"I dream't I dwelt in marble halls"
Devoted to the histories and current state of the great mansions of America's Gilded Age.

Monday, April 30, 2012

Fifth Avenue residence of Frank W. Woolworth



Frank W. Woolworth Mansion on Fifth Avenue & 80th Street.
HERE is a great link to a story about the mansion of Frank W. Woolworth's Fifth Avenue mansion that stood at Fifth Avenue & 80th Street. Included are rare floor plans!

Friday, April 27, 2012

J.P. Morgan, Jr. Residence at Glen Cove, New York

Mattinecock Point, The Long Island residence of J. P. Morgan, Jr. at Glen Cove, New York.
Here is an early view of the J. P. Morgan, Jr. estate on Morgan's Island. Click HERE to see more photos and to see it before it's demolition. Click HERE to read about the decline of the Gold Coast in Holiday Magazine.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Mrs. Astor Invites You to Join


Mrs. Astor receiving guests.
For anyone who has a facebook account, "Mansions of the Gilded Age" invites you to join it's group, "Mansions of the Gilded Age". If you are already a facebook account holder you probably belong to many groups and are often added by friends who think you would enjoy them. I belong to quite a few, either invited or added, but even I have to decide which ones I want to follow. One of the advantages about belonging to a group is that if you miss a posting by a friend in the morning or some other time of the day, it will also appear in the group, so that you can look at it anytime. "Mansions of the Gilded Age", has had a group for a while now, and I will be updating it more frequently, so as for those who miss a posting, you can go and look at it. It is also a wonderful place to read comments by other members, who often give links and information to more sources .Of course this blog will continue to present beautiful photos and more in-depth stories, but the group on facebook, can provide instantly breaking stories, such as the devastating fire that destroyed the, Bloomfield mansion in Villanova, Pennsylvania 2 weeks ago. You can also friend, Mansions of the Gilded Age on facebook.

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Veraton, The Cravath Estate at Lattingtown, New York.

Veraton II, The Current location of the Creek Club at Lattingtown, New York.
Veraton, The Lattingtown estate of Paul Cravath. This early 1900's estate was destroyed twice in huge fires and Mr. Cravath rebuit a 3rd Veraton on another property in Locust Valley. The site became the location for the prestigious "Creek Club", which is still there today. The entrance gates and allee still serve as the driveway to the new club buildings, which are off to the east. The site of the Cravath mansion remains empty. See it today on Bing Maps. Below is view of the first Veraton.
Veraton I, The first mansion of Paul Cravath which upon burning was replaced by the house above.

If you have a facebook account and love Gilded Age Mansions and  the social history of the era, please friend, " Gilded Age Mansions" on facebook. 

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

William Collins Whitney's Fifth Avenue Mansion


Corner of the Ballroom of the William Collins Whitney Fifth Avenue Mansion.
Floor Plan of the First Floor of William Collins Whitney's Fifth Avenue Mansion.
 Click HERE for more.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

John Jacob Astor's Titanic Fifth Avenue Mansion

The John Jacob Astor Mansion facing Central Park.
This palatial mansion which was located on Fifth Avenue & 65th Street was the home of John Jacob Astor, who was the richest man to die on the Titanic. The mansion's architect, Richard Morris Hunt designed  the house in 1893 to be a twin residence, that John Jacob and his family would  shared with his mother, Caroline Astor, THE Mrs. Astor, who was considered the Queen of Gilded Age Society.
One of two grand staircases.
The Grand Staircase upon which Mrs. Astor descended before parties, glittering like the great chandelier, since she was so heavily covered with diamonds. According to legend, Mrs. Astor in the last years of her life, would get all dressed up in her finest Worth gowns and put on her jewels and descend her stair and receive her guests, now long gone. Living in a dreamlike trance of her past great social events.
Mrs. Astor Greeting her guests during her reign.
The ballroom which could accommodate New York Society's, "400".
First floor plan of the house when it was lived in by Mrs. Astor and John Jacob Astor and his family. Even in the heyday of New York's, " Gilded Age" this mansion could be called, Titanic!


These plans show it as two houses, the corner one was for John Jacob Astor and his family, while the top part was for his mother. You can see twin grand staircases side by side. Both houses shared the Ballroom, which was the scene of Mrs. Astor's parties for New York Society's famous "400". After Mrs. Astor died in 1907, John Jacob Astor, hired the architectural firm of Carrere & Hastings to renovate the two houses into one. They removed the two staircases and made one large entrance  hall, with smaller staircases on either side. The main rooms of his mothers half were redone and the whole house became one of the largest mansions in New York. In 1910 he gave a party to unveil to, New York Society's 400 the newly transformed house, but unfortunately was not able to enjoy it for for long, dying on the Titanic in 1912. The house was then used by John Jacob Astor's son, Vincent and also by John Jacob Astor's widow Madeline who survived the sinking. Vincent Astor sold it in 1926 and the magnificent mansion was torn down and replaced by the ,Temple Emanuel.

Below are views of the newly redesigned mansion in 1910. 

Entrance Grill to Main Hall of the John Jacob Astor's Fifth Avenue Mansion.
 Main Hall of  John Jacob Astor's Fifth Avenue Mansion.
Mantle in the Main Hall of  John Jacob Astor's Fifth Avenue Mansion.
Reception Room of  John Jacob Astor's Fifth Avenue Mansion.
Reception Room of  John Jacob Astor's Fifth Avenue Mansion.
Entrance to Dining Room of  John Jacob Astor's Fifth Avenue Mansion.
Dining Room of  John Jacob Astor's Fifth Avenue Mansion.
Dining Room Mantle of  John Jacob Astor's Fifth Avenue Mansion.
Library of  John Jacob Astor's Fifth Avenue Mansion.
Library Mantle with Portrait of  John Jacob Astor.
Art Gallery/Ballroom of  John Jacob Astor's Fifth Avenue Mansion.
In 1926 before the house was demolished there was an auction of the contents, furnishings and architectural details. John Ringling, the head of the famous Ringling Brothers Circus was building a new mansion, Ca' d' Zan in Sarasota, Florida, purchased a few of the main floor rooms and furniture. He then used some of the furniture in his home and also installed the rooms in an annex to his home, which became the museum for his art collection. The rooms are still there today and can be viewed when visiting the museum. Click HERE to see the rooms.

