Mansions of the Gilded Age

Whitemarsh Hall after Demolition

2012-02-12T07:40:00.000-08:00

Whitemarsh Hall, The Edward Stotesbury Estate.

I have never been able to find an expression in words for the majestic simplicity and beauty of the new house, which is so satisfying, so thrilling in its loveliness that it sometimes brings tears my eyes when I see it in the moonlight.

This was from a letter which Eva Stotesbury wrote to her Architect, Horace Trumbauer upon moving into the magnificent 140 room mansion called " Whitemarsh Hall". Tears of sadness would now come to her eyes if she saw that very little today remains of her home, demolished in the 1980's after being ravaged by vandals and set on fire.
Here are some views of Whitemarsh Hall after it was demolished and before the land was developed into townhouses. I was unfortunately never there before to see it standing. I was there in late afternoon and wish I had been there earlier. If one were to come up with a number of the mansions that have been demolished, I am sure it would be in the thousands. As an architect, I know how much work goes into designing, constructing, landscaping and decorating any home. To think of all the craftsmen laboring carving stone, hoisting it up, in pre-machinery days. The painters getting it just right, the time to chose the fabrics , the moving of mature trees and planting of flower beds. I could go on and on. If you chose to share them, please credit, Courtesy of the Gary Lawrance Collection and Mansions of the Gilded Age, http://garylawrance.blogspot.com/

Entrance Portico at Whitemarsh Hall

View of the front facade of Whitemarsh Hall after being demolished.

Architectural sculpture scattered about the site of Whitemarsh Hall.

Entrance drive to Whitemarsh Hall after demolition.

Rear terrace showing one of the flanking reclining ladies after demolition of Whitemarsh Hall.

Architectural sculpture of the demolished mansion, Whitemarsh Hall.

Reclining ladies at Whitemarsh hall after demolition.

Sculptured plaque from the demolished Whitemarsh Hall.

Rear terrace looking towards the entrance columns of the demolished Whitemarsh Hall.

More architectural sculpture of the demolished mansion.

Another view of Whitemarsh Halls rear terrace after demolition.

Click HERE for the best website devoted to Whitemarsh Hall. If you are a member of facebook, there are two groups there, Fans of Whitemarsh Hall and Remembering Whitemarsh Hall. Also I post on my Facebook, Gilded Age Mansions, so please friend it if you like. I have other pages and groups related to Gilded Age Mansions, so click HERE if you would like to find out more about them.

Looking Back at Manhattan's Lost Gilded Age Mansions

2012-02-10T19:13:00.000-08:00

The William Salomon mansion at 1020 Fifth Avenue

Click HERE to read this great article in Curbed New York, about the lost mansions of New York City, such as the Cornelius Vanderbilt mansion on 57th Street. The William K Vanderbilt mansion at 660 Fifth Avenue and the Senator Clark mansion along with many others. Click HERE to read about the William Salomon mansion at 1020 Fifth Avenue.

The Private Rich

2012-02-03T05:48:00.000-08:00

Here is an interesting book which contains rarely seen photographs of the rich in their homes, resorts and just lounging about. Yachts, Tennis, Travel, Parties, Debutantes, Polo, Gardens, Horses, Fox Hunting. The world of Palm Beach, Newport, Southampton, The Riviera. It is a small book and the stories are fictitious, but intertwined amongst beautiful images of the rich at play. This book presents an authentic picture of the Downton Abbey, Gatsby and Ralph Lauren lifestyles. F. Scott Fitzgerald in his novel, The Great Gatsby, said about his characters, Tom Buchanan & Daisy Buchanan, " They had spent a year in France for no particular reason, and then drifted here and there unrestfully, wherever people played polo and were rich together.” This book is like a wonderful scrapbook put together by Uncle Willy and Aunt Babs. I would recommend it for those who are real devotees of the subject.

While researching this I found this fun blog, Stuff WASPs Like.

The Private Rich, A Family Album/ Stories by Peter Rand and photographs edited by Elizabeth Bird,Crown Publishers, Inc., New York.

Click HERE to see it on Amazon and read more about it.

"Mansions of the Gilded Age" on facebook

2012-02-02T06:21:00.000-08:00

The above mansion is Lynnewood Hall located near Philadelphia and still standing. There is a group on facebook called, Save Lynnewood Hall.

If you love Gilded Age Mansions and the architecture and social history of this era, please friend, " Gilded Age Mansions" on facebook. http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002918473051

Here is the photo album to my wall,
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.115857611854854.21316.100002918473051&type=3&l=4323ec1b87

which should be accessible to those with out facebook accounts. Please forgive some repeated photos, but that is how they appear.

If you would like to read more, please join my group on facebook, "Mansions of the Gilded Age", http://www.facebook.com/groups/195023140518735/ .

I do research everyday for ongoing projects and find numerous interesting, blogs, sites and photos about Gilded Age mansions and the era. You will find more at the group which you can read anytime. Also more extensive coverage of many of these houses and estates are featured in my Blogs, "Mansions of the Gilded Age",http://garylawrance.blogspot.com/ and Houses of the Hamptons http://housesofthehamptons.blogspot.com/

I have also just created a facebook bookstore page for "Mansions of the Gilded Age", in which I will be posting favorite books, movies and media about Gilded Age mansions and the families that lived in them. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mansions-of-the-Gilded-Age/346091208739642 .

Thank you all for your great interest in these historic structures and it is through places like facebook and blogs that we can all share and make others aware of our architectural heritage.

The Gilded Age Millionaires

2012-01-24T06:02:00.000-08:00

Here is a 1912 story from McClures Magazine that tells about the owners of New York.

The Gates to Knollwood

2012-01-12T06:51:00.000-08:00

The gates to Knollwood.

Here is a great photo of the gates to the Hudson estate in Muttontown, Long Island. The mansion has been long torn down and the property is now a nature preserve and until recently the gates where in ruins. They have just been restored. Click HERE to see the story. For more on the estate please go to, Old Long Island.

Here are a few more pictures.

Gates with the Meadow Brook Hunt in front of them. Reminds one of a scene right from Downton Abbey, which many of the Gold Coast estate owners aspired to recreate the English Country life.

Knollwood from the Garden.

Long Island Gold Coast Mansions of the Great Gatsby Era on Ebay.

2012-01-10T18:24:00.000-08:00

Click HERE to see a nice selection of images being auctioned on Ebay.

The Henry Cook Mansion

2012-01-09T09:58:00.000-08:00

Take a look HERE to see the interiors and floor plans of this magnificent urban mansion designed by Stanford White on New York City's Upper Fifth Avenue.

Click HERE and HERE for more.

Mrs. Astor and The 400

2012-01-02T06:14:00.000-08:00

Here is a great drawing of Mrs. Astor holding court in her mansion on Fifth Avenue.

Click HERE to see her mansion with floor plans and HERE for her ballroom.

Long Island Society

2011-12-26T05:05:00.000-08:00

Click HERE for a great article about Long Island's North Shore society which I posted last year. For those who missed it , it is a wonderful story with rare photographs!

"Mansions of the Gilded Age" on facebook

2011-12-19T07:01:00.000-08:00

If you love Gilded Age Mansions and the architecture and social history of this era, please friend, " Gilded Age Mansions" on facebook. http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002918473051

If you would like to read more, please join my group on facebook, "Mansions of the Gilded Age", http://www.facebook.com/groups/195023140518735/ .

