tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25857530486980587242024-03-18T12:35:47.509-07:00The Gilded Age EraTyler Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09804014270509565721noreply@blogger.comBlogger201125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585753048698058724.post-27722390851621369082017-07-11T17:00:00.000-07:002017-07-11T17:00:35.523-07:00Doses of History<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello everyone!<br />
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I know it's been. . . awhile, but I'm here to tell you I've started a new blog! It's called <i>Doses of History </i>and, as opposed to this one, focuses on all history, not just The Gilded Age Era (though that is included, of course). History, clearly, fascinates me, so I've created this new blog as a place to share the pieces of it that I find interesting, and also to, hopefully, have discussions about it with some of you guys!<br />
<a href="https://dosesofhistory.blogspot.com/"><br /></a>
<a href="https://dosesofhistory.blogspot.com/">CLICK HERE TO VISIT MY NEW BLOG <i>DOSES OF HISTORY</i></a><br />
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Since this is a blog about the Gilded Age. . . I did write a post about the Vanderbilt chateau in NYC, pictured up above, on the new blog, so <a href="https://dosesofhistory.blogspot.com/2017/07/details-of-petit-chateau-660-fifth.html">CLICK HERE </a>to view that post. I've thought about transferring and editing some of the posts on this blog and posting them on the new blog, since I won't be posting on this one very much anymore, and haven't for quite awhile anyways.<br />
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Anyways, hope to see you over at my new blog!Tyler Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04016644284176509017noreply@blogger.com276tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585753048698058724.post-84184132819665751462015-01-11T08:53:00.001-08:002015-01-11T08:53:21.307-08:00Oscar G. Mayer Mansion <div>
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<a href="http://joeswims.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Oscar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Oscar" border="0" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-357" height="224" src="http://joeswims.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Oscar.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Oscar G. Mayer Sr. Mansion, Evanston, Illinois </b></td></tr>
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<b>In December of last year, the historic, though crumbling, Oscar Mayer mansion at 1030 Forest Avenue, in Evanston, Illinois, was listed for $1.75 million. The mansion has been vacant for many years, and serves today as a home to the various animals and insects who have infiltrated the property. Despite its fading grandeur, the property still retains a certain elegant and graceful feel, with the dark green vines that climb up the walls and columns of the porch and the overgrown bushes and shrubs. Unfortunately, the interior isn't as lucky. </b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A front view of the dilapidated Mayer Mansion.</b></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Originally built in 1901 by the architectural firm of Hallberg & Sturm, it was one of the few residential commissions performed by Meyer Strum and L. G. Hallberg, who were mainly known for designing and building hospitals. Designed during the middle of Hallberg & Strum's partnership (1900-1902), the chateausque-style mansion was first owned by Mr. and Mrs. William F. Stevens. In the 1920's (1927, to be exact), processed-meat magnate Oscar G. Mayer purchased the home from the Stevens and quickly began renovating the place.</span></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Oscar G. Mayer Sr. <i>circa 1960's</i></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Oscar G. Mayer (1888-1965)</b></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Oscar Mayer had the mansion enlarged to its current size of over 7,000 square feet, including the addition of a ballroom. Mayer, who served as President of the Chicago Association of Transportation and Industry from 1938-1940 and as well as a trustee of the University of Illinois from 1934-1940, was a frequent host of guests, even after his retirement in 1940.</span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://s1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/eblGGQsvuiuvTJqu5HDz_Q--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Y2g9OTYwO2NyPTE7Y3c9OTYwO2R4PTA7ZHk9MDtmaT11bGNyb3A7aD03MDA7aWw9cGxhbmU7cT03NTt3PTcwMA--/http://l.yimg.com/os/publish-images/homes/2015-01-08/46cd3760-978b-11e4-91a2-5b7cf9539efa_6-Oscar-Mayer-fireplace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Photos: The Oscar Mayer mansion" border="0" class="lb-img " id="yui_3_16_0_1_1420993733865_1350" src="https://s1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/eblGGQsvuiuvTJqu5HDz_Q--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Y2g9OTYwO2NyPTE7Y3c9OTYwO2R4PTA7ZHk9MDtmaT11bGNyb3A7aD03MDA7aWw9cGxhbmU7cT03NTt3PTcwMA--/http://l.yimg.com/os/publish-images/homes/2015-01-08/46cd3760-978b-11e4-91a2-5b7cf9539efa_6-Oscar-Mayer-fireplace.jpg" style="max-height: 391.3333333333333px; max-width: 587px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The fireplace in the library of the mansion. </b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://s1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/1TlsKht54NCfMh6Ba95DbA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Y2g9OTYwO2NyPTE7Y3c9OTYwO2R4PTA7ZHk9MDtmaT11bGNyb3A7aD03MDA7aWw9cGxhbmU7cT03NTt3PTcwMA--/http://l.yimg.com/os/publish-images/homes/2015-01-08/98ab9130-9786-11e4-9d9f-419745cb617f_8-Oscar-Mayer-bathroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Photos: The Oscar Mayer mansion" border="0" class="lb-img " id="yui_3_16_0_1_1420993733865_1583" src="https://s1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/1TlsKht54NCfMh6Ba95DbA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Y2g9OTYwO2NyPTE7Y3c9OTYwO2R4PTA7ZHk9MDtmaT11bGNyb3A7aD03MDA7aWw9cGxhbmU7cT03NTt3PTcwMA--/http://l.yimg.com/os/publish-images/homes/2015-01-08/98ab9130-9786-11e4-9d9f-419745cb617f_8-Oscar-Mayer-bathroom.jpg" style="max-height: 391.3333333333333px; max-width: 587px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The bathrooms are in the worst condition, though the pink marble and stained<br />glass window appear to be in relatively good condition.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://s1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/oWqTSIZVtdaYnv9IDX6JEg--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTcwMDtpbD1wbGFuZTtweW9mZj0wO3E9NzU7dz03MDA-/http://l.yimg.com/os/publish-images/homes/2015-01-08/622dfea0-978a-11e4-96a4-61ad5f30847a_5-Oscar-Mayer-staircase.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Photos: The Oscar Mayer mansion" border="0" class="lb-img " id="yui_3_16_0_1_1420993733865_3145" src="https://s1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/oWqTSIZVtdaYnv9IDX6JEg--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTcwMDtpbD1wbGFuZTtweW9mZj0wO3E9NzU7dz03MDA-/http://l.yimg.com/os/publish-images/homes/2015-01-08/622dfea0-978a-11e4-96a4-61ad5f30847a_5-Oscar-Mayer-staircase.jpg" style="max-height: 391.3333333333333px; max-width: 587px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The staircase of the mansion. </b></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Oscar Mayer died at his mansion on March 5th, 1965, at the age of 76. In his 41-page will, he details how his money it to be dispersed: $66 million in Oscar Mayer Co. stock bequeathed to the Oscar and Elsa Mayer Charitable Trust for "charitable, educational and scientific purposes," a $512,000 trust fund for each of his four children, and $25,000 outright and $30,000 annually to his wife, Elsa. Oscar's son, Oscar G. Mayer Jr., took over his father's position at the family company and was head till his death in 2002. </span></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Aerial of the Mayer property. </b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Street view of Oscar Mayer mansion.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJaHvcozfweXGMfp__bK6ip73JsMyszEtep3GJgoQr7atn3IRlPZlkJ1QYSg16RkXHKWdFAeja4w-o2Ok28sWIbCZUJb4j5uAYPZVpJLO6KFBuvmt3-BIdZHWwd0hwBU7ivkvnJcRZ_Q/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-01-11+at+10.20.40+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJaHvcozfweXGMfp__bK6ip73JsMyszEtep3GJgoQr7atn3IRlPZlkJ1QYSg16RkXHKWdFAeja4w-o2Ok28sWIbCZUJb4j5uAYPZVpJLO6KFBuvmt3-BIdZHWwd0hwBU7ivkvnJcRZ_Q/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-01-11+at+10.20.40+AM.png" height="327" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Street view of Oscar Mayer mansion. </b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The mansion was eventually sold by the family, and passed through a series of hands. The current owner, who shall remain nameless, is being forced by the city to sell the property so as to pay back the millions of dollars he borrowed from lenders. The estate needs considerable work, but would be quite the gem if brought back to the once glorious state it was originally in. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Photo credits: Curbed: Chicago, Wisconsin Meat Industry Hall of Fame, Flickr, Bing and Google Maps, Homes Yahoo. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>To view the listing, click <a href="http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1030-Forest-Ave_Evanston_IL_60202_M75161-37253?source=web">HERE </a>. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>To visit the Gilded Age Era's Facebook page, please click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thegildedageera">HERE</a>. Give us a "Like" and show your support! </b></span></div>
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Tyler Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09804014270509565721noreply@blogger.com171tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585753048698058724.post-16385136889073459162014-11-28T07:12:00.001-08:002014-11-28T07:12:08.606-08:00Bellefontaine. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>'Bellefontaine.' </b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Giraud Foster estate ~ Bellefontaine. Mr. Foster was well known for his charitable contributions and philanthropy. The estate is now out of private hands. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><a href="http://thegildedageera.blogspot.com/2012/08/giraud-fost-and-his-beloved.html">Giraud Foster and His Beloved Bellefontaine</a></i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://thegildedageera.blogspot.com/2013/07/two-great-country-estate-lenox-ma.html"><i>Two Great Country Estates ~ Lenox, MA.</i></a></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><a href="http://www.beyondthegildedage.com/2012/06/bellefontaine.html">'Bellefontaine'</a></i></b></span>Tyler Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09804014270509565721noreply@blogger.com183tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585753048698058724.post-49322818065420859072014-06-13T16:04:00.000-07:002014-06-13T16:04:09.403-07:00Villa Philbrook and The Phillips <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>'Villa Philbrook'</b></div>
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<b>The Phillips family was, perhaps, considered one of Tulsa's first families. Waite Phillip</b><b>s, the Patriarch of the family, was an ambitious millionaire who had made many fortunes in coal and oil. The saying "Go big, or go home" justly fits him, for nothing Waite did was small. When he sold his gas company in 1925 to a New York investment firm, he walked away with a cool $25 million ($330 million in today's money). Even when he died in 1964, he went out with a "bang", donating a substantial fortune to the University of Southern California, who named one of their buildings after him. In sharp contrast, his wife, Genevieve Phillips, was a shy and quiet lady, who looked away from society. </b></div>
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<a href="http://www.tulsapeople.com/images/cache/cache_b/cache_5/cache_2/b52d801a01d4cf4b8902c5ad48966e56.jpeg?ver=1396950145&aspectratio=0.66666666666667" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Waite Phillips, 1933" border="0" src="http://www.tulsapeople.com/images/cache/cache_b/cache_5/cache_2/b52d801a01d4cf4b8902c5ad48966e56.jpeg?ver=1396950145&aspectratio=0.66666666666667" /></a></div>
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<b>Waite Phillips, 1933.</b></div>
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<b>Originally occupying a large house in the Tulsan suburbs, the Phillips, Waite in particular, decided to construct a much larger estate farther uptown to house the family's growing art collection and with more land for the family to pursue their gardening interests. Construction began in 1926, with Kansas City-architect Edward B. Delk supervising the design and building of the home. The mansion was finished in 1927, at a total cost of $1.5 million ($15 million in today's money). It would quickly become a Tulsa icon. </b></div>