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Oheka Castle and the Easter Egg Hunts with $1000.00 Bills

Aerial View of the Gardens of the Otto H. Kahn Estate, Oheka at Cold Spring Harbor, New York.
During the heyday of the Otto Kahn mansion, Oheka, it has been widely written that Mr. Kahn gave an annual Easter Egg Hunt where each egg was supposedly stuffed with $1000.00 bill.
http://www.oheka.com/

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Bloomfield Mansion at Villanova Suffers Devastating Fire

Bloomfield before yesterday's devastating  fire.
Click HERE to see current photos from the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Click HERE to see yesterdays posting with links to color photos of the house before the fire and floor plans.
Click HERE to see it on youtube before the fire.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Bloomfield Mansion at Villanova Burns

Bloomfield before Wednesdays Fire.
The once beautiful Philadelphia Main Line estate's mansion known as Bloomfield, located at Villanova, in Radnor Township, Pennsylvania suffered a devastating fire on Wednesday. Click HERE for fire coverage. This stately French Chateau style home with landscaping designed by the Olmsted Brothers, was redesigned by famed Philadelphia architect, Horace Trumbauer in 1923. It is featured in the book, American Splendor by Michael C. Kathrens. To see the house with floor plans it can be seen in a preview at Acanthus Press. The house has been for sale recently and views of it with interiors can be seen HERE. Hopefully the fire did not destroy the house entirely, but more will be known tomorrow.

Click HERE to see the Bloomfield estate mansion on Bing Maps.

Click HERE for video of the mansion engulfed.

Southampton Vs. Newport

Newport, Rhode Island, is a summer resort to which thousands of the wealthy throng each year to strive for social recognition.  Southampton, Long Island, is a quiet seaside village whither a few hundred of the old New York aristocracy go each summer to get away from Newport and all it signifies.  Newport is rich and blatantly proud of it.  Southampton is wealthy and gives the matter little or no concern.  Newport is a battleground for those who have social campaigns to wage.  Southampton is a resting place for men and women who have never found it necessary to fight or buy their way into society. 
                                       
               The above passage is from,
This book written in 1924 by Mrs. Van Rensselaer is one of the best books that chronicles the era of the, " Gilded Age".  Her reflections on the era from someone who like  Edith Wharton lived through it are insightful. The book covers not only Southampton and Newport, but  gives a complete analysis of High Society in the Gilded Age.  During the, "Gilded Age", Newport was always considered the, "Queen of Resorts" and all the other resorts of the era where often  compared to Newport. Southampton, which in this time was often called the, " Little Newport".

Click HERE for another amusing story about Southampton and Newport.
Click HERE for a great story about Newport Society.

Monday, April 2, 2012

Artistic Painter of Decorative Plaster Moulding

Here are some samplesof the work of artistic painter, Arthur P. Butler. He is from Canada and has done amazing work on many historic and new homes and buildings. Please take a look at his website to view more of his wonderful work!



Born in Ireland. I apprenticed for five years to my father to learn my trade. I worked with him for 23years. While we did all manner of work associated with the painting trade our first love was the enhancing of ornate details in a home.

I moved to Canada in 1996 and continue to hold true to the policy that “You are only as good as your last job” My work is a step out of the ordinary as it turns wall panels, cornice mouldings and centerpieces into a piece of art on your ceiling. Inspiration can come from any source be it curtain material, furniture, carpet or china. I enjoy the look on a clients face when they see how their ceiling comes alive with colour. I paint in the style of Architect Robert Adam (1728–1792) to help create an ornate and traditional mood within a room I listen to classical music and opera while working. My work is custom to each client and is not repeated. Similar mouldings will receive a different treatment. I use Estate Emulsion by Farrow & Ball. The matt finish and depth of colour achieves this classic style.

I am a Professional Member Artisan, The Institute of Classical Architecture & Art www.classicist.org

The Hamilton Spectator featured my work under the heading “Taking ceilings back to a more classical time” By Sandy Bunyan, March 11, 2006.

Arthur P. Butler, Artist. By Kevin Somers, Raise The Hammer. April 8, 2010.

Arthur P. Butler
Artistic Painting of Decorative Plaster Moulding
Telephone 905-574-3925

I look forward to creating your “special place



        


Raise the Titanic

HERE is a clip from the movie, Raise the Titanic". It was made before the ship was found on the ocean floor. It was once thought to be believed that the Titanic, sank to the bottom of the ocean in one piece and that since it was so deep and cold and that no marine life could live that far deep, so that it would not be rotted. Many thought that if it was ever found, that it would be like a sunken mansion. Some even thought that if ever found, the gash that sank it could be even closed up and the ship could be re-floated. One theory was that you could fill it up with ping pong balls! For those who are knowledgeable about the ship, the interiors of the ship used in the movie are not like those on the Titanic, but I do love the scene where they walk into the ballroom, with all the furniture just wet and soggy and in disarray. It seems like a silly movie now, but worth watching. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQkY-RVg4eM&list=FLLRaafZ3tixJSm48C61L0WQ&index=1&feature=plpp_video
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