Thank you all for your great interest in these historic structures and it is through places like facebook and blogs that we can all share and make others aware of our architectural heritage.

Whitemarsh Hall, The Estate of Edward and Eva Cromwell Stotesbury.

2011-12-18T05:51:00.000-08:00


The garden at Whitemarsh Hall

Whitemarsh Hall was one of the masterpieces of architect Horace Trumbauer. The building of this mansion from the ground up,to it's horrible demolition can be viewed, HERE at this wonderful website devoted to it!

Seaview Terrace, Newport, Rhode Island

2011-12-13T06:06:00.000-08:00

Also known as, Collinwood, the ancestral home of the Collins Family from the 1960s Gothic Soap Opera, "Dark Shadows"

Please follow this page, Edson Bradley's, "Seaview Terrace" on Facebook. It is written by aperson who has spent years documenting it.

Guess which mansion was here?

2011-12-11T08:03:00.000-08:00

The site of one of the great mansions of the Gilded Age.

To find out and read about the evolution and destruction of this magnificent mansion join my group, Mansions of the Gilded Age on Facebook. You can also friend, Gilded Age Mansions on Facebook. I will be posting a more expanded story about this house shortly here.

Newport Mansions

2011-12-02T06:02:00.000-08:00

Take a look at this wonderful collection of over 700 postcards from the archives of Salve Regina College at Newport, Rhode Island. The College is located in the former Ogden Goelet mansion, Ochre Court designed by Richard Morris Hunt and is considered the largest mansion in Newport after the Breakers.

Postcards
Ochre Court
For more daily updates on Gilded Age Mansions, please friend, Gilded Age Mansions on Facebook!

" Manners for the Metropolis"

2011-11-29T05:03:00.000-08:00

Isn't this a great picture! It is from a 1910 tongue in cheek book about Gilded Age etiquette. The book is called, " Manners for the Metropolis" An entrance key to the fantastic life of the 400. It's very funny and gives helpful hints for behaving amongst Mrs. Astor's set!

Click HERE to buy on Amazon Books.

Click HERE to read snippets.

Demolished Mansions of the Gilded Age

2011-11-23T04:10:00.000-08:00

J.P. Morgan, Jr. Mansion, Glen Cove, New York

J.P. Morgan, Jr. Mansion Before Demolition

J.P. Morgan, Jr. Mansion at Glen Cove, Long Island, New York before it's demolition by dynamite in the early 1980s.

Click HERE for more

Click HERE to read about, AMERICA'S DOOMED MANSIONS in Forbes.

Below are some of the great mansions of the, " Gilded Age" that have been destroyed.

Please look through " Mansions of the Gilded Age" blog for more and to read about the ones here or click on the captions to go directly.

Cornelius Vanderbilt II Mansion, Fifth Avenue, NY

Land's End, Sands Point, NY

Mark Hopkins Mansion, Nob Hill, San Francisco, CA

C.K.G. Billings Mansion named Farnsworth at, Locust Valley, NY

Villa Mille Fiore, Southampton, NY

Sargeant Cram Estate, Old Westbury, NY

Harbor Hill, Roslyn, NY

Jay Gould's Mansion, Fifth Avenue, NY

Ragtime

2011-11-11T04:09:00.000-08:00

Fifth Avenue & 58th Street

Here is a great movie called Ragtime. It's takes place in the early 1900's at the height of New York's, "Gilded Age".

" Who killed Society"

2011-11-07T04:44:00.000-08:00

A great must read book about " Gilded Age Society" by Cleveland Amory!

Click HERE to buy on Amazon.

The Mark Hopkins Mansion, San Francisco

2011-11-04T05:00:00.000-07:00

The Mark Hopkins Mansion on Nob Hill, San Francisco.

The Mark Hopkins mansion on Nob Hill, San Francisco. One of the most elaborate Victorian mansions ever built. Destroyed in the aftermath of the great earthquake of 1906.
Click HERE for more.

For more links, Please go to Facebook and friend, Gilded Age Mansions.

Pembroke, Glen Cove Long Island

2011-10-28T08:44:00.000-07:00

Pembroke

Click HERE to see a great black and white photo of the same view on Old Long Island.

Daytonian in Manhattan: The 1905 James A. Burden Jr. House -- No. 7 East 9...

2011-10-24T04:31:00.000-07:00

Daytonian in Manhattan: The 1905 James A. Burden Jr. House -- No. 7 East 9...: photo by Americasroof In 1898 Andrew Carnegie surprised New York’s wealthy class when he chose to buy land at 91 st Street for his new m...

The Isacc Fletcher Mansion at Fifth Avenue & 79th Street

2011-10-24T04:29:00.000-07:00

Photo from Wikipedia

Follow these links to read more about it.

Daytonian in Manhattan
Scouting New York
Wikipedia

Daytonian in Manhattan: The Gertrude Rhinelander Waldo Mansion

2011-10-24T04:28:00.000-07:00

Daytonian in Manhattan: The Gertrude Rhinelander Waldo Mansion: Without a doubt, the tale of the grand limestone chateau on Madison Avenue at 72nd Street is the one of the most bizarre in New York social ...

1020 Fifth Avenue, New York

2011-10-18T09:38:00.000-07:00

1020 Fifth Avenue at 87th Street

Click HERE to read in today's New York Times about 1020 Fifth Avenue.
Click HERE to see the magnificent mansion of William Salomon that it replaced at 87th Street and Fifth Avenue.

Winifred Bird and Farnsworth

2011-10-16T06:41:00.000-07:00

The organ hall at Farnsworth.

Click HERE to read about the mysterious death of Winifred Bird in Time Magazine.
Click HERE to read a newspaper article from google books about her death also.
Click HERE to see more about Farnsworth, her mansion at Locust Valley.

Please friend, Gilded Age Mansions on facebook for more links to Farnsworth and daily updates on Mansions of the Gilded Age.

"The Twilight of Splendor" by James Maher

2011-10-10T17:42:00.000-07:00

Click HERE to buy on Ebay!

"Sunken Orchard", Oyster Bay, New York

2011-10-10T04:28:00.000-07:00

Archives of American Gardens Collection

"Sunken Orchard", Oyster Bay, New York

2011-10-08T06:47:00.000-07:00

Click HERE to see more views of Sunken Orchard at Oyster Bay at the Archives of American Gardens Collection.

The Orchard, James Breese Estate at Southampton, New York

2011-09-30T05:05:00.000-07:00

The Orchard, Southampton, New York

Click HERE for a great article in Country Life in America, when the Orchard was considered one of the twelve best country houses in America. To read more about the Orchard and James Breese, please become a friend of, " Gilded Age Mansions" on Facebook, for daily stories about, " Mansions of the Gilded Age".

