The wealthy and worldly Chinese often erected homes in the western style. Despite all the trappings of western affluence, however, almost always tucked away, in this case on the roof, was an ancestor hall, containing the family altar surmounted by pictures of deceased family members-thus a foot in both worlds.

A Chinese manufacturer of hats built the residence at the left to accommodate his five wives, each having her own suite of rooms. Designed in Art Moderns style in the late 1940's, this house nonetheless managed to incorporate traditional Chinese lion dogs on the roof.

Its elaborate garden is now much overgrown, but still in existence are portions of the carp tanks which were faced with hand-painted tiles depicting scenes of country life.

The sons and several of their mothers still share the residence.