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<a href="http://www.tulsapeople.com/images/2013FIN/11-November/tp%20upload/PHIL/Family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Waite, Helen Jane, Elliott and Genevieve Phillips on the east terrace, 1931" border="0" class="" height="252" src="http://www.tulsapeople.com/images/2013FIN/11-November/tp%20upload/PHIL/Family.jpg" style="height: 253px; width: 401px;" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>The Phillips family at their Villa: Waite, daughter Helen, son Elliot and Genevieve. </b></div>
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<b>The Phillips family prepares for dinner at Villa Philbrook. </b></div>
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<b>Occupying 23 acres of lush gardens and lawns, inspired by the gardens at the Villa Lante in Italy, designed in 1566, the Italian Renaissance mansion is the centerpiece of the estate. With 73 rooms, each possessing a view of the gardens and lawn, the home was designed to entertain, with the main focus of the mansion however being to accommodate the family's art collection. The ground floor held the formal rooms. At the center of the mansion, was the long hall, which opened up to each room. Perhaps the largest room, is the drawing room/ballroom, which opens out to the gardens. The above rooms were reserved for the family's bedrooms and servant's rooms. In the basement was a club room, the kitchen and other staff rooms. </b></div>
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<b><i>"All things should be put to their best possible use..."</i></b></div>
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<b><i>~ Genevieve Phillips</i></b></div>
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<b>In 1939, the Phillips graciously donated their Villa Philbrook to the City of Tulsa to be used as an art museum, also donating the entirety of their art collection. The couple opted instead to downsize to a 4,000 square foot, 23-room penthouse atop the Philcade Building, which Waite had built and owned. With them, the couple brought a selection of their furniture, the cabinets and the kitchen from Villa Philbrook. In addition, the family resided at their ranch 'Villa Philmonte' in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of New Mexico. Occupying 300,000 acres, the family resided at the ranch's main house, a 28,000 square foot Spanish Mediterranean-style home also designed by Edward Delk. Waite donated 36,000 acres of the ranch, along with the main house, to the American Boy's Scouts in 1938. In 1941, he donated another 91,000 acres, and, a year later, the Philcade building and penthouse were purchased by the Standard Oil Company for use as a Tulsa-base. The Phillips family later settled at yet another estate in Bel Air, California.</b></div>
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<b>Waite Phillips in his later years. </b></div>
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<b>Today, Villa Philbrook operates as one of Oklahoma's leading museums, with an annual budget of $6 million and a staff of 60 people. Over 150,000 people visit the museum annually. Amongst the pieces in the collection, include works by artists Pablo Picasso, Thomas Moran, William-Adolphe Bouguereau and Andrew Wyeth. The Penthouse at the Philcade Building is carefully maintained as it was when the Phillips family lived there. The same can be said for Villa Philmonte, which today also serves as a house museum and has been restored to when the Phillipes occupied the ranch. Elliot Phillip, Waite's son and youngest child, is the last of the family who built Villa Philbrook. At age 94, he is the current Patriarch of his parent's and sister's children, and grandchildren, and frequently visits Villa Philmonte.</b></div>
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Tyler Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09804014270509565721noreply@blogger.com125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585753048698058724.post-91861928283235957012014-06-09T22:00:00.000-07:002014-06-10T07:02:31.912-07:00Moorland Lodge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>'Moorland Lodge', 2013.</b></div>
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<b><i>"A rare pastoral estate..."</i></b></div>
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<b>It was in 1920, that Chicago department store heiress and YWCA activist Vera S. Cushman decided to develop a rental property at 5 Hammersmith Road, in Newport, RI, the queen of summer resorts from the 1880's up till the 1960's. The property was located near Mrs. Cushman's estate 'Avalon', later the Van Alen residence (demolished 2003). She began purchasing several smaller residences, including a 1900-circa, 6,000 square foot Mediterranean-style main house, which Vera renamed 'Moorland Lodge'. She mashed the properties together to create a much larger estate, which she named 'Moorland Farm', with 'Moorland Lodge' becoming the centerpiece of the farm. Dotting the estate are a number of historic outbuildings, including the gardener's cottage. In 1939, 'Moorland Farm' was purchased by multi-millionaire John Barry Ryan Jr., a grandson of centi-millionaire Thomas Fortune Ryan (worth about $155 million dollars at the time of his death), and his wife, Margaret "Nin" Kahn, a daughter of fellow centi-millionaire Otto Kahn. Together, the coupled renamed the property to simply <i>Moorland Lodge</i>.</b></div>
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<b>Margaret "Nin" Kahn Ryan on the cover of "Coronet" Magazine. </b></div>
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<b>Floor plan of 'Moorland Lodge'. </b></div>
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<b>John Barry Ryan Jr. died in 1966, leaving many millions of dollars of Ryan money to Nin, who had already inherited a substantial fortune from her father, including the majority of his valuable art collection. That year, in honor of her father who had so long loved and supported the Metropolitan Opera, she assisted the Opera in moving to their new location at Lincoln Center, which opened with a grand celebratory gala. On a few months earlier, Mrs. Ryan and other Newport socialites had flown up to New York City to wish goodbye the old Metropolitan Opera House at 1411 Broadway, which had been the first home of the Metropolitan Opera, opened in 1883 (Mrs. Ryan's father, Otto Kahn, had been a founder of the Opera and a sponsor of the building). The closing gala was attended by many of the Newport "crowd", including Mrs. Ryan (To read about the closing gala, and to see pictures of the event, please click <a href="http://thegildedageera.blogspot.com/2012/11/at-met-part-4-closing-gala.html">HERE</a>). </b></div>
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<b>Nin Ryan lived on at 'Moorland Lodge' for six more years. In 1972, she sold the estate to Mrs. Marjorie Atwood of New York and Georgia for an undisclosed amount. From then on, Mrs. Ryan would split her time between her Manhattan apartment and her London residence. </b></div>
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<b>After passing through numerous hands, 'Moorland Lodge' was again listed for sale in 2013, with an asking price of $6,000,000. It has since been sold. </b><br />
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<b>To see a listing of the house, including photos and a description, please click <a href="http://www.priceypads.com/historic-moorland-lodge-6995000/">HERE</a>. </b></div>
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Tyler Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09804014270509565721noreply@blogger.com95tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585753048698058724.post-34758748820940490982014-06-02T14:04:00.001-07:002014-06-02T14:04:10.942-07:00640 5th Ave. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>640 Fifth Avenue. </b></div>
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<b>A great many people had gathered that day in 1945 in front of the dingy, brownstone mansion that stood at 640 Fifth Avenue, which crouched in the shadows of the skyscrapers surrounding all sides. It was moving day at the Vanderbilt mansion. New York City's long acknowledged social queen, Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt III, <i>Grace</i>, was moving out of 640 5th Ave. and moving to a limestone mansion uptown overlooking Central Park at 1048 5th Ave. 640 had long been the scene of Mrs. Vanderbilt's charity balls, dinner galas and exquisite luncheons. Less than a year ago, she had hosted her last ball at the mansion, a charity ball benefitting the Red Cross. For the last time, the French salons, marble entrance hall, gilded ballroom and the pink art gallery had been opened to guests. That day however, it was all being taken away. </b></div>
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<b>Movers and workers hustled about, as the gilt and golden furniture that had graced the halls of the home were carried out. 1048 was considerably smaller than 640, so much of Mrs. Vanderbilt's furniture and art collection would be donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This included the entirety of the artwork that had hung in the art gallery at 640, which was composed of pieces collected by William H. Vanderbilt Sr., who had built the mansion at 640 Fith Avenue in 1882. Also leaving Mrs. Vanderbilt's possession was the famed 9-foot malachite Demidoff vase, which had stood at the center of the marble entrance hall. One prized piece of the collection that would be moving with Mrs. Vanderbilt, Jared Flagg's 1877 portrait of Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt Sr., founder of the family's fortune. The portrait had long graced the entry of 640 5th Ave. </b></div>
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<b>As the last moving truck carried off Vanderbilt goods to either 1048 or the Metropolitan Museum, Mrs. Vanderbilt took one last look at 640, for decades the center of her highly-sought-after entertainments, as if saying good-bye to an old friend. Them, with her gloved hand instructing her chauffeur, she took off to her new limestone townhouse at 1048 Fifth Avenue. Shortly after, 640 Fifth Avenue was demolished, and so with it, went the last great Vanderbilt mansion built on Fifth Avenue, once, long ago, nicknamed "Vanderbilt's Row".</b></div>
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<b>To read the story behind 640 Fifth Avenue, along with details and why the home was sold, please click <a href="http://thegildedageera.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-last-vanderbilt-stronghold-640.html">HERE</a>. </b></div>
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Tyler Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09804014270509565721noreply@blogger.com80tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585753048698058724.post-89559580553817059632014-06-02T08:09:00.000-07:002014-06-02T08:09:16.834-07:00The Mercedes <b>It was November 23, 1984, the day after Thanksgiving, when Palm Beach and New York socialite and philanthropist Mollie Wilmot was woken up in the early hours of the morning by her maid at her stylish Palm Beach estate, which was next door to the Kennedy Family Compound. The maid announced her mistress had visitors. Mollie, assuming it to be the photographer from Town and Country who was scheduled to photograph the inside of her beautiful home and the marvelous salt-water pool gracing the lawn overlooking the ocean, decided that they should get some coffee first. It had been a stormy night last night, and something bitter would be good to wake her up. So, she passed through her drawing room with leopard-printed walls, and into the kitchen. When she finally arrived on the patio an hour later, still in her dressing gown and slippers, what she saw was something completely unexpected. Lying less than a few inches away from her pool, was a massive, 197-foot Venezuelan rust bucket cargo ship named "The Mercedes" which had rammed itself into the seawall at the edge of Ms. Wilmot's property during the rainy storm of earlier that night. </b><br />
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<b>Mollie Wilmot, wearing her infamous white sunglasses, stands</b></div>
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<b>before The Mercedes at her residence in Palm Beach, FL. </b></div>
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<b>Overcoming her fear of Venezuelan rats escaping the ship, Mollie quickly rushed inside into her living room. Removing the Picasso hanging on the wall for safekeeping, and spreading plastic across the gleaming carpets, she invited the crew, Captain and the police officers, who had quickly arrived at the scene, into her home for some finger sandwiches, coffee and caviar, later also, too, serving martinis to the journalists that had showed up. She also fed the ship's cat, which they later gave to her and named "Mollie Mercedes". She in turned handed it over to her neighbors, the Pulitzer family, who sent it down to the spa to be properly fluffed and later was outfitted in a velvet collar with gold. </b></div>
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<b>Mollie sits before The Mercedes, which barely missed her pool. </b></div>