Louis Armstrong- High Society

2011-09-28T15:30:00.000-07:00

THE GREAT GATSBY- PARTY AT GATSBY'S HQ

2011-09-28T15:12:00.000-07:00

Who Wants to be a Millionaire

2011-09-28T15:06:00.000-07:00

Ноlidaу (1938) 5/10

2011-09-28T15:04:00.000-07:00

Mansions of the Gilded Age facebook

2011-09-28T06:20:00.000-07:00

If you have a face book account, please friend, Gilded Age Mansions for daily news about Mansions of the Gilded Age and High Society. It is really easy to set up an account and you are not obligated to share anything you don't want to or even acquire friends. There is also a " Mansions of the Gilded Age group on Face Book you can join.

Seaview Terrace, Newport, Rhode Island

2011-09-27T05:06:00.000-07:00

Seaview Terrace in Newport, Rhode Island. The house is most famous for being used as the setting for Collinwood, in the 1960s, Gothic soap opera, " Dark Shadows".

Click HERE to see more.

Whitemarsh Hall Photographs

2011-09-24T08:13:00.000-07:00

Click HERE to see a nice series of photographs of the Stotesbury mansion, " Whitemarsh Hall ".

Mayor Bloomberg's New Southampton House Ballyshear

2011-09-20T07:03:00.000-07:00


Ballyshear

Please click HERE to read about Ballyshear on, Houses of the Hamptons and follow the link to New York Social Diary's story about the estate including floor plans.

Ogden Mills Mansion at Staatsburgh, New York

2011-09-18T06:30:00.000-07:00

The Ogden Mills Mansion

Click HERE to read about the Ogden Mills mansion. One of the great houses on the Hudson!

"The Great Gatsby Mansions"

2011-09-12T09:11:00.000-07:00

Center Court of Farnsworth, Home of C. K. G. Billings at Locust Valley

Please click HERE to find out more about my upcoming talk!

Click HERE for more on Farnsworth.

Click HERE for Farnsworth on Old Long Island.

Carleton Villa Visit 2003 > Thousand Islands Life Magazine > Thousand Islands Life Magazine All Archives

2011-09-11T18:43:00.000-07:00

Carleton Villa Visit 2003 > Thousand Islands Life Magazine > Thousand Islands Life Magazine All Archives

Duke Semans Mansion Sold for $44 Million | Gilded Life

2011-09-11T13:56:00.000-07:00

Duke Semans Mansion Sold for $44 Million | Gilded Life

The New Yorker & Elm Court

2011-09-11T13:20:00.000-07:00

NewYorker

Click HERE for more about Elm Court and HERE.

"The Great Gatsby Mansions"

2011-09-11T09:43:00.000-07:00

On September 15, at 7pm, I will be giving a talk at the Port Jefferson Village Center on the mansions that were said to have been the inspiration for F. Scott Fitzgerald when writing his novel, " The Great Gatsby". Click HERE to read more about the talk on a previous post and click HERE to go to the Port Jefferson Village Center website for directions and information.

Gilded Age Mansions on facebook

2011-09-11T08:18:00.000-07:00

Go to facebook and join, Gilded Age Mansions, I will be posting interesting items that I find on ebay, that others might enjoy. Also will be a place to share with others and find out more things about Gilded Age Mansions from other groups, people and organizations! I will try to keep the posts to Gilded Age Mansion related information, but please post anything you would like to share.

THE DUSTMAN'S DREAM OF HOME! - British Pathe

2011-09-07T14:40:00.000-07:00

Take a look at this video about Oheka Castle when it was a resort for the New York Sanitation Department.
THE DUSTMAN'S DREAM OF HOME! - British Pathe

Click HERE to see Oheka.

The Greenhouse at Lyndhurst

2011-09-04T16:07:00.000-07:00

Ruined greenhouse circa 1970

The greenhouse at the Jay Gould estate, Lyndhurst in Tarrytown, New York was at one time considered the largest and best equipped greenhouse in America. It's predecessor was even more fantastic with a towering spire. The first greenhouse burned to the ground and was replaced by this one. Designed by Lord & Burnham, the greenhouse specialist of the "Gilded Age", it housed one of the best orchid collections in the United States. Jay Gould who owned Lyndhurst from the 1880s was a notorious Robber Baron and was not welcome in, " Society". But when he was not causing financial turmoil on Wall Street, he puttered in his rose garden and greenhouse. One woman at the time is to have said, "Surely a man cannot be altogether bad who is a friend of the roses" The greenhouse was maintained in its glory up until about the 1940s when Anna Gould, the Duchess de Talleyrand , returned from France and to Lyndhurst. In 1945 she sold off the famous orchid collection. Anna Gould died in 1961 and willed Lyndhurst to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Trust opened the property to the public shortly after Anna's death and has been restoring the estate ever since. The greenhouse is stabilized and will hopefully be restored to its former glory someday.

I had visited the estate when it first opened in the late 1960s and found it to be a haunting overgrown place with many of the outbuildings fallen into decay and ruin.The grounds were covered with all kinds of statuary and the bowling alley was a wreck, as was the greenhouse. I have seen pictures of the house right after the National Trust got it and it was filled to the ceiling with French palace furniture. Anna Gould when she left France during the war, brought much of furniture with her and must have used Lyndhurst and its many outbuildings as storehouses. When at Lyndhurst she left it mostly as it had been since her fathers time and slept in her small childhood tower room.

Two views of Anna Gould's furniture at the top of the tower stairs.

Please click the following links for more on Lyndhurst.

Lyndhurst estate in Tarrytown

New York Social Diary

New York Times

Anna Gould

George Gould Townhouse

Jay Gould Townhouse

Lyndhurst as a movie setting for, " Dark Shadows"

In the movie, House of Dark Shadows and its sequel, Night of Dark Shadows, there are many scenes filmed at the ruined greenhouse, poolhouse and stables. Both great films to see unopen parts of the main house too.

"Mansions in the Movies"

2011-08-31T12:27:00.000-07:00

Grey Gardens at East Hampton

Click HERE for, " Hooked on Houses" to see many of the mansions we all loved from the movies and TV Shows. Some of the houses, real and sets are from, The Adams Family, Brideshead Revisited filmed at Castle Howard, The Beales Grey Gardens, Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House and Manderly from Rebecca.

Stuart Blackton, Harbourwood

2011-08-27T05:56:00.000-07:00

Click HERE to read about J. Stuart Blackton and his Oyster Bay Cove estate, Harbourwood. Click HERE to read todays story in Newsday.

Mrs. Astor & the Gilded Age

2011-08-24T06:30:00.000-07:00

Grand Staircase of Mrs. Astor's Fifth Avenue mansion

Click HERE to read part 1 about Mrs. Astor and her world on the New York Social Diary.

Click HERE to read part 2 about Mrs. Astor and her world on the New York Social Diary.

Click the following for more on Mrs. Astors Fifth Avenue mansion at 65th street.

Mrs. Astor's grand staircase.

Floor plans of the Astor's Fifth Avenue mansion.

"Phenomenal Places" Architect Creates Teeny, Tiny Models of Houses in the Hamptons

2011-08-07T06:49:00.000-07:00

Claverack/Keewaydin Architectural model of a historic Southampton residence renovated by Architect, Francis Fleetwood of East Hampton.

Please click HERE for Curbed National's review of the exhibit at the Southampton Historical Museum, " Phenomenal Places" Architectural models by architect,Gary Lawrance, A.I.A.
The exhibit displays a dozen architectural models of beautiful Long Island homes, many built in the Hamptons by local prominent architects such as, Francis Fleetwood, Preston Phillips, Kitty McCoy, Peter Cook and Frank Greenwald.

