- Rivercene Mansion B&B

RIVERCENE MANSION B&B
New Franklin
by SYLVIA FORBES
Back in the golden days of steamboating in the mid-19th century, Captain Joseph Kinney used the proceeds from a profitable riverboat trip to create a stately mansion fit for a captain. Built in 1869 at a cost of $50,000, it was thought to be the most lavish home built along the entire Missouri River. This three-story, second empire baroque mansion, located near New Franklin, has withstood floods and over a hundred years of families living inside its walls.

Kinney used the best materials available to build the house. For several years, he collected walnut logs along the Missouri River and shipped them to St. Louis to be milled into window and door frames, flooring, wainscoting, stair steps and other trim. The massive, ten-foot-tall, walnut front doors weigh 300 pounds, while the walnut and mahogany staircase in the front hall is put together without nails. The walls were constructed 15 inches thick, and water-resistant cypress and maple were used on the exterior. A slate roof edged with wrought iron and a wide porch across the front completed the picture.

Inside, 13 spacious rooms held Kinney’s large family, which included 11 children. Nine of the 11 fireplaces are made with white Italian marble, from the same quarry where Michelangelo obtained marble for his sculptures. Each of the fireplaces is hand-carved in a different design. In the front parlor, on the left side of the house, Kinney’s daughter, Cora, hand-painted native wildflowers around the room just below the cornice, creating a decorative border.

The room on the right side was Captain Kinney’s master suite. From here he took care of his wildly profitable riverboat business. Kinney was considered a pioneer, being the first to use sternwheelers on the Missouri, which made it easier to navigate the narrow upper portions of the river. At the time, the Missouri River flowed only 100 yards from the house, and Kinney had his own private wharf, making for a short walk home after a long riverboat trip.

When the Kinneys lived in the mansion, the interior décor was as opulent as the house itself. Rooms were furnished with the finest rosewood and mahogany antiques. Silver doorknobs graced interior walnut doors, while bronze gas chandeliers lit the house. A huge mahogany dining table could seat 40, the table set with 200 pieces of hand-painted china. Even the outhouse had a walnut seat. Only a few years after Rivercene was built, the state used it as a pattern for building the Governor’s Manson in Jefferson City.

Now a bed and breakfast inn, 10 bedrooms are available, each having its own bathroom. The honeymoon suite includes a heart-shaped Jacuzzi. Many overnight guests come to ride bicycles on the KATY trail, only a short distance from the house, but the home is also used for small weddings, luncheons and business meetings.

Current owners Bill and Merijo Alter have once again filled the home with antiques. Bill is a current state senator and former representative. Several pieces of furniture original to the Kinneys, including the Chickering piano and a massive table, still decorate the interior. Merijo enjoys changing decorations regularly according to seasons and holidays.

Today, the restored mansion is still a testament to gracious living, and has been listed on the National Historic Register.

For more information, visit www.rivercene.com/ .