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<b>For a month the rust bucket sat at the foot of her estate. The company that owned the boat couldn't afford to remove it, as they were broke, and so they abandoned it. The State of Florida also refused to do anything, so Mollie hired a lawyer and finally a crew was sent out to remove it. Many nights she hosted parties with the ship on her lawn, her guests making numerous wild suggestions as to what she should do with the ship, such as turning it into a restaurant or a nightclub. Mollie was furious that it took so long to remove it, saying "There's a strong possibility" she said "that if the boat had washed up on the Kennedy property, it would be gone already." The whole event sounded like a movie, and that is what Walt Disney Company thought, too. A few weeks later, they contacted Mollie and proposed to her the idea of making the whole affair into a movie "Palm Beached", with Bette Midler or Melanie Griffith playing her. She came out strongly against the idea, claiming they were trying to turn Palm Beach into Beverly Hills. After languishing in development, it died off. </b></div>
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<b>Mollie Wilmot died in 2002, in her seventies many believe. She was always reluctant to give her age, and told many people many di</b></div>
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Tyler Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09804014270509565721noreply@blogger.com93tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585753048698058724.post-44250366961679911562014-05-14T16:10:00.001-07:002014-05-14T16:10:19.757-07:00Kykuit <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>'Kykuit', the family seat. </b></div>
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<b>The Rockefeller family is perhaps the richest family that ever lived. The family founder, John D. Rockefeller Sr. was said to be worth $337 billion dollars in today's money when he died in 1937, making him the richest man in history. Overtime, the family fortune has decreased, with the current 200 members of the family being worth a combined $8.5 billion, though they are still vastly wealthy. Overtime, the family came to acquire a multitude of homes: 'The Eyrie' and 'The Anchorage' in Mount Dessert, Maine; 10 West Fifty-fourth Street, 740 Park Avenue, 810 Fifth Avenue, East 65th Street and One Beekman Place in New York City; Bassett Hall in Williamsburg, Virginia; 'The Casements' and 'Indian Mound' in Palm Beach; 'Forest Hill' in Cleveland, Ohio; 'The Golf House' in Lakewood, New Jersey; 'Four Winds' in Livingston, New York and the 'JY Ranch' in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The family has 81 homes on the National Register of Historic Places List! Many of these homes have come and gone (demolished, sold.. etc.), but the one home that will forever be associated with the Rockefeller family is their estate in Pocantico Hills, New York, 'Kykuit', built by John Sr. and owned by the family for four generations. Today, the house is open to the public as a museum, though much of the family continues to live in residences nearby on the estate. </b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>This hilltop paradise was home to four generations of the Rockefeller family, beginning with the philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, founder of Standard Oil. His business acumen made him, in his day, the richest man in America. Now a historic site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, this extraordinary landmark has been continuously and meticulously maintained for more than 100 years.</i></span></b></span></div>
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<b>To read more about the estate and mansion, including an online tour of the property please click <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=kykuit&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCgQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hudsonvalley.org%2Fhistoric-sites%2Fkykuit&ei=svZzU9LUAofjoATEvIDgBQ&usg=AFQjCNHhqi4pTlkdYvLYxm9tJNloM5AJHA&sig2=cIQv47B86colxBeH7kHmfg">HERE</a>.</b>Tyler Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09804014270509565721noreply@blogger.com48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585753048698058724.post-74550098796545846642014-05-12T16:41:00.001-07:002014-05-12T16:41:50.720-07:00Nemours <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtG3lBx90TEB7wzPfRBjQeUqp1NW6jTt6VBvmjgaz-GdPvMzgohX066bcieAQw8j4X6QcBa62xL4loqoEnzpdnUKmSBoz8JFq3AZsko4lpL85GvVgdWI9Ra91RUVQxgXuBL_hXitnOifw/s1600/Picture+293.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtG3lBx90TEB7wzPfRBjQeUqp1NW6jTt6VBvmjgaz-GdPvMzgohX066bcieAQw8j4X6QcBa62xL4loqoEnzpdnUKmSBoz8JFq3AZsko4lpL85GvVgdWI9Ra91RUVQxgXuBL_hXitnOifw/s1600/Picture+293.png" height="197" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>'Nemours', the 105-room chateau built for family outcast Alfred I. duPont in the DuPont Historic Corridor, which gets it's name for the numerous estates, buildings, hospitals and organizations the duPont has constructed over the years in the area, located in Wilmington, Delaware. The mansion was designed by the famed architectural firm of Carrére and Hastings, in the Louis XVI Rococo style. The <i>jardin á la française , </i>"French formal gardens" are the largest of it's kind in North America, and are designed after the gardens at Versailles. The gardens include a sunken garden, boxwood garden, maze garden, a reflecting pool, "The Colonnade" (a monument to Pierre Samuel duPont) and a numerous other fountains, pools and statuary. DuPont designed the home for his second wife, Alicia duPont. Surrounding the home were massive stone walls, the result of a family feud awhile back. He ordered no other duPonts on the property, and scattered the outside of the walls with shattered class. Today the mansion is part of the duPont legacy, and currently shares it's grounds with the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, both run by the Nemours Foundation. </b><br />
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<b>To read more about 'Nemours' and the duPont family, click <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=nemours%20mansion&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCgQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nemoursmansion.org%2F&ei=6VtxU6jdFIaGogTX_4LYCQ&usg=AFQjCNEi5l2MMlQRltPrzOBOcYq4gZQHCQ&sig2=GURIW6dSrVFY91vMEAEa6Q">HERE</a>. </b>Tyler Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09804014270509565721noreply@blogger.com1576tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585753048698058724.post-69368739520316050602014-05-11T08:15:00.003-07:002014-05-11T08:15:59.957-07:00Happy Mother's Day <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkFaKF4w3UXikHWL1-kzmxYUJWEL4GZxr8InuBYduX5kTPIL9QYNLt9pRg9pRlq48XA1amQQN_V2nu7q78LzPIJJcxZg_3eEpzA8xlkk2h8PBijqMQ3R-e9hSYT6Z5Y_inA1lp7a74fc/s1600/Picture+289.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkFaKF4w3UXikHWL1-kzmxYUJWEL4GZxr8InuBYduX5kTPIL9QYNLt9pRg9pRlq48XA1amQQN_V2nu7q78LzPIJJcxZg_3eEpzA8xlkk2h8PBijqMQ3R-e9hSYT6Z5Y_inA1lp7a74fc/s1600/Picture+289.png" height="320" width="260" /></a></div>
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<b>Jackie Kennedy with her two children: John Jr. and Caroline. </b></div>
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<b>Mother's Day is a day to celebrate mothers (hence the <i>Mother's </i>Day). Three particularly famous mother come to mind: Jackie Kennedy, Consuelo Vanderbilt and Sunny Von Bülow. They battled and overcame social, financial and even physical burdens to be the best mothers they could be. These ladies had one fixture in their life more important than anything else, and that was their children. </b></div>
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<b>"<i>If you bungle raising your children, I don't think whatever else you do matter very much"</i></b></div>
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<b><i> ~ </i>Jacqueline Kennedy</b></div>
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<b>Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis </b></div>
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<b>Jackie Kennedy raised two children, John and Caroline, and helped raise many grandchildren in her lifetime. During this period, she dealt a Presidential election, the White House, a husband's assassination, the press, a brother-in-law's assassination, a remarriage, another spouse's death, her mother's death and all-the-while the never ending photographers and journalists that followed her family everywhere. Despite it all, she did whatever she could to protect her children, and be the best mother she could be. </b></div>
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<b>Consuelo Vanderbilt Churchill-Spencer Balsan </b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixQAKP9iKCZyY1l3lBbST2GhZr4VEjoKMGZbfxs_tubd1mEsiazHTurYCRNSnJd1mGcHE4pDX2DGExhwRZvjKXu4tS1s7Ox3z9djss8peRNRZh7nqwHxCfto6VOFZSPiAWl3UUgTGGoO8/s1600/Picture+291.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixQAKP9iKCZyY1l3lBbST2GhZr4VEjoKMGZbfxs_tubd1mEsiazHTurYCRNSnJd1mGcHE4pDX2DGExhwRZvjKXu4tS1s7Ox3z9djss8peRNRZh7nqwHxCfto6VOFZSPiAWl3UUgTGGoO8/s1600/Picture+291.png" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<b>After being forced into a marriage by her manipulative and verbally abusive mother, Consuelo gave birth to two boys, Charles and Ivor, which were the result of a very unhappy marriage. Despite hating their father, Consuelo did whatever she could to be a good mother to her children, something which she had never had. She eventually divorced their father, remarried, and went on to see her family prosper into many generations, including her great-great grandchildren. </b></div>
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<b>Martha "Sunny" Crawford Auersperg Von Bülow</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizSIiXzoA8YxJ1f-dyHovQbF_GqybIrILA0bw_Zi_NgzO7LDso_d8ttJs3B_8S3XKIqMu0jpIhHVBh5miuEyagj1br2C3Ghy5hnD59fnenM5s9UWVqk42tZ_kVvEin1Tqnq_jbqZ-OIio/s1600/Picture+292.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizSIiXzoA8YxJ1f-dyHovQbF_GqybIrILA0bw_Zi_NgzO7LDso_d8ttJs3B_8S3XKIqMu0jpIhHVBh5miuEyagj1br2C3Ghy5hnD59fnenM5s9UWVqk42tZ_kVvEin1Tqnq_jbqZ-OIio/s1600/Picture+292.png" height="293" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>When Sunny's father died, she was heiress to a $75 million fortune. Her mother quickly swept her off abroad to marry Austrian Prince Alfred von Auersperg, which led to the birth of two children, a boy and a girl, Alex and Ala. The couple divorced, and Sunny took her two children back to America. She later remarried to Claus Von Bülow, which led to another child, Cosima. Sunny battled drug and alcohol addiction to do whatever was needed to keep her children protected, only ever wanting what was best for them. For this, Sunny was forced into a coma by Claus, in an attempt to steal her riches. She died in 2007, having been cared for and visited by her children almost daily. </b></div>
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Tyler Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09804014270509565721noreply@blogger.com657tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585753048698058724.post-40151223146469048292014-05-10T19:03:00.003-07:002014-05-10T19:03:41.172-07:00Grace Kelly Visits The Kennedys <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jBDqduN4WZvZlNnFuiFPp3IoqoS9tCjLHKnvMXB64JNP_Z4OiApP2bTPTpV0cmCfO7-ZTQFHYbJOyXwzzlMVp_JTJH-ttZPfq_lfR5rVwKq5GS1IOOQj4yOSxkloMBUCn8wLLA4dJFk/s1600/Picture+283.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jBDqduN4WZvZlNnFuiFPp3IoqoS9tCjLHKnvMXB64JNP_Z4OiApP2bTPTpV0cmCfO7-ZTQFHYbJOyXwzzlMVp_JTJH-ttZPfq_lfR5rVwKq5GS1IOOQj4yOSxkloMBUCn8wLLA4dJFk/s1600/Picture+283.png" height="400" width="256" /></a></div>
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<b>Princess Grace and Prince Rainier arrive at The White House, 1961.</b></div>
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<b>On May 24, 1961, Prince Rainer III de Grimaldi and Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco were welcomed at a luncheon held in their honor by President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy at The White House. This was slightly unusual, for normally protocol dictated that visiting dignitaries were given a <i>dinner</i> in their honor, as opposed to the much less formal luncheon. However, it was rumored that Jackie worried Grace would pull out the crown jewels and out-show her if such a dinner was given. Nevertheless, the event was still highly regarded. </b></div>
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<b>Prince Rainier and Princess Grace with President and First Lady Kennedy. </b></div>
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<b>In addition to the Prince and Princess, and the President and First Lady, also in attendance were Mr. and Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt Jr. and U.S. Senator from Rhode Island, Claiborne de Borda Pell and his wife, Nuala O'Donnell Pell (who recently passed away a few weeks ago). The Pells summered with Kennedys in Newport, Rhode Island, where, coincidentally, Grace Kelly had lived when she starred in the movie "High Society", which was filmed there. The menu of the luncheon was as thus:</b></div>
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<b>Menu</b></div>
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<b>White House Luncheon for Price Rainier and Princess Grace</b></div>
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<b>May 24, 1961</b></div>