Follow these links for more about the exhibit.

Curbed Hamptons, Tiny Houses Almost as Expensive as the Real Thing.
Newsday, Where all the best homes start- as scale models.
Southampton Press, A View from Above: " Phenomenal Places", The Models of Gary Lawrance

Click HERE to go to Old Long Island to find out more about, Claverack Keewaydin which is also featured in " Houses of the Hamptons, 1880-1930" by Gary Lawrance & Anne Surchin Acanthus Press 2007

The Vanderbilt Family

2011-07-26T05:26:00.000-07:00

Iron Gate detail at the Breakers

Click HERE to read about the Vanderbilt family in a 1964 article "The Splendor of a Great Family" from Life magazine.

Ballyshear, Southampton New York

2011-07-22T05:03:00.000-07:00

Ballyshear shortly after completion

Ballyshear is one of the last great estates ever built in the Hamptons "Gilded Age". Originally set upon vast acreage with commanding views of the bay it is still today one of the finest properties in the Hamptons.
It has been reported that New York City's Mayor Michael Bloomberg has recently purchased the estate.
The estate has also been featured in the recent book, "Houses of the Hamptons, 1880-1930", by Gary Lawrance & Anne Surchin Acanthus Press 2007.

Please follow the links below to read more about Ballyshear, Please visit my other blog, Houses of the Hamptons for more great homes and estates.

Curbed Hamptons
Houses of the Hamptons, 1880-1930 as reviewed on New York Social Diary
Today's review of Ballyshear on New York Social Diary
Old Long Island

Pensmore Mansion, Missouri

2011-07-19T06:15:00.000-07:00

Click HERE to read on " Homes of the Rich" about one of the largest mansions in America being built today. it is called Pensmore and is located outside Kansas City. When completed it will be almost 72,000 Square feet and will join older " Gilded Age" mansions as one of the largest homes in America. Follow the links below for more on Pensmore.

News-Leader.com
New York Times

Beautiful Gardens in America, By Louise Shelton

2011-07-14T05:48:00.000-07:00

The Garden at Wooldon Manor, Southampton, New York

Click HERE to view this important book about many of the great gardens of the,"Gilded Age", including Southampton's, " Wooldon Manor", when owned by Dr. Peter Wyckoff, James Breese's, " The Orchard",

Newport and many of the great gardens all around the country circa 1915.

Two Miles of Millionaires, New York's Upper Fifith Avenue Mansions

2011-06-04T09:04:00.000-07:00

William C. Whitney Mansion Ballroom

Click HERE to read a great article in Munsey's Magazine about the great mansions that lined upper Fifth Avenue during the Gilded Age circa 1898. While just a few years before Senator William Clark would build his enormous mansion at 960 Fifth Avenue, this article gives a great contemporary view.

Click HERE to read more about Senators Clark mansion and the house that Heiress Huguette Clark grew up in.

Click HERE to read, " Huguette Clark's ' Worthless' Girlhood Home, by Christopher Gray in the New York Times. Click HERE for interiors of the Clark Mansion.

The Linden Estate, Ox Pasture Road, Southampton, New York

2011-06-04T07:49:00.000-07:00

Click on the link below to view a virtual tour of this magnificent estate, one of the great homes of the Hamptons.
Corcoran - 160 Ox Pasture Road, Southampton

More links below,
Full listing at Corcoran make sure you click on full screen for best results.
Exotic Excess

"Behind Mansion Walls"

2011-06-02T05:30:00.000-07:00

Click HERE to watch a promo of the new TV series, " Behind Mansion Walls" It's going to be about murders of the rich and famous. Notice in the promo how they use the side of "The Breakers" in Newport and have it facing the gates.

The Edward S. Harkness Fifth Avenue Mansion at 75th Street

2011-05-28T14:15:00.000-07:00

Click HERE to go to the Harkness House site.

Senator William Clark Mansion, Fifth Avenue New York

2011-05-28T14:05:00.000-07:00

The phenomenal mansion of Senator William Andrews Clark at Fifth Avenue and Seventy Seventh Street.
Considered to be the largest and most opulent mansion along New York' Fifth Avenue, " Millionaires Row".

Here is a little pun about the Clark mansion written at the time of it's construction.

"Senator Copper of Tonopah Ditch made a clean billion in minin' and sich. Hiked for New York, where his money he blew, bildin' a palace on Fift' Avenoo. 'How,' says the Senator, 'kin I look proudest? Build me a house that'll holler the loudest. None of your slab-sided, plain mossyleums! Gimme the treasures of art 'an museums! ...

Build it new-fangled, scalloped and angled, fine like a weddin' cake garnished with pills. Gents, do your duty, trot out your beauty. Gimme my money's worth, I'll pay the bills.' Pillars Ionic, eaves Babylonic, doors cut in scallops resemblin' a shell. Roof was Egyptian, gables caniptian. Whole grand effect when completed was — hell." — Wallace Irwin, 1912

Click HERE for the history of the Mansion and family.
Floor Plans of the Clark Mansion
Interiors of the Clark Mansion at the Museum of the City of New York
Read MORE on New York Social Diary
960 Fifth Avenue today
Early Exterior of the Mansion
Completion of the Mansion
Demolition of the Clark Mansion

Senator William Clark Mansion, Childhood Home of Huguette Clark

2011-05-25T06:29:00.000-07:00

Here are some great links to the history of the Senator William Clark mansion which was located on 77th Street and Fifth Avenue. It was at the time of construction considered to be the grandest and most ostentatious mansion in New York City. It was this house that mysterious heiress Huguette Clark lived as a child.

Wikipedia about house
Wikipedia about Senator Clark
The Salon Dore
Huguette Clark
Architectural Record
New York Times story on the death of Huguette Clark

Grey Gardens, East Hampton

2011-05-23T05:59:00.000-07:00

Click HERE for a wonderful blog about " Grey Gardens" on," Houses of the Hamptons"

Chestertown House, Southampton, New York

2011-05-21T08:26:00.000-07:00

Click HERE to read about the Henry F. du Pont house at Southampton on, "Houses of the Hamptons"

Long Island Landscapes and the Women Who Designed Them

2011-05-08T08:27:00.000-07:00

Author to Speak on Landscapes of Long Island’s Great Estates

The Southampton Historical Museum will host Cynthia Zaitzevsky, author of Long Island Landscapes and the Women Who Designed Them on May 20 at The Meadow Club, Southampton. The book is an account of eminent women landscape architects who flourished in the golden age of country estates. All proceeds will benefit the Halsey House herb garden.

The beautiful book covers in depth the work of Beatrix Farrand, Martha Hutcheson, Marian Coffin, Ellen Shipman, Ruth Dean, and Annette Hoyt Flanders and looks at a dozen other less-well-known women. It focuses on the Long Island projects that constituted a large part of their work including Marian Coffin’s designs for Henry Francis du Pont’s Chestertown in Southampton and Charles and Pauline Sabin’s Sebonac estate, Bayberry Land. Ms. Zaitzevsky brings these pioneering women to life as people and as professionals.

