windows, high eaves, and pillars on the porch. It is said that this building, covering an area of 239.4 square meters, was built in 1878 when Stuart Leiden's father came to Hangzhou to preach. It is the oldest missionary residence in Hangzhou.

Through the porch, into the former residence, spacious hall, dark red floor, it is a sense of historical massiness. Walking into the first living room on the left side of the first floor, a gray fireplace nearly 1.5 meters high on the opposite wall and a large oil painting hanging above are particularly eye-catching. There is also a silver candlestick and a simple clock on the fireplace. On both sides of the fireplace against the wall are several groups of reddish brown leather sofas. The end of the still burning candle and the sound of the ticking pendulum make us vaguely touch the scene of Stuart playing here.

In April 2002, when the hall of fame took over the former residence of Leighton Stuart, there were almost no furnishings in it. According to Fang Youqiang, deputy director of the memorial hall of fame, in order to restore the original appearance of life at that time, the staff almost looked through all the pictures and documents they could find about the former residence. During the restoration, every piece of furniture was imitated according to the layout of the typical missionary family at that time. No matter the tables and chairs in the dining room or the beds and cabinets in the bedroom, every detail is perfect. The former residence has only four rooms on the first floor. Besides the study on the right hand side of the front door, the two rooms near the back door are arranged as dining room and bedroom respectively. On the walls of the four open rooms are displayed the life story of Leighton Stuart in Hangzhou in his early years, some precious old photos of his founding Yanjing University in Beijing and his working as ambassador in China.

In order to collect and sort out these historical materials, the staff of the celebrity Memorial went to Beijing twice. When it was said that Leiden Stuart's former residence would be restored in Hangzhou, Huang Huate, an alumnus of Yanda and former foreign minister, inscribed the name of "Leiden Stuart's former residence". As far away as Washington, Ms. Fu duoruo is the daughter of secretary Leighton Stuart. After learning the news, he went all the way to the sea and brought back two items that Stuart had used before: a large mottled suitcase with many colorful air shipping labels on it; a purple red silk slanted cotton robe with fine workmanship. Unfortunately, limited by the display conditions, leather cases and silk robes will not be displayed in the former residence for the time being.

Former residence in Nanjing

Leighton Stuart's former residence is located in the compound of No.2, No.33 Qingdao Road (formerly No.35). The building was built in 1935. It was originally the private residence of he Jiwu (pseudonym he Shenyi). It was purchased by he when he was the vice supervisory committee of the military and Political Department of the national government (covering an area of about 7 Mu at that time). He Jiwu, a native of Guizhou, once served as the vice Supervisory Commission of the Ministry of military affairs of the national government and the mayor of Guiyang. Some people say he is the younger brother or ethnic brother of he Yingqin. In September 1936, the U.S. government appointed Jason as the first ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to China, and built the museum at 82 Shanghai Road, Nanjing. In July 1946, the U.S. government ordered Stuart Leighton to replace Jason. The site of the U.S. embassy was also moved from Shanghai road to Xikang Road. The former U.S. Embassy on Shanghai road was changed to the U.S. information office in China. Stuart Leighton chose No. 35 Qingdao Road as his residence. The residence is a western style three storey building with attic, with one villa style house, brick and wood structure, steel doors and windows, stairs inside. The porch on the first floor faces east, the balcony on the south of the second floor, daylighting tiger windows on the third floor, green tile surface, beige cement roughened outer wall, and two western style bungalows, 39 rooms in 3 buildings, covering an area of 1666 square meters It covers an area of 1012 square meters. The courtyard in the wall is deep and large, and the bamboo forest is sparse. It is thick and overcast. The huge trees in the wall set off the huge courtyard very quiet, deep and elegant. After the victory of the Anti Japanese War, the building was once the senior guest house of the inspirational society, and later the residence of Leighton Stuart. It is now the status quo. In 2006, it was listed as a municipal cultural relic protection unit by Nanjing municipal government.

Address: No.1-3, Jesuit Hall Lane, Tianshui bridge, Tianshui street, Xiacheng District, Hangzhou

Longitude: 120.16637286544

Latitude: 30.269075109905

Chinese PinYin : Si Tu Lei Deng Gu Ju