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<b>Soft Shell Crab Amandine</b></div>
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<b>Puligny-Montrachet 1958</b></div>
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<b>Spring Lamb a la Broche aux Primeurs</b></div>
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<b>Chateau Corton Grancey 1955</b></div>
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<b>Salade Mimosa</b></div>
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<b>Dom Perignon 1952</b></div>
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<b>Strawberries Romanoff</b></div>
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<b>Petite Four Secs</b></div>
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<b>Demi-tasses</b></div>
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<b>The seating chart of the White House luncheon. </b></div>
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<b>The menu of the White House luncheon.</b></div>
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<b>In a latter interview she gave about the President after his death, Grace mentions she kept the menu to the luncheon, as she said she never gets rid of anything. The luncheon was the first official visit to the White House from Monaco. </b></div>
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<b>To see additional photographs taken of the event, please click <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=grace%20kelly%20visits%20the%20white%20house&source=web&cd=6&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CDQQFjAF&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jfklibrary.org%2FAsset-Viewer%2FArchives%2FJFKWHP-1961-05-24-D.aspx&ei=rpluU8GuG8iBoQT-3YBg&usg=AFQjCNH5zoVcBjRt35A2xQppd9SOX4rJmw&sig2=X7mFANd2JCCA5CXLeq9xtg">HERE</a>.</b></div>
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<b>To see more about Grace Kelly's JFK interview, please click <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=prince%20rainier%20luncheon%20white%20house&source=web&cd=11&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CF0QFjAK&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.beyondgracekelly.com%2Fjfk-interview%2F&ei=VtduU57vBcv_oQTIl4HADA&usg=AFQjCNGetVD8Nfj__h3h-GpH5pDraRCFZg&sig2=EgbC4Q63KMjQxFZtKAQocQ">HERE</a>.</b></div>
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Tyler Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09804014270509565721noreply@blogger.com67tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585753048698058724.post-87984182438946839702014-05-09T18:06:00.000-07:002014-05-09T18:06:01.813-07:00"Ze Titanic Zinks!"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPAnRYtcwgdmjzytkLIfsBGD72uZOXi8KfHme0AttWnxCBlJg4xAAnSlfUfZ9YCgXss0xG-H0uAMJCaY9p46eYU38q9A5BcG4ZbZs7W_idJ3AmQSIyq0YQKh5PxceR9UFibOO4lhqLb5E/s1600/Picture+270.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPAnRYtcwgdmjzytkLIfsBGD72uZOXi8KfHme0AttWnxCBlJg4xAAnSlfUfZ9YCgXss0xG-H0uAMJCaY9p46eYU38q9A5BcG4ZbZs7W_idJ3AmQSIyq0YQKh5PxceR9UFibOO4lhqLb5E/s1600/Picture+270.png" height="236" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>The first real film made about the Titanic was the German film "Titanic". Made solely as Nazi propaganda, the film features German first officer Hans Peterson, who warns the greedy British passengers and crew that the ship is going too fast, and as a result they hit an iceberg and sink. Sink there are 3000 passengers onboard, and only enough lifeboats to hold a few hundred, many people die in the sinking. At the end of the film, the British inquiries are held. J. Bruce Ismay walks free, and all the blame is put solely on Captain Smith, who perished in the sinking. </b><br />
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<b>The Dining Room, before and during the sinking.</b></div>
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<b>Among the passengers traveling onboard, are White Star Line President J. Bruce Ismay and his wife, Gloria, who like all the other first-class passengers onboard are portrayed as sleazy and callous. Ismay plans are increasing the value of his and the White Star Line board-members' stock by having the Titanic win the Blue Ribbon. He cares only for himself and his money. </b></div>
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<b>J. Bruce and Gloria Ismay. </b></div>
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<b>Also onboard, are John Jacob Astor and his wife, Lady Astor. Astor is the richest man onboard, and he plans on buying out the Titanic from the White Star Line by purchasing %52 of their stock. Lady Astor, on the other hand, is tired of her husband looking at her as just another one of his assets, and frequently resorts to abusing her maid, Jenny, and her husband's secretary, Hopkins. </b></div>
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<b>John J. and Lady Astor. </b></div>
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<b>Then there is the Duchess of Canterville, who is depicted as being at least sensible, if somewhat oblivious, and Lord Archibald Douglas, who is $2 million in debt. The Duchess has never been on a ship before, because she can't swim, and only came onboard the Titanic because it is un-sinkable. Lord Douglas came aboard to find some way out of debt, and to try and steal Lady Astor's jewels, though someone else beat him to it. </b></div>
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<b>The Duchess of Canterville and Lord Douglas. </b></div>
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<b>The only non-corrupt first-class passenger onboard is Sigrid Olinsky, a recently impoverished Russian aristocrat, whom everyone thinks is extremely rich. She is Hans's lover, and the only passenger onboard to actually care about her servants. Ismay initially tries to charm her into helping bail out the White Star Line, though he eventually gives up due to his wife's anger. Hans then tries to get her to convince Ismay to slow the ship down. </b></div>
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<b>Sigrid Olinsky. </b></div>
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<b>Following the first-class passengers, are an interesting group of third-class passengers, who are, despite being rather idiotic at times, portrayed as still being better than the evil British first-class. Included are a rather dedicated couple, who look as if they belong in second-class rather than third. </b></div>
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<b>Hans Peterson is right, and the ship hits an iceberg. Chaos thus ensues, and everyone begins to run around and scream. People are seen running about the get to the lifeboats, many wearing the flimsy life vests provided for by the cheap British. Out of the whole boatload of characters, only four survive. Ismay, upon hearing the news, demands a lifeboat be secured for him. After many attempts at finding rescue, Hans announces he will save him, so that he may appear in court afterwards and face justice. It is presumed Gloria survived, as she is the first person in a lifeboat, dressed in a jaguar fur coat and clutching jewelry. Later, her over-crowded lifeboat is seen being rocked back and forth by people in the water trying to climb in, and she is eventually dumped into the water. </b></div>
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<b>Hans agrees to secure Ismay a lifeboat, to Captain Smith's surprise. </b></div>
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<b>Gloria demands the officer lower the boat. </b></div>
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<b>Sigrid tells Hans she is broke, and her takes her to the deck, where they both proceed to help distraught people into the boats. Hans convinces her to get into a boat, as they will need her to keep everyone calm. She goes reluctantly. Hans then somehow gets below decks, into a flooding first-class corridor, where he hears a little girl screaming "Mommy!". He rescues the girl who was abandoned by her callous British parents and then is thrown into the water when the ship begins to sink. All the other boats he swims past, all filled with British passengers, refuse to let him on. He finally swims to Sigrid's boat, where she demands they let him and the child onboard. They are both rescued, and later seen testifying at the hearings. </b></div>
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<b>Hans testifying at the hearings. </b></div>
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<b>As for the other characters, they all perish. Captain Smith goes down with his ship, ashamed he acted like an idiot and listened to Bruce Ismay orders to speed up the ship. John Astor, after hearing the news, orders Lady Astor to go up on deck and take a life vest and her jewelry box, accompanied by Hopkins. She brushes her husband aside and goes to change out of her evening gown, refusing to wear the life vest. She dies, as she could not decide what to wear. Astor then tries to buy a place in a lifeboat, but is last seen with his wife's jewelry box in the lounge. He also dies. Hopkins was presumably shot. </b></div>
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<b>John Astor tries to get Lady Astor and Hopkins to go on deck.</b></div>
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<b>The Duchess of Canterville is one of the last people seen on the Titanic before it sinks. She makes it out on deck, in full gilded attire wearing her life vest, as the last lifeboat departs. She ponders jumping into the boat as it pulls away, but then decides not to, putting her head down knowing she is too late. Both she and Lord Douglas die, who is last seen drinking in the lounge. Just about all the third-class characters also die.</b></div>
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<b>At the end of the film, after the inquiries and hearings, the council decides that all the blame should fall only on Captain Smith, and not Ismay, who gets to walk free. Amongst the last lines in the movie talk about how Britain caused the Titanic, and how corrupt they are.</b></div>
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<b>Despite all the inaccuracies, and the British hate, the movie was rather interesting, if not almost completely fictional. The movie is available on YouTube, with English subtitles. </b></div>
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Tyler Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09804014270509565721noreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585753048698058724.post-59277488648870425352014-04-27T10:24:00.001-07:002014-04-27T10:24:19.123-07:00Daisy Bruguiére, Dowager of Newport<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6s4tsZNwUyw-V4fvdAtmiPVtRSBkelVPOIz2UggWK8vl06dAVNrjrLt_Xmrta90bkncSHRnx8TwDrJDSyojEXSSEp0p0QDIMD79GKPMfVJWWNkVptTQNFXVQ54fHHKYP0NikBUKiiwr8/s1600/Picture+223.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6s4tsZNwUyw-V4fvdAtmiPVtRSBkelVPOIz2UggWK8vl06dAVNrjrLt_Xmrta90bkncSHRnx8TwDrJDSyojEXSSEp0p0QDIMD79GKPMfVJWWNkVptTQNFXVQ54fHHKYP0NikBUKiiwr8/s1600/Picture+223.png" height="400" width="301" /></a></div>
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<b>Mrs. Bruguiére's portrait by Simon Elves. </b></div>
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<b>When Margaret "Daisy" Post Van Alen Bruguiére died at the age of 92 on January 20, 1969, at her Newport residence, 'Wakehurst', it marked the end of a fabulous and luxurious way of life. Mrs. Bruguiére was the end of her kind. A grand manner of life, a style of living, was now over. Mrs. Bruguiére's house was the last in Newport to value birthright above all else. As Daisy put it herself, in 1962, seven years before her death, "Wakehurst is the last '<i>properly</i>' run [estate] left in Newport." Her death was the end...</b></div>
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<b>From the 1940's till her death, Daisy Bruguiére held singular control over Newport and Washington DC society. One was never really in society unless one had been invited <i>twice</i> to Mrs. Bruguiére's home. The first invitation, to tea or lunch, meant nothing, it was only an chance for Daisy to survey the contestant to determine if a second would be sent. If the candidate was lucky enough to be sent a second invitation, it was most always for a dinner or ball. Mrs. Bruguiére's ball were most likely the grandest in Newport. Guests would arrive five minutes early and park their cars along the driveway, so that way they could enter Wakehurst right on time (Daisy never tolerated tardiness). A red carpet would be rolled out, and two footmen to greet the guests. Once inside, they would find their hostess in the long hall, gloved and her neck wrapped in oriental pearls, standing beneath her portrait. Daisy made it very clear that under no uncertain terms does she like the new short cocktail dresses, so her guests never dare to appear in anything less than a full-length evening gown. Dinner begins at 8:00 sharp. Cocktails are allowed, though in the long hall out of Daisy's sight. Smoking is also allowed, too, though also in the Long Hall. After dinner, there is dancing in the ballroom. The ballroom was perhaps the grandest part of Wakehurst. Since it was built, there has never been electricity in the ballroom chandeliers, along hundreds of candles to light it. The walls, much like the other rooms of Wakehurst, are lined with portraits and paintings of Van Alen ancestors and friends, who loom down on the younger generations. Tucked away in an anteroom, an orchestra plays as guests dance till dawn. </b></div>