The Meadow Club, which celebrated its centennial in 1987, was the first of Southampton’s fabled clubs and has been at the center of the sporting and social life of Southampton’s summer residents ever since. The club boasts a handsome, historic clubhouse and its 36 magnificent grass tennis courts are unrivaled anywhere outside of Wimbledon.

Ms. Zaitzevsky, an historian of architecture and landscape architecture, received her PhD from Harvard University’s Department of Fine Arts and taught the history of landscape architecture at Harvard’s Landscape Institute. She is the author of Frederick Law Olmstead and the Boston Park System. (1982).

The lecture will begin at 11:30 am, immediately followed by a luncheon. The price to attend the lecture is $35 or $75 including the luncheon. For tickets or information please call the Southampton Historical Museum at 283-2494. Southampton Historical Museum

Lost Houses of the Hamptons

2011-05-01T08:15:00.000-07:00

On May 7th 2011, I will be speaking at the Southampton Historical Museum about some of the great mansions of the Hamptons that no longer exist. They will include, Wooldon Manor, the home of Jesse Woolworth Donahue, Black Point, the H. H. Rogers mansion, Bayberry Land, The Duponts Chestertown House, Villa Mille Fiore, Red Maples and a brief history of the founding of the Summer colony. This event is being sponsored by the Southampton Historical Museum, The Rogers Memorial Library and the AIA Peconic. Please click HERE for reservations. To read about some of the Lost Houses of the Hamptons, please click HERE for New York Social Diary's review of " Houses of the Hamptons, 1880 -1930".

Wooldon Manor

Bayberry Land

Villa Mille Fiore

John Sargeant Cram Estate

2011-04-30T16:44:00.000-07:00

The John Sargeant Cram estate at Old Westbury, New York was built around 1900 and was destroyed by fire and demolished in the early 1980s.

The Menace of Privilege

2011-04-27T15:16:00.000-07:00

Click HERE for an interesting book, The Menace of Privilege by Henry George about the "Gilded Age" rich.

The Harry and Leona Helmsley Estate Dunnellen Hall, Greenwich Ct.

2011-04-26T05:43:00.000-07:00

The Greenwich Connecticut estate of Harry & Leona Helmsley, called Dunnellen Hall which recently sold also had an auction of its magnificent contents. Click the following links to read about the house and auction.

Luxist
Luxury Portfolio
New York Daily News
Real Estalker
Wikipedia

Herbert Bayard Swope of Lands End

2011-04-25T14:32:00.000-07:00

Here are two nice photos of Herbert Bayard Swope and his brother Gerard from the Ray & Judith Spinzia Collection and a great article about Herbert Swope.

Herbert Bayard Swope

Gerard Swope, Herbert's brother

The fourth owner of Browning’s estate, Herbert Bayard Swope, Sr., was described by Westbrook Peglar as “all gall divided into three parts.” Others described him as someone who strutted and fretted; some thought him pompous. He was unquestionably solemn and talked a lot but was unable to participate in small talk.

He almost never laughed and was capable of extraordinary kindness or extreme rudeness. Outwardly, he was stately, suave, and unshakably self-confident. Inwardly, he was in constant turmoil and thin-skinned, perceiving real and imagined slights.

An avid party-giver, who insisted that everyone rise when he entered the room, Swope’s parties at his Sands Point estate have often erroneously cited as the model for Jay Gatsby’s parties. Since Swope didn’t buy the estate until after The Great Gatsby was published, what is more likely is that the parties that he gave at his Great Neck house on East Shore Road, which he rented from Lottie Blair Parker, were models for Jay Gatsby’s parties. These parties were so free-wielding that invitations were never sent out – people just arrived. It was not unusual for guests to remain for months or years. One actually stayed for five years, moving with the Swopes from Great Neck to Sands Point.

Prior to the 1929 stock market crash Swope’s fortune was estimated to be $14 million; after the crash he was over $2 million in debt but that did not stop his lavish life style. He simply borrowed money from friends and from his older brother Gerard, who was president of General Electric.

Toward the end of his life Swope tried to sell the estate to NBC for television studios, to IBM as a country club, to Robert Moses for a park, and to the Soviets, Nationalist Chinese, and United States Department of State for use as an official residence. In 1964 Swope’s widow sold the estate to Horace Richter.

Ray Spinzia

Please click HERE to see Ray & Judith Spinzia's website where you can preview their must have books on the Long Island families.

The Lands End Mansion at Sands Point in Happier Times

2011-04-23T08:24:00.000-07:00

Here are a few photos from Natasha Commander.

Lands End Demolition Video

2011-04-19T08:22:00.000-07:00

Click HERE to see Lands End under demolition.

Herbert Bayard Swope and Lands End

2011-04-19T05:32:00.000-07:00

Click the following links to read about Herbert Bayard Swope, onetime owner of Lands End at Sands Point, New York. Above is a photo of Lands End at Sands Point on its last morning before being demolished.The house has often been thought to have been the model for Daisy Buchanan's mansion in the Great Gatsby and one of the houses inspired by F. Scott Fitzgerald, when writing his novel. The house was also just as notable for its real life owner, Herbert Bayard Swope.

Thirsty Quote
New York Social Diary
Wikipedia
History.com
Pulitzer Prize
Harpo Marx
Time Magazine Cover
Museum of Learning

Demolition of Lands End

2011-04-18T16:01:00.000-07:00

Click HERE to see dramatic photos of the destruction of , "Lands End" the once magnificent mansion thought to be the inspiration for Daisy Buchanan's in F. Scott Fitzgerald's, " The Great Gatsby". The 100 year old Gold Coast landmark, which had an asking price of $50,000,000 and was bought for less than half of that, became a ruin in only a few short years.

Click HERE to read more about other Long Island mansions, thought to be inspirations for the Gatsby Mansions.

Click HERE to read about Herbert Bayard Swope.

Lands End Demolished on CBS News Sunday Morning

2011-04-17T07:59:00.000-07:00

Click HERE to watch the video about the history and demoliton of Lands End.

Click HERE to go to CBS News Sunday Morning to read about the Demolition of Lands End.

Click HERE for yesterdays post on the demolition.

Click HERE for more posts on Lands End

Lands End, Sands Point Demolished

2011-04-16T10:10:00.000-07:00

Today at 9:15 am, Lands End, the Bayard Swope Estate at Sands Point met it's end.
It is being demolished today and will most likely be a pile of rubble by this evening. This house has long been thought to be one of the Gatsby mansions and a model for Daisy Buchanan's house in F. Scott Fitzgeralds, " The Great Gatsby". It was often considered to be one of the many mansions, that Fitzgerald was inspired by.
I parked at the Sands Point Park and Preserve, the former Gould/ Guggenheim estate and walked down to the beach past the main house. The tide was high and the walk was long and cold, but got to the beach in front of the house just as the wreckers started to eat away at the front of the house. I would have liked to stay longer to document the destruction, but the tide was coming in. If anyone is interested in watching the rest of the demolition, you can go to the Sands Point Park & Preserve and pay the $5.00 admission fee and go watch the rest. The tide may be high and the weather is bad today, but if anyone takes any photos, please send them along.
Please check when the gates close at the Preserve.

