"Every morning she made the rounds with her ever-patient foreman inspecting the latest progress. Some days she sketched plans on the spot using a saw-horse drawing table and any handy material, often brown wrapping paper (and used both sides). From the foreman came no argument, he had only the problem of interpretation. But glaring mistakes failed to discourage her and time was fleeting. Sarah simply ordered the error torn out, sealed up, built over, or around, or more likely, totally ignored. " ~ Lady of Mystery by Ralph Rambo, 1967

"She must be given due credit for inventiveness. Some of the built-in innovations were decades ahead of the times. Annunciators installed in all rooms could signal her whereabouts to the servants. Illuminating gas was manufactured by a new process directly on the grounds. She improvised a window catch patterned after the Winchester rifle trigger and trip-hammer. The mansion was one of the first to utilize wool insulation. Today's visitors are surprised by her years-ahead cornerplates on many stairways to prevent dust pockets. She invented an inside crank to open and close outside shutters. Her 47 fireplaces had the first hinged iron drops for ashes and concealed wood boxes. The tier of tubs in her immense laundry had moulded-in wash-boards." ~ Lady of Mystery by Ralph Rambo, 1967