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<b>Wakehurst, Mrs. Bruguiére's Newport residence.</b></div>
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<b>The Ballroom at Wakehurst. </b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg65p0OiQrAKSUXdkoi4CS3gzX2dQ0rW6g_ZrmYNRLzLOSPD0Y4rBcEOd9W3utPDjGdc4YIcWD5uoThwno9-FsAny1Dhk4wYQPJsOoByl7svyyKT55atfX7GrpBY0EEk1LBDiOsjfxyyHA/s1600/Picture+225.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg65p0OiQrAKSUXdkoi4CS3gzX2dQ0rW6g_ZrmYNRLzLOSPD0Y4rBcEOd9W3utPDjGdc4YIcWD5uoThwno9-FsAny1Dhk4wYQPJsOoByl7svyyKT55atfX7GrpBY0EEk1LBDiOsjfxyyHA/s1600/Picture+225.png" height="245" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>The Long Hall at Wakehurst.</b></div>
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<b>Mrs. Bruguiére spent summers in Newport at Wakehurst, and winters were spent in Washington D.C. at her townhouse on New Hampshire Avenue. Daisy travelled between her two residences via private plane. Mrs. Bruguiére also rented a home in Palm Beach, Florida, and frequently visited her uncle, Frederick Vanderbilt at his Hudson Valley estate 'Hyde Park'. When Frederick Vanderbil died in 1936, he left both his Hyde Park estate and $10 million to Daisy, who was already a rich woman herself. Mrs. Bruguiére, not needing another home, decided to donate Hyde Park to the public at the behest of her good friend President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who lived nearby. In 1948, Daisy shocked her friends by returning from widowhood to marry yachtsman Louis Bruguiére, a somewhat impoverished heir to the founder of San Francisco's first bank. The couple lived at their numerous homes, spending the majority of the year at Wakehurst. Daisy's son, Jimmy Van Alen, was founder of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, and lived near his mother in Newport at 'Avalon'. </b></div>
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<b>Daisy was notable around Newport for her lavender, if somewhat purple, hair, which she carefully dyed once a week. This, coupled with Daisy's imperious attitude, prompted younger Newporters to refer to her as "The Purple People-Eater", something which, if she ever knew about, would have probably smiled at. </b></div>
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<b>November 27-30, 1969, an auction was conducted by Christie's in London of Mrs. Bruguiére's possessions and all the contents of Wakehurst. The grand portraits of Van Alen ancestors, the heirlooms dating back hundreds of years and Mrs. Bruguiére's fine jewelry and furniture collection were all sold (some to Jimmy Van Alen and his wife, Candy). When she died, Daisy was said to be the richest lady in Newport, with a $47 million fortune. Wakehurst was sold in 1972, and now serves as a dorm building for the Salve Regina University, who unfortunately removed most of the fine paneling in the ballroom. Despite all this, Mrs. Bruguiére's, Daisy's, legacy still remains in Newport. And Wakehurst, though stripped of the Van Alen's carefully collected possessions, still remains a monument to Newport's most regal leader and her imperious family. </b></div>
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<b>To read more about Mrs. Bruguiére, called Aunt Daisy by most Newporters, please visit my Facebook page dedicated to her, Wakehurst and her family, "The Extraordinary Life of Daisy Bruguiére and Her Estate 'Wakehurst'", by clicking <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Extraordinary-Life-of-Daisy-Bruguiere-and-Her-Estate-Wakehurst/158618330985089?ref=stream">HERE</a>. Please give us a like and show your support! </b></div>
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<b>You can also visit my Pinterest board about Daisy Bruguiére and following it, by clicking <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/tyleryhughes/daisy-brugui%C3%A9re-queen-of-newport/">HERE</a>.</b></div>
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<b>Also, to learn more about Daisy Bruguiére's Newport and the others like her, please join my Facebook group, "Newport ~ Queen of Resorts", which currently has over 730 members, by clicking <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/444419538982563/">HERE</a>.</b></div>
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Tyler Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09804014270509565721noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585753048698058724.post-19388135294854093072014-03-26T11:26:00.003-07:002014-03-26T11:26:24.764-07:00"The Commodore's Heirs" <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwtohT-I4bbIaKIpfhQpb5suhuMii7UjcO-SzgdVbvmARcFITGJzN2CRbMScM968oRF-4GE8KNIXFvp8tnFDybgUXEzAMgoI5JWWA-cpBRvzqx5bkMXZT4jEfe-Ux09pDFBeQiS34dMQk/s1600/Picture+203.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwtohT-I4bbIaKIpfhQpb5suhuMii7UjcO-SzgdVbvmARcFITGJzN2CRbMScM968oRF-4GE8KNIXFvp8tnFDybgUXEzAMgoI5JWWA-cpBRvzqx5bkMXZT4jEfe-Ux09pDFBeQiS34dMQk/s1600/Picture+203.png" height="255" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>The Gilded Age Era Blog is happy to announce that on April 1st, at 6:30 PM, the Museum of the City of New York will be welcoming author T. J. Stiles ~ author of "The First Tycon: Cornelius Vanderbilt" ~ for a lecture he will be giving on the Commodore and his heirs. The Commodore is one of the richest people in all of history! His fortune nowadays worth many hundreds of billions of dollars. His grandchildren - the heirs - emerged as the "nouveau riche" and were scorned by Mrs. Astor and other old monied families. They latter came to triumph over Astor and her kind by building the world's largest homes and giving lavish and excess parties, showing that they were America's wealthiest family - dominating the New York and Newport social arena. </b><br />
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<b>Here is the official press statement: </b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><i>"T.J. Stiles, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning biography The First Tycoon (Vintage, 2010) recounts the birth </i></b></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><i>of the Gilded Age through the story of the Vanderbilt dynasty. “Commodore” Cornelius Vanderbilt rose </i></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><i>from New York’s docks to become the richest man in America. Old patrician families scorned him, though he </i></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><i>lived in the same dignified fashion as they did. His popular grandchildren emerged as leaders of the social </i></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><i>aristocracy, yet they indulged in lavish excess; their legendary parties and vast mansions defined the age. </i></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><i>The themes of an Edith Wharton novel play out over three generations in real-life tales of scandals, séances, </i></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><i>suicide, and a bitter trial over the Commodore’s will. Presented in conjunction with Gilded New York. </i></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><i>Reservations required — $15 for Museum members; $25 general public.<span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"> </span></i></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><i>Co-sponsored by The Victorian Society of New York.<span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"> "</span></i></b></span></div>
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Order tickets online at </div>
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www.mcny.org/calendar-and-event/public-programs </div>
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or call 917.492.3395<span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"> </span></div>
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1220 FIFTH AVE, NY, NY 10029 • 212.534.1672 • MCNY.ORG</div>
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<b>It is $15 for museum members, and $25 for non-members. </b><br />
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<b>Below, are some photographs that will be mentioned at the event: </b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ2IhDNbjAvb_YaqifVJ2XYdCn8u0PNR6CW_gTA375sCzCABGJIBSNteAKoCGuhr0K3on1_f8fdY6AUNz7Iew7sPBvZgiZnTav6YcHfFRouvWEwgu6YZ65c3KeYbOgY3_8X0CiicnwFZw/s1600/Picture+204.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ2IhDNbjAvb_YaqifVJ2XYdCn8u0PNR6CW_gTA375sCzCABGJIBSNteAKoCGuhr0K3on1_f8fdY6AUNz7Iew7sPBvZgiZnTav6YcHfFRouvWEwgu6YZ65c3KeYbOgY3_8X0CiicnwFZw/s1600/Picture+204.png" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
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<b>Alice Vanderbilt's "Electric Light" Costume ~ Worn to her sister's infamous 1890's ball.</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AoaIz_lUd12eFJ5OxvY-HIbSnAemgAxILXIPmfrqt_WhdsQYx6SHa2DkuyDsxaiYwvYJRTAukUD_aEr6P9_fpwlmEBCRVYJWltcVTdSaPj_5-lw0rZA7ybUPQtkeEmjXvFQDl3hjV50/s1600/Picture+205.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AoaIz_lUd12eFJ5OxvY-HIbSnAemgAxILXIPmfrqt_WhdsQYx6SHa2DkuyDsxaiYwvYJRTAukUD_aEr6P9_fpwlmEBCRVYJWltcVTdSaPj_5-lw0rZA7ybUPQtkeEmjXvFQDl3hjV50/s1600/Picture+205.png" height="320" width="254" /></a></div>
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<b>The "Japanese Room" at William Henry Vanderbilt's NYC mansion 640 Fifth Avenue, the</b></div>
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<b>last great Vanderbilt mansion to stand in NYC. </b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKpqI9wV5HEtTPWsK2dpADV9IYLzDYWBLJZvscEvstm6Sg3XQxhhcUcxCKsvGCW2v0MU3sckFn_mcN_joB_W-maI12zkAW2ATQNN2rAyqo4wsCmkI2jhea5xmEGJu76_JkNTtdWRZabao/s1600/Picture+206.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKpqI9wV5HEtTPWsK2dpADV9IYLzDYWBLJZvscEvstm6Sg3XQxhhcUcxCKsvGCW2v0MU3sckFn_mcN_joB_W-maI12zkAW2ATQNN2rAyqo4wsCmkI2jhea5xmEGJu76_JkNTtdWRZabao/s1600/Picture+206.png" height="320" width="262" /></a></div>
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<b>A wealthy ladies toilette scene ~ like the kinds the Vanderbilt women would use. </b></div>
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Tyler Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09804014270509565721noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585753048698058724.post-5120099484835350362014-03-25T08:20:00.001-07:002014-03-25T08:34:45.987-07:00The Queen of Summer Resorts<br />
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<a href="http://s3.amazonaws.com/static2.postcrossing.com/postcard/medium/0b3354c5121350986d2f6c622da00301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/static2.postcrossing.com/postcard/medium/0b3354c5121350986d2f6c622da00301.jpg" height="284" style="-webkit-user-select: none;" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>During the Gilded Age ~ And for a long period afterwards ~ the little seaside town of Newport, Rhode Island, was considered to be the select summer resort. One could never be "In" society if one didn't spend summers in Newport (or at the very least own a residence there). Along the oceanside, barons of wealth built colossal marble castles ~ crammed with every finest luxury of the time ~ next door to the sophisticated yet stylish mansions of the "old money" families. No matter the size or opulence, each of these regal establishments were cozily referred to as "cottages" by the seasonal summer residents. Today, many of these palaces survive in the hands of colleges, school institutions or Preservation societies and foundations. A few, however, still remain in private hands. Here are a few "cottages" located in the resort. </b></div>
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<a href="http://specials-images.forbes.com/imageserve/09tkgt9eG98qO/0x600.jpg?fit=scale&background=000000" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://specials-images.forbes.com/imageserve/09tkgt9eG98qO/0x600.jpg?fit=scale&background=000000" height="280" style="-webkit-user-select: none;" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>The Breakers</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Built by Cornelius Vanderbilt II and his wife Alice, it was built to replace their first</i></b></div>
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<b><i>cottage, also called 'Breakers', which burned down. Countess Gladys Szechenyi, Cornelius and Alice's daughter leased the Breakers to the Preservation Society of Newport, who bought the estate from her heirs.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>It is the largest in Newport.</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://rumble101.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/brown-harold-villa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://rumble101.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/brown-harold-villa.jpg" height="235" style="-webkit-user-select: none;" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>The Harold Brown Villa</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Built by Harold Brown and his wife Georgette Wetmore as a summer estate. Given no</i></b></div>
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<b><i>formal name, unlike most of the cottages, it was a treasured family jewel. It was left to Mrs Brown's</i></b></div>