This Iconic Gold Coast mansion, stood for over 100 years and according to some accounts was built in 1911, which make this its 100th anniversary. Often attributed to architect Stanford White, it has never been proven. If it was built in 1911, then it is not, since Stanford White died in 1906. While it was a unique piece of architecture, the only thing that it had in common with any Stanford White building was that it was white with big columns, which is pretty classic for most mansions of this style. The massing was very unlike any other houses ever designed by White and bore no resemblance to any other works of his or his firm, McKim, Mead & White. From its over scaled heavy topped chimneys, to its slightly angled plan, which from a design point of view, embraced the site perfectly. Today Long Island has lost one of its last remaining jewels and sailing landmarks. During a sunny day or overcast day it rose above its site prominently, The Parthenon of the " Gold Coast'.

More to come!

Click HERE to see the story about," Lands End" on the CBS News Sunday Morning, The End of an Era for the Gatsby House.

Click HERE for a great story about Lands End on The Esoteric Curiosa

Jay Gould's Fifth Avenue Mansion

2011-04-13T17:36:00.000-07:00

Above is the home of the Jay Gould family at 47th street & Fifth Avenue. Jay Gould was considered one of the most cunning of all the robber barons of the Gilded Age, but at home on Fifth Avenue and at his country estate, Lyndhurst at Tarrytown, New York, he was a devoted husband and loving father. At Lyndhurst he raised orchids in the spectacular greenhouse there and it was once said by a local socialite, that anyone who loves flowers as he does, can't be all bad. The Gould family was never really accepted into Mrs. Astor's 400, mostly because of the influence of the Vanderbilts. The Vanderbilts held a grudge against Jay Gould for a business deal in which he out smarted Commodore. Jay Gould died in 1892, and his townhouse and Lyndhurst were maintained by his daughter Helen. Upon her death in 1938, the townhouse was demolished and it's contents auctioned. Lyndhurst was then inherited by Anna Gould, The Duchess de Talleyrand, who used it for weekends after returning from France, during World War II. In 1961 when she died , it was left to the National Trust for Historic Preservation and has opened it as a museum house, now open to the public.

Click HERE to read about Lyndhurst on the New York Social Diary
Jay Gould

"Mrs. Astor's Fifth Avenue", Secret Splendors of the Gilded Age

2011-04-13T05:24:00.000-07:00

Please take a look at one of the lectures I give, " Mrs. Astor's Fifth Avenue, Secret Splendors of the Gilded Age". This talk will give the audience a tour of the mansions that once lined New York City's, fashionable Fifth Avenue. During the Gilded Age you were not really anyone , unless you had a mansion along Fifth Avenue, which was also called, Two Miles of Millionaires.

" Great Gatsby's Mansions " Lecture

2011-04-12T05:46:00.000-07:00

Please take a look at one of the lectures I give on the mansions that F. Scott Fitzgerald based his book, "The Great Gatsby".

Some of the houses that will be discussed are the following,

Pembroke, the Captain De Lamar mansion at Glen Cove. Where many parties during the roaring twenties attended by some of the silent screens greatest stars took place when the house was later owned by Marcus Loew, the movie theater magnate.

Beacon Towers, Sands Point, The castellated mansion of Alva Vanderbilt Belmont which bears a very close resemblance to Gatsby's Mansion as described by Fitzgerald.

Land's End, Sands Point, The colonial revival mansion of publishing giant Bayard Swope,

which architecturally could have been the home of Daisy & Tom Buchanan.

Clarence Mackay's, Roslyn mansion, " Harbor Hill", where the Edward, The Prince of Wales was entertained at a party befitting the Great Gatsby.

For future showings of this talk and others about the Mansions of the Gilded Age, please come back and look for further notices or contact me Gary Lawrance, AIA at my email gmlawrance@gmail.com to book for Historical Societies, Garden Societies, Libraries, Clubs and organizations.

A partial list follows,

" Gardens of the Gilded Age"
" Gatsby's Mansions"
" Gilded Age Gardens of the Hamptons"
" Houses of the Hamptons, 1880-1930"
" Lost Houses of the Gilded Age"
" Lost Houses of the Hamptons"
" The Lost Mansions of Newport"
" Mrs. Astor's Fifth Avenue, Secret Splendors of the Gilded Age"
" Whitemarsh Hall, America's Lost Versailles"

Alder Manor, Yonkers, New York

2011-04-12T04:41:00.000-07:00

Click HERE to read about Alder Manor

Magnificent Home Colony on Long Island's North Shore

2011-04-06T15:21:00.000-07:00

Boat House of the Stuart Blackton estate at Oyster Bay

Click HERE to read about the development of some Gold Coast mansions, such as F.Ambrose Clark's Broadhollow, Stuart Blackton's Kenwood, Otto Kahn's Oheka and others in this great old story from the New York Times on December 21, 1913.

Houses of the Hamptons, 1880-1930

2011-04-03T21:59:00.000-07:00

Click HERE to read reviews about, " Houses of the Hamptons, 1880-1930", by Gary Lawrance & Anne Surchin.

John Teele Pratt Estate at Glen Cove

2011-04-03T17:18:00.000-07:00

Click HERE to see the John T. & Ruth Pratt Estate, Known as, " The Manor" in 1915.
Click HERE to see it today as the Glen Cove Mansion.

"Clarendon Court", Newport, RI

2011-03-19T08:39:00.000-07:00

The former home of Claus & Sunny Von Bulow on Bellevue at Newport, Rhode Island.

Below are some links to the house with photographs and its past and recent history.

Real Estalker
Rhode Island Luxury Real Estate
Luxist
My Little Housing Blog
Murder or Mishap @ Quahog
Claus Von Bulow
Sunny Von Bulow
Vanity Fair
Sunny Von Bulow Obituary

"Lands End" Sands Point, Long Island

2011-03-08T19:03:00.000-08:00

Lands End from the Sound

Click HERE for Jen Ross Photographer's blog with photographs and pictures of the exterior and interior of Lands End in ruins.Go to main gallery of Jen Ross

http://www.jenrossphoto.com/#Portfolio/Spaces/East%20Egg/1

Click HERE to see story about Lands End on the Today Show.
Click HERE to see story and ruined photos of Lands End on the " Daily Mail".

PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR PREVIOUS POSTS ABOUT "LANDS END"

"Lands End", Sands Point, Long Island Great Gatsby Mansion to be demolished!

2011-03-08T14:37:00.000-08:00

The Long Island mansion said to be the inspiration for Daisy & Tom Buchanan's Gold Coast mansion is facing demolition. The Colonial revival home, which sits on a prominent point, jutting out into the Long Island Sound and has been a local landmark for almost 100 years may soon be destroyed, wiping out the last mansion said to have been one of the models in F. Scott Fitzgerald's great American novel, " The Great Gatsby".

Below are some current daily links to the news.

Click HERE to read about in the New York Post.
Click HERE to read about in the Los Angeles Times.
Click HERE to read about on Curbed.
Click HERE to read about in the New York Times.
Click HERE to read about on Forbes.com
Click HERE to read about in New York Magazine.
Click HERE to read about in the Daily Mail with a photograph of Gatsby's mansion.
Click HERE to read about in the Village Voice Blog.
Click HERE to read about and see aerial photo on Yahoo News.
Click HERE for Jen Ross Photographer's blog with photographs and pictures of the exterior and interior of Lands End in ruins.

