▁fac ade ▁is ▁distinguished ▁by ▁a ▁porte - co ch ere ▁shelter ing ▁its ▁entrance , ▁and ▁an ▁arc aded ▁por ch ▁that ▁extends ▁across ▁the ▁width ▁and ▁around ▁the ▁sides . ▁ ▁The ▁roof ▁above ▁is ▁pier ced ▁by ▁three ▁g abled ▁d orm ers , ▁the ▁center ▁one ▁large ▁and ▁containing ▁three ▁wide ▁s ash ▁windows , ▁the ▁central ▁one ▁to pped ▁by ▁a ▁half - round ▁window . ▁ ▁Inside , ▁the ▁main ▁floor ▁is ▁divided ▁into ▁two ▁large ▁spaces , ▁separated ▁by ▁a ▁large ▁stone ▁fire place . ▁ ▁The ▁first ▁space ▁encountered ▁from ▁the ▁entrance ▁is ▁the ▁larger , ▁and ▁has ▁a ▁gallery ▁above ▁which ▁is ▁accessed ▁by ▁st airs ▁near ▁the ▁entrance . ▁ ▁The ▁space ▁to ▁the ▁rear , ▁originally ▁a ▁reading ▁room , ▁has ▁been ▁converted ▁into ▁an ▁a partment . ▁ ▁The ▁development ▁of ▁Sor rent o ▁was ▁begun ▁as ▁a ▁spec ulative ▁vent ure ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 8 8 0 s ▁by ▁business men ▁seeking ▁to ▁capital ize ▁on ▁the ▁popular ity ▁of ▁the ▁area ▁as ▁ev iden ced ▁by ▁the ▁success ▁of ▁nearby ▁Bar ▁Har bor . ▁ ▁A ▁hotel ▁and ▁a ▁number ▁of ▁elegant ▁summer ▁" c ott ages " ▁were ▁built ▁by ▁the ▁early ▁ 1 8 9 0 s , ▁and ▁rail ▁and ▁steam ship ▁service ▁to ▁the ▁area ▁was ▁arranged ▁by ▁Frank ▁Jones , ▁president ▁of ▁the ▁Boston ▁and ▁Maine ▁Rail road ▁and ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁vent ure ' s ▁major ▁invest ors . ▁ ▁Jones ▁was