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<b><i>niece Eileen Slocum, who was considered the grande dame of Newport and the Republican Party and died in 2008. It is the only house on Bellevue Avenue still in the hands of the family.</i></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNm9z-2rP9im1F2l4ASSIDkW8EqV9Oomvi2EYHiEiDRPCz0aB3gkFgZ3UgZpoJcuKLdl4Vg5VqHfc0DK-XBOSXVSJZFVFSosWZU7Z5uN3MlngFokwvhM9J101gj_xYQi8B29EyWlkGkI/s1600/Picture+201.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNm9z-2rP9im1F2l4ASSIDkW8EqV9Oomvi2EYHiEiDRPCz0aB3gkFgZ3UgZpoJcuKLdl4Vg5VqHfc0DK-XBOSXVSJZFVFSosWZU7Z5uN3MlngFokwvhM9J101gj_xYQi8B29EyWlkGkI/s1600/Picture+201.png" height="231" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Ochre Court</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Built by Ogden and Mary Goelet as a palatial showplace to gain access into society.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Their son Robert offered the place to his daughter, who not surprisingly turned him down. He then donated the place to the now Salve Regina University, who still own it today.</i></b></div>
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Tyler Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09804014270509565721noreply@blogger.com82tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585753048698058724.post-16922290088453583882014-02-22T09:35:00.004-08:002014-03-25T07:56:23.212-07:00A Newport Poem ~ Cliff Walk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLy9omZdyNojgaY_EzvaYaeDRD48cwkR0WAL18breUNrhKDKJtGo_R9UgabNpm-5VrtdmSkx5jVYKlDbXQjUTSV0TKe3AlThgjzlO2rBjRBHVBvPyRDt9kwdYKNeRV0WGnH1aWNSTHHE/s1600/Picture+160.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLy9omZdyNojgaY_EzvaYaeDRD48cwkR0WAL18breUNrhKDKJtGo_R9UgabNpm-5VrtdmSkx5jVYKlDbXQjUTSV0TKe3AlThgjzlO2rBjRBHVBvPyRDt9kwdYKNeRV0WGnH1aWNSTHHE/s1600/Picture+160.png" height="221" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>~Cliff Walk~</i></b></div>
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<b>Aquidneck Island, in Rhode Island's Ocean State, hosts a trail beside the <i>sea</i></b><br />
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<b>Where on Newport's legendary cliff walk fog-shrouded mansions rise in <i>mystery</i>. </b><br />
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<b>Above the Atlantic's pounding <i>rage</i> one walks past treasures from another <i>age</i></b><br />
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<b>To glimpse grand palaces on a fabled<i> path</i> along a precipice above the ocean's <i>wrath</i>,</b><br />
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<b>As ghostly mists from another <i>time</i> enshroud the visitor with the <i>sublime</i>,</b><br />
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<b>To view gray sentinels that echo times of <i>lore</i> from the Gilded Age, that lavish life <i>before</i>, </b><br />
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<b>When Newport was but America's social <i>queen</i>, of an opulence our nation has seldom <i>seen</i>. </b><br />
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<b>Many mansions there, yet, now do <i>last</i>, those triumphant reminders of the <i>past</i>, </b><br />
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<b>Where, by moonlight, lofty chimneys yet silhouette the <i>sky </i>above cliffs and rocks over the ocean's haunting <i>sigh</i>.</b><br />
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<b>Above the gray cliffs, those do yet <i>dwell</i>, who recall legends </b><br />
<b>of the cliff walk's many tales to <i>tell</i></b><br />
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<b>Of gossip and social scandals and tragedies of the <i>sea</i>, of success and failure during Newport's proud <i>history</i>.</b><br />
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<b>-Alfred Richardson Simson </b></div>
Tyler Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09804014270509565721noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585753048698058724.post-15050315348814210852014-02-18T07:38:00.000-08:002014-03-25T07:56:09.832-07:00Grey Gardens<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUgwjPHTDyHQIqxQ_fVs0pF7jOHX3Osy_uLyspg65Ic6I6imZEnMtvvVlpZZAQrGMHmeMHonf-YrTltEPBzwlKANC2vXQA9pSTVVXGye-BPC6EB6aGNRwyhA8guwg9prG_nE3q-edpwlU/s1600/Picture+148.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUgwjPHTDyHQIqxQ_fVs0pF7jOHX3Osy_uLyspg65Ic6I6imZEnMtvvVlpZZAQrGMHmeMHonf-YrTltEPBzwlKANC2vXQA9pSTVVXGye-BPC6EB6aGNRwyhA8guwg9prG_nE3q-edpwlU/s1600/Picture+148.png" height="253" width="400" /></b></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">'Grey Gardens' ~ Before the Beale residency. </span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">'Grey Gardens' ~ During the Beale residency. </span></b></td></tr>
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<b>In the 1970's, Lee Raziwill, sister of former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, suggested to two film-making brother named Albert and David Maysles, that a documentary be made about the lives of Lee and Jackie's aunt and cousin, both named Edith Beale, and their East Hampton home, 'Grey Gardens'. And so, in 1975, a documentary film was released mystically called <i>'Grey Gardens'. </i>The documentary focused on the tenure of Edith Bouvier Beale, called "Big Edie", and her daughter, Edith Beale, called "Little Edie", and the ruinous conditions they lived in at their once grand estate, 'Grey Gardens'. </b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Little Edie on the cover of the Maysles's documentary ~ Grey Gardens.</span></b></td></tr>
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<b>In 1924, Edith Bouvier and her husband Phelan Beale purchased 'Grey Gardens' in East Hampton, a few miles away from Edith's father's Hampton residence 'Lasata', where future First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy would grow up with her sister. Grey Gardens was known locally for it's stunning and beautiful gardens, which had been designed in 1913. The home was located a block away from the Atlantic Ocean, a was where Little Edie grew up. The Beales separated in 1931, later divorcing via telegram in 1946, Phelan Beale was in Mexico at the time. She received no alimony, however was given child support. After a few years of living in upper Manhattan, Little Edie returned to live permanently with her mother at Grey Gardens in the 1950's. Despite a severe shortage of cash, mother and daughter managed to survive by selling off various pieces of Bouvier silver service or antique jewelry. They remained active in Hampton society, however that ended when Big and Little Edie returned home one evening from a party to find the house had been burglarized, the thief making off with several pieces of antique furniture. The Edies rarely left home afterwards. As costs began to rise, including taxes on the home, the Beale girls found it harder and harder to maintain the home, and thus allowed the place to fall into disrepair. The lush gardens and lawn became overgrown with weeds and bushes, the house began to fall apart. The cozy hall and rooms of the house, soon became cluttered with dust and trash and garbage, not to mention there was a never ending supply of animals running around the rooms, mostly strays taken in by Big and Little Edie. Empty cat food cans were piled up along the walls of the rooms, as the paint she and sagged off, and water leaked through the roof and walls. Broken furniture heaped in every room, and blankets and pillow were lying about, since the home had no heat. The living room was perhaps the only recognizable room left in the mansion, with antique furniture propped up in the center of the room, and a portrait of Big Edie in her thirties sitting crooked in a corner. </b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Big Edie in her eighties, sitting near the window of the living room at<br />Grey Gardens, with her portrait sitting in the corner beside her. </span></b></td></tr>
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<b>The documentary proved to be the legacy of the Beale ladies, as the home was eventually cleaned up by Jacqueline and a crew of trash men. Big Edie died in 1977 at Grey Gardens, and afterwards Little Edie listed the home for sale. She was stunned at how many offers came in to demolish the home. Little Edie refused to sell the home to anyone with plans to demolish, hoping to find a buyer to restore the home. </b><br />
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<i>"All the house needs is a new coat of paint!!" Little Edie said to potential buyers. </i></b><br />
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Eventually, the home was purchased, and completely restored. It was good timing, too, for when Grey Gardens was purchased by it's new owners, the roof and walls were literally caving in. Today, the home is a beautiful reminder to a forgotten era. </b><br />
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Please, also visit the website dedicated to the home, known as 'Grey Gardens' Blog, by clicking <a href="http://greygardensonline.com/">HERE</a>.</b><br />
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Tyler Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09804014270509565721noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585753048698058724.post-1588565703065042012014-02-09T10:16:00.001-08:002014-03-25T07:56:37.432-07:00Newport ~ Queen of Resorts Reaches Over 400 People on Facebook! <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">'Marble House', the Willie K. Vanderbilt cottage, Newport, RI. </span></b></td></tr>
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<b>My Facebook group, "Newport ~ Queen of Resorts", has reached over 400 members this morning! "Newport ~ Queen of Resorts" is dedicated to remembering Newport, RI, and the marble mansions (cozily called "cottages" by their owners) that made it so legendary. Please join our group, by clicking <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/444419538982563/">HERE</a>.</b><br />
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<b>During the Gilded Age, Newport was considered the Queen of all the summer resorts, and many of America's richest citizens built homes there in an attempt to break into the "400", a list of who's who in New York society according to Mrs. Caroline Astor, the leader of the social arena. Amongst other things, a potential candidate was required to spend at least three seasons in Newport before acceptance was decided. Alva Smith Vanderbilt, of the recently rich Vanderbilt family, decided to outbuild everyone in Newport (known as the practice of "Vanderbuilding"). She hired her friend, the renown architect Richard Morris Hunt, to design and build for her a spectacular palace costing $11 million (About $280 million today) made entirely out of marble! The result was the 'Marble House' we have today. Interestingly, Alva chose to build her home on a plot of land adjoining the Newport cottage of Mrs. Astor, 'Beechwood'. To put it simply, Alva was bound to get in! </b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>Tyler Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09804014270509565721noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585753048698058724.post-17578804307783377292014-02-08T08:59:00.002-08:002014-03-25T07:56:59.526-07:00The Firestones in Newport<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLVbVaC1C1zxW-yhiHFDqWcW-5Z79B7UnsuAIfSlpvJwAyJijw-dkrE6ebpOjBICJPC-EC6R2Jc7GYaXQcKRAUHy4kqqQQwuxqiJ5j_d50vHTvF7hGW6lmJm0A9ITAEWfbyEa95MX780/s1600/Picture+129.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLVbVaC1C1zxW-yhiHFDqWcW-5Z79B7UnsuAIfSlpvJwAyJijw-dkrE6ebpOjBICJPC-EC6R2Jc7GYaXQcKRAUHy4kqqQQwuxqiJ5j_d50vHTvF7hGW6lmJm0A9ITAEWfbyEa95MX780/s1600/Picture+129.png" height="400" width="313" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Harvey S. and Elizabeth P. Firestone sailing onboard a ship to Europe, 1958.</span></b></td></tr>
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<b>Mr. and Mrs. Harvey S. Firestone Jr. were amongst the wealthiest couples in Newport, with a combined net worth in the range of seventy-million dollars. They summered at their Newport residence, 'Ocean Lawn', which Mr. Firestone had purchased in the early 1950's. In addition to 'Ocean Lawn', the Firestones maintained homes in New York City, Ohio and Palm Beach. The Firestones were a dedicated couple, having wed in 1921, and remained married for over fifty years, till Harvey Firestone's death. Afterwards, Mrs. Firestone remained in seclusion at 'Ocean Lawn', leading a very lavish livelihood. </b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Elizabeth Parke Firestone (1897-1990)</span></b></td></tr>
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<b>Harvey and Elizabeth Firestone were known in Newport for their extensive collections, particularly Elizabeth. Elizabeth Firestone was said to collect just about everything, and she carefully marked, catalogued, sorted and organized her collection into a massive inventory. She was particularly fond of couture dresses, which she collected by the hundreds. Her collection of clothes was so massive, she had a three-story walk-in closest carved out of guest bedrooms at 'Ocean Lawn'. Elizabeth also had a passion for collecting silver and porcelain pieces, which she housed in a small anteroom at 'Ocean Lawn', featuring specially designed class cabinets for their storage. </b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">'Ocean Lawn' ~ The Firestone cottage in Newport, Rhode Island.</span></b></td></tr>