Click HERE for previous posts about the Great Gatsby mansions with pictures.

Lands End Mansion at Sands Point, NY facing demolition

2011-03-06T08:02:00.000-08:00

The Bayard Swope mansion beyond the Hoffstott mansion.

Click HERE for a video of the Lands End estate and click HERE to read today's story in Newsday about the forthcoming demolition of one of the Gold Coast's most famous mansions, " Lands End". The colonial revival mansion of publishing giant Bayard Swope, which architecturally could have been the home of Daisy & Tom Buchanan in F. Scott Fitzgerald's, " The Great Gatsby"

Click HERE to read about some other mansions believed to have been the inspirations for the houses depicted in the Great Gatsby.

Click HERE to read about and see the real estate brochure for Lands End showing the house and interiors in beautiful condition when it was for sale on OLD LONG ISLAND.

The Servant Question at Harbor Hill

2011-03-01T05:50:00.000-08:00

Here is a great article about the servants and their world at the Clarence Mackay estate, Harbor Hill, which was located at Roslyn, New York. Harbor Hill was considered to be the greatest country estate on Long Island's Gold Coast. Designed in 1902 by architect Stanford White for Silver King Heir Clarence Mackay and his wife Katherine Duer Mackay.

Click HERE to read!

The Great Gatsby Mansions

2011-02-26T08:15:00.000-08:00

Farnsworth Mansion Atrium of C.K.G. Billings

On Monday, February 28 from 7- 9 pm, I will be giving a lecture for the Three Village Historical Society entitled, "Gatsby's Mansions", A look at the real Long Island Mansions that inspired F. Scott Fitzgerald's, " The Great Gatsby".

Some of the houses to be discussed are below,

Pembroke, the Captain De Lamar mansion at Glen Cove. Where many parties during the roaring twenties attended by some of the silent screens greatest stars took place when the house was later owned by Marcus Loew, the movie theater magnate.

Beacon Towers, Sands Point, The castellated mansion of Alva Vanderbilt Belmont which bears a very close resemblance to Gatsby's Mansion as described by Fitzgerald.

The Bayard Swope mansion beyond the Hoffstott mansion.

Land's End, Sands Point, The colonial revival mansion of publishing giant Bayard Swope,
which architecturally could have been the home of Daisy & Tom Buchanan.

A brief aerial tour of Long Island's Gold Coast circa 1926 and a look at some of the other mansions of the era such as Clarence Mackay"s, Roslyn mansion " Harbor Hill" where the Prince of Wales was entertained at a party befitting the Great Gatsby will be seen.

Please call the Three Village Historical Society to make reservations.The lecture will be given at the Emma S. Clark Memorial Library's Community Room, 120 Main Street, Setauket, New York. Cost is free and open to the public. 631.751.3730.

For future showings of this talk and others about the Mansions of the Gilded Age, please come back and look for further notices or contact me Gary Lawrance, AIA at my email gmlawrance@gmail.com to book for Historical Societies, Garden Societies, Libraries, Clubs and organizations.

A partial list follows,

" Gardens of the Gilded Age"
" Gatsby's Mansions"
" Gilded Age Gardens of the Hamptons"
" Houses of the Hamptons, 1880-1930"
" Lost Houses of the Gilded Age"
" Lost Houses of the Hamptons"
" The Lost Mansions of Newport"
" Mrs. Astor's Fifth Avenue, Secret Splendors of the Gilded Age"
" Whitemarsh Hall, America's Lost Versailles"

Long Island North Shore Society

2011-01-30T14:18:00.000-08:00

Click HERE to read a great article from the July 22, 1946 issue of Life magazine. See cover of Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney and then go to page 73 for story.

Mrs. Drexel Dahlgren Residence Champ Soleil, Newport, RI

2011-01-21T10:04:00.000-08:00

Champ Soleil, located on Bellevue Avenue, Newport's most fashionable street was built in 1929 for Lucy Drexel Dahlgren and is one of the last great houses to be erected towards the end of Newport's golden age. Lucy Drexel Dahlgren was the granddaughter of Joseph W. Drexel, of Drexel & Company, Philadelphia. The 1929 home was designed by the prominent architectural firm of Polhemus & Coffin and was inspired by the hunting lodge at Versailles called La Lanterne.
The second owner was Roberta & Robert Goelet, who had the house enlarged and decorated by the famed french decorating firm Maison Jansen. The estate was later owned by Russell B. Aitken and his wife Annie Laurie Aitken. Mrs. Aitken was the mother of Martha "Sunny" Von Bulow , who had a home down the avenue named Clarendon Court. Clarendon Court unfortunately received much attention during the 1980s when Sunny fell into a coma at the house, which lead to a sensational court case evolving around her husband, Claus Von Bulow.

Click HERE and go to page 145 to read and see more photographs of the house during the Goelet ownership in "Jansen", by James Archer Abbott, Acanthus Press 2006

Links to more on Champ Soleil
Things That Inspire

Second Floor Master Bedroom The William A. Salomon Townhouse at 1020 fifth Avenue & 83rd Street

2011-01-12T13:59:00.000-08:00

Click HERE to see the Entrance Hall.
Click HERE to see the Facade and Ground Floor Rooms

Gilded Age Society

2011-01-08T10:20:00.000-08:00

Here are a few of my favorite books about high society. The mansions of the gilded age weren't just built to be lived in, but to be used as vehicles for social impression and standing. When Alva Vanderbilt wanted to break into the 400 of New York Society, she constructed her chateau at 660 Fifth Avenue. All of society was abuzz about it and legend has it, that Caroline Astor's daughter Carrie was practicing a dance to be preformed at the housewarming party when Alva Vanderbilt, informed her that she wouldn't be able to attend, since her mother, The Mrs. Astor had never called upon Mrs. Vanderbilt. Carrie supposedly went home and cried to her mother that she couldn't miss the event of the season. Mrs.Astor, who still felt the Vanderbilt's were nouveau riche, decided that maybe the time had come for the Vanderbilts to enter the "400". Story has it that she got in her carriage and drove up Fifth Avenue and left her calling card for Mrs. Vanderbilt. One hour after , the last of the invitations to Alva's ball arrived at Mrs. Astors townhouse.This and many other of the great stories of the Gilded Age are told in these wonderful books.

Great Houses of New York, 1880-1930

Click HERE to read the chapter on 66o Fifth Avenue from Great houses of New York

The saga of American society;: A record of social aspiration, 1607-1937

Click HERE to read online.

Society As I Have Found It

Click HERE to read online.

Peacocks On Parade
Click HERE to read on Google books.

Who Killed Society?

King Lehr and the Gilded Age

Click HERE to read about Harry & Elizabeth Lehr on The Down East Dilettante

Links to more Harry & Elizabeth Lehr

Harry Lehr
Elizabeth Lehr
Portrait of Lady Decies by Giovanni Boldini & Biography

Behind The Hedgerow

2011-01-02T16:34:00.000-08:00

A must have film about Newport Society! click HERE to view the website and order.

