That Great Hall, because every mansion needs a minstrel gallery. I always love getting a vacation "cottage" for my birthday - makes all those Starbucks gift cards seem superfluous. Thanks, Ken, for this fascinating video.
@randyboglisch13710 ай бұрын
Afternoon..thank you again for your wonderful tour. Each house is so very lovely in its own way...hope the restoration is going well
@maryannruffini216910 ай бұрын
The cottage was beautiful. There was so much detailed work done on both of his homes that it's sad that they were torn down
@LJB10310 ай бұрын
Beacon Hill was burned down by vandals.
@Trenaway10 ай бұрын
His children...ugg! All they cared about was the money!
@LJB10310 ай бұрын
@@Trenaway What children? He didn't have any children.
@ML-xi2rt10 ай бұрын
How sad for us today that none of his incredible homes have survived. He sounds like he was a very kind and benevolent man. Another GREAT presentation!
@joemontano71Ай бұрын
Many, many 'robber barons' were more benevolent than 99% of the people we will ever meet. Andrew Carnegie alone built (free of charge) hundreds of *beautiful* libraries around the country and financed the installation of hundreds of church organs. He became the richest man in America then gave away every dollar he ever made.
@LukerativeLion10 ай бұрын
This is a unique case where I feel Arthur Curtiss James is absolutely ok with all his mansions being torn down and gone now; he seems like the type that is too busy living their best life and making their own memories to worry about leaving a legacy
@user-hp9or4ls7p10 ай бұрын
Ken, you've done it again, my guy. Great photos of beautiful homes coupled with a riveting story. 😎❤️
@LJB10310 ай бұрын
I have actually read a biography of Arthur Curtis James. He did not leave millions to his children as he didn't have any, but he was close to his wife's sister's family. Beacon Hill was the largest estate in Newport. Unfortunately, like The Bells, it was abandoned and eventually burned down by vandals. You can see that the gardens are obviously quite beautiful, but what you cannot see in these old photos is that they were almost totally blue. An excellent video of a little-known man. BTW architect Isaac Newton Phelps Stokes (his parents built Shadow Brook in Lenox, MA) was his cousin.
@BlaineShire10 ай бұрын
The gardens of Beacon Hill were in the process of being renovated by my cousin, Dorrance "Dodo" Hill Hamilton, who passed away in 2017. Her home in Newport, RI was bought by 'Judge Judy'.
@Steven-wm9vu10 ай бұрын
Awesome video. Well put together as always.
@TimKelleherCorp10 ай бұрын
That row of houses on Park and 69th are all gone, minus the corner. Replaced w sad apartment buildings
@williamtyre52310 ай бұрын
Thanks for shedding light on this often overlooked individual and his wonderful homes. I like the Newport house with its removable wall for large dinner parties, but was most drawn to the interesting village he built to house his live-in staff.
@bowiearcangeli1110 ай бұрын
Loved Beacon Hill. The gardens were gorgeous. Thank you for sharing 💜
@jefflawrentz162410 ай бұрын
The grandfathers house was my favorite.
@theresawilson264710 ай бұрын
I loved the Newport house but they were both beautiful.
@lisaburns211710 ай бұрын
So sad that none of those beautiful houses are still standing. Great video.
@danielintheantipodes674110 ай бұрын
Thank you for the video!
@christopherkraft132710 ай бұрын
Wow, a dining table that seats 40 guests!!! The Newport home is over the top opulent!!! 👍👍🙂
@jenpink429810 ай бұрын
I like the cottage, but it seems strange not to buy a property that connects to the sea. I mean, as long as you’re giving someone a cottage for their birthday😂 This was really interesting! I’ve never heard of him. I love that he gave away so much of his money.
@jennymauger10 ай бұрын
Scintillating grandeur in the each of the various mansions. The enormously vaulted ceiling in the first house w the minstrel gallery & other features too numerous is rather remarkable. Kudos to you sharing your unquenchable passion throughout the ages, in appreciation 🙏🏼⚒️🌹
@janemckee492210 ай бұрын
The Newport house!