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<b>With 'Ocean Lawn' bursting at the seams full of her collection, Elizabeth decided that more property needed to be purchased. In addition to the main house, the property at 'Ocean Lawn' included a guest house, gardener's cottage, pool house, green houses and a playhouse for the Firestone grandchildren. A few years later, Mrs. Firestone purchased the two neighboring properties: 'Southside' and 'The Orchard', to not only buffer 'Ocean Lawn' from other neighbors, but also to utilize the homes as more space for her collection. 'Southside' became completely devoted to Elizabeth's collection of Jamaican furniture, which had originally graced the Firestone residence in Jamaica. </b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">'Ocean Lawn' </span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Elizabeth Parke Firestone, photographed by Cecil Beaton.</span></b></td></tr>
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<b>Elizabeth Firestone was a perfectionist, carefully concerned and mindful of her appearance. She had a fit routine which she practiced with care every morning. She had breakfast every morning in her bedroom, and planned every meal she ate with her the Firestone's cook. After breakfast, her maid would come and do her hair and nails in the beauty parlor chair and hair dryer she had installed in her room. Afterwards, she would exercise by the pool with her personal trainer. Many remember, that at a certain age, Elizabeth began having facelifts done every seven years to retain a youthful look. She had them done in Florida, by a surgeon who did all the Hollywood stars. Elizabeth also took very very VERY great care in what she wore. She favored pinks and blues, and had swatches of fabric next to each of her shoes to make sure the servant picked the right outfit to match with the shoes. She had her clothes washed in Paris, though pressed at home. Her system of organizing her clothes was so well planned, that she never lost a thing. </b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Mrs. Firestone's dressing table at 'Ocean Lawn'.</b></td></tr>
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<b>With Mrs. Firestone's death in 1990, 'Ocean Lawn' was valued at $6 million. Her fabulously collection of dresses was given to various museums, including the Henry Ford Museum in Detroit, Michigan. Christie's New York was given the honor of auctioning off her marvelous jewelry and decorative arts collection. 'Ocean Lawn' was eventually sold for $1 million, and 'Southside' and 'The Orchard' were also sold. Today, both 'Ocean Lawn' and 'The Orchard' still survive. </b></div>
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<b>To read more about 'Ocean Lawn', click <a href="http://thegildedageera.blogspot.com/2012/12/ocean-lawn-firestone-estate-newport-ri.html">HERE</a>. </b></div>
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<b>To read more about Mrs. Elizabeth Firestone, please click <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=elizabeth%20parke%20firestone&source=web&cd=9&cad=rja&ved=0CFQQFjAI&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehenryford.org%2Fexhibits%2Fvintagecouture%2Fepf.asp&ei=82H2UtS6B4a6yQG7m4CYCg&usg=AFQjCNHAIUtkLn5dyWBO7CDVCFvTcsSMuQ&sig2=E6CLgHnAZcqrB8bzuRY2ow">HERE </a> and <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=elizabeth%20parke%20firestone&source=web&cd=10&cad=rja&ved=0CF0QFjAJ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehenryford.org%2Fexhibits%2Fpic%2F2005%2Fmarch.asp&ei=82H2UtS6B4a6yQG7m4CYCg&usg=AFQjCNGS5_g10XWA2FUwXwJiNETvDWWP6Q&sig2=izwrlHnc0jYeILiH4Vg06Q">HERE</a> to read about her fabulous wedding dress, currently on exhibit at the Henry Ford Museum. </b></div>
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<br />Tyler Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09804014270509565721noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585753048698058724.post-28005721248556633262014-02-07T17:23:00.003-08:002014-03-25T07:57:14.893-07:00'Beechwood' Evolves! <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAafgmyfRaZYyjuw19bRsh-ADWeHiUZOgd_vChPlh6DsMFfOeTfzpWewdCesRG2z2BGLrDXiyPyd5EYUEZjKq5IszHWtvl8sWkvGCE0NYbnmxgG0HmgELNv-ptgDjYcLo6s9h58IYvmoY/s1600/Picture+125.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAafgmyfRaZYyjuw19bRsh-ADWeHiUZOgd_vChPlh6DsMFfOeTfzpWewdCesRG2z2BGLrDXiyPyd5EYUEZjKq5IszHWtvl8sWkvGCE0NYbnmxgG0HmgELNv-ptgDjYcLo6s9h58IYvmoY/s1600/Picture+125.png" height="228" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sketches of Larry Ellison's plan for 'Beechwood'.</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">'Beechwood' today, currently in the process of exterior and interior <br />restoration. </span></b></td></tr>
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<b>It was big news in 2010, when Oracle billionaire Lawrence Ellison purchased the deeds to the Astor family cottage in Newport, Rhode Island, 'Beechwood'. It shocked everyone even more, when he announced plans to turn the residence into a museum, and purchase the original acreage to the property and restore both the house and the gardens. The new estate would serve as a museum to Ellison's art collection, which would adorn the walls of the manor house.</b><br />
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<b>Originally built by Andrew Downing and Calvert Vaux for merchant Daniel Parrish, 'Beechwood' was later purchased by William Backhouse Astor Jr., the grandson of America's first millionaire John Jacob Astor, for his wife, Caroline Schermerhorn Astor, known officially as THE "Mrs. Astor". Mrs. Astor was renown as queen of New York City society, keeping the outsiders out and the insiders in with her list of socially acceptable New York families, known as the "400". It was her so-called "court jester" Ward McAllister, the man who wrote the "400", who led her to Newport, describing it as practically a "gated-community". Since 'Beechwood' possessed no ballroom, renovation had to be made. Mrs. Astor commissioned her friend and fellow Newport neighbor, architect Richard Morris Hunt, to oversee the renovations. A few months later, 'Beechwood' was ready for occupation, and Mrs. Astor moved in. Very soon, 'Beechwood' became the new scene of the "400", and Newport where they flocked every summer to escape the New York heat. Mrs. Astor held the grandest entertainments in her Newport ballroom, which featured wall scones designed with nymphs and Poseidon. The Astor's Summer Ball was the official opening of the Newport summer social season, and invitation to such event was highly sought after, something which could make or break one's social standing. With Mrs. Astor's failing health in 1907, 'Beechwood' saw less and less entertainments, the events there becoming more family related. Mrs. Astor's son, John IV also summered at the cottage with his mother, and frequently used the home as an escape from his domineering wife, Ava. Mrs. Astor died in 1908, and left the home to her only son, who quickly turned around and divorced his wife, later marrying a Bar Harbor socialite named Madeleine Force, who was 18 to his 47 years. It was a scandalous marriage, held in the ballroom at 'Beechwood'. The Astors fled to Europe to escape gossip, and shortly after returned with news that Madeleine was pregnant with Astor's third child, John VI. Astor had two other children from his marriage with Ava, Vincent and Ava. </b><br />
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<b>On their return trip home, the Astors booked passage on the newly complete Titanic as the richest passengers onboard. The Titanic sunk days into it's maiden voyage on April 15, 1912. Madeleine escaped the ship in one of the few lifeboats onboard. John, however, like most of the men onboard, perished. In his will, John left 'Beechwood' and a $5 million trust fund to Madeleine, so long as she did not remarry. He also left a $3 million trust fund to his unborn son, to be received at the age of 21. Madeleine continued to use 'Beechwood' during the summers, and was known as a big-spender, turning the entire third-floor of 'Beechwood' into her own walk-in closet. She eventually remarried, and relinquished use of the estate to Vincent, who sold the estate again to a Count and Countess. In the 1960's, 'Beechwood' became home to Palm Beachers Mr. and Mrs. James Clark, whose beagle William was known in Florida as "the mayor". The Clarks closed down seventeen of the forty-eight rooms and summered there seasonally. After Mrs. Clark's death in 1980's, the home was sold again, and later made into a living-history museum, known as "The Astor's Beechwood", which featured actors dressed in period costume and pretending to be Astor family members before the Titanic. The company operated the home until it's purchase from Ellison.</b><br />
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<b>To read more information on the restoration currently going on a 'Beechwood', please click <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=beechwood%20newport&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=IODXiRS6OSfb9M&tbnid=tO9P_o5CMWhFOM:&ved=0CAMQjhw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.newportri.com%2Fnewportdailynews%2Fnews%2Fpage_one%2Fbeechwood-evolves%2Farticle_71fbdc5c-c910-53f2-a1c8-14379484d332.html%3Fmode%3Dimage%26photo%3D1&ei=Xn31Up-9BsTqoASp2oGwBw&psig=AFQjCNFBk-61FksOkVf4hoekbPRbe40XsA&ust=1391902812023981">HERE</a>. </b><br />
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<b>If you are interested in the Newport "cottages", such as 'Beechwood', please visit my Facebook group, "Newport ~ Queen of Resorts" by clicking <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/444419538982563/">HERE</a>, and please ask to join. With almost 400 members, we can so be called the Newport "400"! </b><br />
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<b>Also, please show your support and visit Gilded Age Era's Facebook page, by clicking <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thegildedageera?ref=stream">HERE</a>, and please give us a like in support! </b><br />
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<b>Also, if you are on Pinterest or Twitter, please follow me by clicking <a href="http://pinterest.com/tyleryhughes/">HERE</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/Tyler_TDizzle">HERE</a>.</b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>Tyler Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09804014270509565721noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585753048698058724.post-11887265743053006622014-02-02T06:58:00.002-08:002014-03-25T07:57:53.132-07:00'Blair Mansion' DEMOLITION <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The historic 'Blair Mansion' in Tulsa, Oklahoma, long a Tulsan symbol of<br />history, a mere days before it's demolition to make way for a $200 million<br />park plan. </span></b></td></tr>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On February 1, 2014, Tulsa's historic 'Blair Mansion' </span></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">facing Riverside, overlooking the Arkansas River, </span></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">was demolished after attempts to move the </span></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">residence to make way for a park. Demolition begun </span></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">at 8:00 a.m. and was completed by 10:00 a.m. With </span></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">it, went a piece of sacred Tulsa history.