Caumsett at Lloyd Neck, NY Estate of Marshall Field III

2011-01-02T08:19:00.000-08:00

The Marshall Fields: The Evolution of an American Business Dynasty

The Marshall Field III estate at Lloyd Harbor New York was built in 1922 by the heir of the great Chicago Department store, Marshall Fields. Situated on 1,700 acres along the Long Island Sound, the house, modeled on the great Georgian houses of England was designed by John Russell Pope along with many of the outbuildings. The entire estate today is now owned by New York State and is preserved as a parkland to be enjoyed by the public. Below are some aerial views of the estate taken during its heyday.

Please click the following links for more on Caumsett and the Marshall Fields

Caumsett Foundation
Caumsett on Wikipedia
Historic American Building Survey
Marshall Field III on Wikipedia
New York State Parks
Old Long Island

Castle Howard /Brideshead

2010-12-28T07:20:00.000-08:00

While I try to stay on this side of the pond with this blog, I will occasionally post a few things about some of my favorite European mansions. In fact many of the American " Gilded Age" mansions were inspired by the great European homes. Today I found a great new blog, "Hooked on Houses" with a posting about Castle Howard, Yorkshire England. While in existence for hundreds of years, it has attained its current fame from the mini series filmed there in the 1980s, Evelyn Waugh's, "Brideshead Revisited".

Please click below for Castle Howard links.

Hooked on Houses
Castle Howard

Premonition

2010-12-28T07:12:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite TV series was "One Step Beyond". It was similar to the Twilight Zone, in that it focused on stories about the supernatural and mystery. There were many episodes that took place in mansions, which during that era were often movie sets. One such episode takes place in a Paris Townhouse around 1900 and is about a young girl and a great chandelier. I especially love the music, entitled, "On the Terrace" which is available on an album from the show on Amazon.

Click HERE to watch!

Elm Court, Sands Point, NY

2010-11-09T17:05:00.000-08:00

Click HERE to see photographs of the french gardens and to view the house before it's demolition.

Sefton Manor at Mill Neck , NY Robert Leftwich Dodge Estate

2010-11-09T15:21:00.000-08:00

Sefton Manor, later known as Mill Neck Manor was built for the Robert Leftwich Dodge family
at Mill Neck, New York.
Click HERE for information on how to visit Sefton Manor during the current Designer's Show Case 2010.

Entrance Hall of Pembroke

2010-11-07T09:19:00.000-08:00

Above is a rare view of the entrance hall of the Captain De Lamar Mansion, Pembroke at Glen Cove, New York. This view also shows the organ grill for the Aeolian organ which Pembroke like any other mansion of the gilded age would have had. Organs were the entertainment centers of the day. No mansion would be complete without a pipe organ and Aeolian was considered the best. There are many accounts that organs caused great stress during the design process when planning out these homes since the owners wanted to show them off and architects and designers wanted to hide them, since they often did not fit in with the desired period of the rooms. Click HERE for a youtube slide show about the F. W. Woolworth Mansion, Winfield Hall at Glen Cove and views of it's pipe organ as concealed behind a carved paneled wall.

Click HERE for more on Pembroke.
Links:
Wikipedia
New York Townhouse

Some New Books

2010-11-06T05:00:00.000-07:00

Mansions of the Gilded Age

Whitemarsh Hall after Demolition

Looking Back at Manhattan's Lost Gilded Age Mansions

The Private Rich

"Mansions of the Gilded Age" on facebook

The Gilded Age Millionaires

The Gates to Knollwood

Long Island Gold Coast Mansions of the Great Gatsby Era on Ebay.

The Henry Cook Mansion

Mrs. Astor and The 400

Long Island Society

"Mansions of the Gilded Age" on facebook

Whitemarsh Hall, The Estate of Edward and Eva Cromwell Stotesbury.

Seaview Terrace, Newport, Rhode Island

Guess which mansion was here?

Newport Mansions

" Manners for the Metropolis"

Isn't this a great picture! It is from a 1910 tongue in cheek book about Gilded Age etiquette. The book is called, " Manners for the Metropolis" An entrance key to the fantastic life of the 400. It's very funny and gives helpful hints for behaving amongst Mrs. Astor's set!

Click HERE to buy on Amazon Books.

Click HERE to read snippets.

Demolished Mansions of the Gilded Age

Ragtime

" Who killed Society"

The Mark Hopkins Mansion, San Francisco

Pembroke, Glen Cove Long Island

Daytonian in Manhattan: The 1905 James A. Burden Jr. House -- No. 7 East 9...

The Isacc Fletcher Mansion at Fifth Avenue & 79th Street

Daytonian in Manhattan: The Gertrude Rhinelander Waldo Mansion

1020 Fifth Avenue, New York

Winifred Bird and Farnsworth

"The Twilight of Splendor" by James Maher

"Sunken Orchard", Oyster Bay, New York

"Sunken Orchard", Oyster Bay, New York

The Orchard, James Breese Estate at Southampton, New York

Louis Armstrong- High Society

THE GREAT GATSBY- PARTY AT GATSBY'S *HQ*

Who Wants to be a Millionaire

Ноlidaу (1938) 5/10

Mansions of the Gilded Age facebook

Seaview Terrace, Newport, Rhode Island

Seaview Terrace in Newport, Rhode Island. The house is most famous for being used as the setting for Collinwood, in the 1960s, Gothic soap opera, " Dark Shadows".

Whitemarsh Hall Photographs

Mayor Bloomberg's New Southampton House Ballyshear

Ogden Mills Mansion at Staatsburgh, New York

"The Great Gatsby Mansions"

Carleton Villa Visit 2003 > Thousand Islands Life Magazine > Thousand Islands Life Magazine All Archives

Duke Semans Mansion Sold for $44 Million | Gilded Life

The New Yorker & Elm Court

"The Great Gatsby Mansions"

Gilded Age Mansions on facebook

THE DUSTMAN'S DREAM OF HOME! - British Pathe

The Greenhouse at Lyndhurst

"Mansions in the Movies"

Stuart Blackton, Harbourwood

Mrs. Astor & the Gilded Age

"Phenomenal Places" Architect Creates Teeny, Tiny Models of Houses in the Hamptons

The Vanderbilt Family

Ballyshear, Southampton New York

Pensmore Mansion, Missouri

Beautiful Gardens in America, By Louise Shelton

Two Miles of Millionaires, New York's Upper Fifith Avenue Mansions

The Linden Estate, Ox Pasture Road, Southampton, New York

"Behind Mansion Walls"

The Edward S. Harkness Fifth Avenue Mansion at 75th Street

Senator William Clark Mansion, Fifth Avenue New York

Senator William Clark Mansion, Childhood Home of Huguette Clark

Grey Gardens, East Hampton

Chestertown House, Southampton, New York

Long Island Landscapes and the Women Who Designed Them

Lost Houses of the Hamptons

John Sargeant Cram Estate

The Menace of Privilege

The Harry and Leona Helmsley Estate Dunnellen Hall, Greenwich Ct.

Herbert Bayard Swope of Lands End

The Lands End Mansion at Sands Point in Happier Times

Lands End Demolition Video

Herbert Bayard Swope and Lands End

Demolition of Lands End

Lands End Demolished on CBS News Sunday Morning

Lands End, Sands Point Demolished

THE GREAT GATSBY- PARTY AT GATSBY'S HQ