@SagacityLost10 ай бұрын
Loved the second house with the rounded ends!
@creativo4ever5645 ай бұрын
The Manhattan house was my favorite. It was stunningly simple, horizontal in a city which favored vertical, yet light inside. Quite an architectural accomplishment in the most dense city in the country.
@LoVi-ff3dt9 ай бұрын
The Newport house is my favorite. I love that he was so generous and private.
@kenjd579 ай бұрын
The Newport mansion with formal gardens would be my favorite because I am fond of great landscapes. 😎
@vickiephilpitt769710 ай бұрын
Wow, a cottage???? That is/was some cottage. Wish I had a cottage that size! Better yet, I wish I had a house that size.😅
@hectorgarcia869110 ай бұрын
Undoubtedly the cottage was the most beautiful, and it’s village.
@BlueKnightErrant9 ай бұрын
Ken, your coverage of the Gilded and Victorian ages are never remissed in detail and interest-thank you for your research and dedication! 🕵️🏠
@Porsche996driver10 ай бұрын
The largest real estate holders in the country are still the railroads. 🚂
@lauriekeikkala993710 ай бұрын
That was really interesting. Thank you.
@adammiller22468 ай бұрын
Love the work that you do on old mansions. Have you by any chance made one on Louis Untermeyer or a man named Phelps? Phelps had a mansion in North Tarrytown New York. Some of his property was donated to a hospital named after him. Louis Untermeyer had an estate in North Yonkers on Broadway (Route 9 ) His formal gardens have been restored thanks to those who are related in some way. Not sure what happened to both mansions. In this area there is still the Boyce thompson mansion, Lanoir mansion and another just north. I would love to get info on these sites
@user-ux9dk3mc2o4 ай бұрын
I love the history on houses thanks Ken .
@bigredc2229 ай бұрын
Thank you.
@shawnathon6010 ай бұрын
If he built that "cottage" for her in Newport,, I'll bet his automobiles were magnificent !
@popwolfe7 ай бұрын
Glad to see you included ACJ, expand to his boats. Coronet is now at Mystic Seaport. He had no children. And he left nothing to a niece who lived on the grounds because she felt he was a womanizer. His Tarrytown home became a hospital. The Swiss farm still stands.
@rosepelzel424410 ай бұрын
That's a cottage??? 😊
@wdgbirmingham210 ай бұрын
At 2:04, where is the kitchen? It just says "pantry" off of the Dining Room. On a different note, I love the European tapestries in the Great Hall 😍
@danielulz164010 ай бұрын
Kitchens were typically in the basement.
@wdgbirmingham210 ай бұрын
@@danielulz1640 Definitely true. Biltmore in Asheville has their kitchen below the main floor. And Downton Abbey, even though it's a pretend upstairs/downstairs situation for filming, has their kitchen downstairs too.
@janedee648810 ай бұрын
Please build me a cottage for my birthday. Thanks
@mr.x825910 ай бұрын
❤
@QueenBee-gx4rp10 ай бұрын
Just a minor note: you spelled “boudoir” incorrectly.
@ThisHouse10 ай бұрын
Thank you for bringing that to my attention! I'll double-check the subtitles, cheers!
@jmartin04224 ай бұрын
Sorry for the late view but love going to rockwood hall park it’s right next door to the James house that I saw a picture of in this post did you ever do a video on it? I’ve been there when my uncle was the caretaker it’s entry way is beautiful with staircase and use of marble.
@francispower141810 ай бұрын
Can I have that secret top floor on Park and 61st as a music production studio please?
@jimwiskus886210 ай бұрын
How heartbreaking!
@reklin9 ай бұрын
I love his New York mansion, but it's impossible to find complete floor plans for the thing.
@jackjohnson94493 ай бұрын
What a shame they demolished those houses.
@albertmyers717610 ай бұрын
😎😎😎😎
@EleanorSloane-fs9rq10 ай бұрын
Was his grandfather's house on the Hudson River torn down? Where was it?