</span></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></b></span></b></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Constructed in 1952 for Tulsa millionaire, B. B. Blair, </span></span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span></b>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">one of the largest investors </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">in Canal Refining Co. </span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">and</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"> Western Supply Co., and his wife Priscilla Blair </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">on their dream lot, 33.2 acres overlooking the </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">Arkansas River on historic Riverside Drive, a plot </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">that the Blair's cozily called their little 'farm'. The </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">Blair's commissioned local architect John Duncan </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">Forsyth to design their southern plantation-style </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">home, inspired by 'Beauvoir', the Mississippi home </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">of John Davis, President of the Confederacy during </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">the Civil War. With two stories, expansive gardens </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">and wide veranda, the home for many years </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">functioned as a full working farm, complete with a </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">large vegetable garden, fruit trees, and a manager's </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">cottage. Many can recall driving by the mansion in </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">50's and 60's and smelling the aroma of Blair's </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">freshly mown alfalfa. </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">Blair died in 1980, after which it was inherited by </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">Priscilla Blair, who was a member of the Tulsa </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">Garden Club and also a charter member of the </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">Philbrook Art Museum. The home was passed onto </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">the Blair's only son, John Blair, a longtime resident </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">of Swan Lake, Montana, upon Priscilla's death in </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">1995. John Blair promptly sold the residence. </span></span></b><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">In </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">2012, Dan Buford, a nursing-home builder and </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">twenty-year resident of the Blair Mansion, sold the </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">property to the George Kaiser Foundation, with the </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">intention the Buford would be given a year to try </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">and relocate the home. After consulting numerous </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">architects, the plan was to have the home split into </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">three halves and moved to a separate location. This </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">would prove to be nearly impossible and extremely </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">costly. After a year, Buford gave up. </span></span></b><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">It wasn't till the </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">day of the demolition, February 1, that I realized the </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">home was being demolished. </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">It was 7:15 a.m., and </span></span></b><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">the crews had already arrived </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span></span></b>
<b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">at the site, to meet </span></span></span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">the 8:00 deadline. I was still bewildered why the </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">home was being demolished. "To make way for a </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">Tulsa Parks Gathering Space" the papers said. But </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">why did the home need to be demolished? Couldn't </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">this "gathering space" be built somewhere on the </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">other 33 acres of the property? Or why couldn't the </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">home itself be used? The lavish interiors would be a </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">perfect fit for weddings, receptions and other such </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">events. Why did the home have to be demolished? </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">That question will forever ring in my mind "Why did </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">it have to go.. why... why was The 'Blair Mansion' </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">demolished??"</span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><b>The 'Blair Mansion' will forever remain in the hearts of </b></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><b>Tulsans as a symbol of history, elegance and stately-hood.</b></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><b>To read more about this magnificent piece of history, please </b></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><b>visit my FaceBook page about the property, "The Legacy of </b></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><b>The 'Blair Mansion'", and give us a like. Click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theblairmansion">HERE</a> to do so. </b></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>Tyler Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09804014270509565721noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585753048698058724.post-49385552878748191462013-12-31T11:10:00.001-08:002014-03-25T07:58:49.771-07:00The Stately World of Newport<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcsihCeEtkHQe2i5psn4SgyxqopI5bRz2RJTRCV-SyNeoiTB6dLlXdCBhtbrusE0zTSqsIj37T1zPAAlrWA53szY1NU0-GP7YZ5AX9S6PWwMn_efGZ4PMEbSccVHzmMtfde5Jlp2OYddo/s1600/Picture+100.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcsihCeEtkHQe2i5psn4SgyxqopI5bRz2RJTRCV-SyNeoiTB6dLlXdCBhtbrusE0zTSqsIj37T1zPAAlrWA53szY1NU0-GP7YZ5AX9S6PWwMn_efGZ4PMEbSccVHzmMtfde5Jlp2OYddo/s400/Picture+100.png" height="372" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Being fitted for a costume ball, Mrs. Sheldon Whitehouse tries on a 19th <br />Century Gown long treasured in a trunk.</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7QY2_4P7IHC-Jip1exrMgHouPd1fAh5ZF25BZlGiByd7BeK2ETSyj8lI__Gas1x97Jxzpip_bw3nkajprUmtSRAWFkyaleYnOQ60srAO6tPtu3OJuxZ4AeN5BDio6pnmAT_ERdexqXRw/s1600/Picture+101.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7QY2_4P7IHC-Jip1exrMgHouPd1fAh5ZF25BZlGiByd7BeK2ETSyj8lI__Gas1x97Jxzpip_bw3nkajprUmtSRAWFkyaleYnOQ60srAO6tPtu3OJuxZ4AeN5BDio6pnmAT_ERdexqXRw/s400/Picture+101.png" height="288" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Harold Vanderbilt and guest Winthrop Aldrich look out to sea from the<br />fog-shrouded lawn of Vanderbilt's Newport mansion, Rock Cliff.</span></b></td></tr>
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<b><i>In a Newport mansion a lady stood stately and erect while her maid pinned her gown. On the lawn of a palatial Newport estate two yachtsmen gazed wistfully toward the sea. They were all anticipating the excitement and splendor that they and the famous resort once knew - and would never forget. In Newport's grandiose prime a half century ago a party wasn't really a party in one of the great marble homes 200 guests, attended by 100 knee-breeched footmen, sat down to dinner before solid-gold plates. The grandeur has simmered down since then, but enough of it remains so that, on the proper occasion, the elite can once again perform extravagantly.</i></b></div>
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<b><i> This week, such an occasion arises with the sailing of the America's Cup races off Newport's shores. Mansions maintained by nostalgic owners with skeleton staffs of four to eight servants will come alive with lights and polite revelry. In great houses that have been turned into museums there will be enormous receptions. Harold Vanderbilt, victorious skipper in the 1903 America's cup defense, will reign as the resort's patriarch. The younger New Guard of Newport will, for this occasion, join with the Old Guard in a collective effort to show when Newport decides to entertain is has no peer for pomp</i></b></div>
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<b> ~ LIFE Magazine, September 21, 1962. </b></div>
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<b>Click <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=000EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA77&dq=the+stately+world+of+newport&hl=en&sa=X&ei=fBbDUpDjOZDroASIv4GQCQ&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAA">HERE</a> to read the full article, which also includes pictures of many of the Newport socialites and cottages. </b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
Tyler Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09804014270509565721noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585753048698058724.post-15709299068043520572013-12-30T12:30:00.003-08:002014-03-25T07:59:09.336-07:00Seafair - a.k.a "The Hurricane Hut" <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">'Seafair' - The V. Reed Cottage</span></b></td></tr>
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<b>In the 1930's, Verner Z. Reed Jr. (1900-1986); Vice-President of the Chase Manhattan Bank and later appointed Ambassador to Morocco by President Reagan; called upon British architect William Mackenzie to design for him and build an impressive mansion upon a monumental seaside plot of land. The cottage, once completed, was said to be the last of Newport's famed "cottages" built along the sea. </b><br />
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<b>After a series of massive hurricanes that hit the house ~ earning it the nickname "Hurricane Hut" ~ which did particular damage since the house sat jutting out, exposed to the sea. The house was sold, and later divided up into condominiums. In the 1940's, the home was rented out to William Van Alen, whose mother, Daisy Van Alen Bruguiere lived at 'Wakehurst' a few miles down. In 1945, a Hurricane hit the home as Van Alen and his family were evacuating. Eventually water struck the three Van Alen Rolls Royce, filled with Van Alen, his family and their servants, which were on their way to Van Alen's brother's place, 'Avalon', which was on higher ground. Three servants died in the incident, and soon after, Van Alen and his wife, Bessie, headed out for Philadelphia. </b><br />
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<b>After a wave of owners, a few more wave crashes, Seafair was finally purchased by Rick Bready, chairman of Nortek Inc. in Providence, RI. He and his wife occupied the estate for about four years. In 2013, the couple listed their high-price estate for $19 million. They also listed a separate condo on the property for $3 million. Check out the links below for more information on the listing. </b><br />
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<b><a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=seafair%20newport&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CCkQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.liladelman.com%2F254-ocean-av-newport-rhode-island-02840%2F3921835&ei=prrBUs_iAaPSyAHQzIDQDA&usg=AFQjCNHNWiRD9H7U9JkArCA1cC8_dk8MRw&sig2=-ag3B6SeKUtU4LiBGW74eQ">254 Ocean Av, Newport Rhode Island</a></b><br />
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<b><a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=seafair%20newport&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&ved=0CDoQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhomesoftherich.net%2F2013%2F06%2Fseafair-a-historic-19-million-waterfront-estate-in-newport-ri%2F&ei=_dTBUs2NF8rXyAHfzoG4DA&usg=AFQjCNHQO7kgECfn9XBYN-Sl22MfXSkddA&sig2=JALB-O5s9bomSgoQaDTXVg&bvm=bv.58187178,d.aWc">Seafair - A Historic $19 Million-Dollar Waterfront Property in Newport, RI</a></b><br />
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<b><a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=seafair%20newport&source=web&cd=6&ved=0CFUQFjAF&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpriceypads.com%2Fseafair-19000000%2F&ei=_dTBUs2NF8rXyAHfzoG4DA&usg=AFQjCNFRa1Orx_KGyoP4LrU9oygjJO-zpQ&sig2=ECeQ08HQB8YxNYgrgHbKAg&bvm=bv.58187178,d.aWc">Seafair - $19,000,000</a></b><br />
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<b><a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=seafair%20newport&source=web&cd=8&cad=rja&ved=0CGcQFjAH&url=http%3A%2F%2Fncarchitects.com%2Fportfolio%2Fitem%2Fseafair-%25E2%2580%25A2-newport-ri%2F&ei=jtXBUoDVIZTdoATc4oL4Bg&usg=AFQjCNHLHtq-BaWAbbHud0U6wpL6OH-KPg&sig2=7LGsZ68MjmZp8bHhEFacqA&bvm=bv.58187178,d.cGU">SEAFAIR </a></b><br />
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<b>If you are interested in Newport and it's historic "cottages", or even have a general love for architecture and the Gilded Age, and have a Facebook, please ask to join my group, "<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/444419538982563/">Newport ~ Queen of Resorts</a>" for plenty of information, floor plans, photographs and stories of Newport cottages and the people who lived in them. Please also give The Gilded Age Era's Facebook page a like, by clicking <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thegildedageera">HERE</a>, and showing us your support. To see photographs of many of the Gilded Age properties, including the Vanderbilt homes, Astor palaces, Widener estates and Rockefeller compounds, please visit my Pinterest account, by clicking <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/tyleryhughes">HERE</a>. </b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>Tyler Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09804014270509565721noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585753048698058724.post-51325680377971705152013-12-05T18:58:00.005-08:002014-03-25T07:59:33.788-07:00Demolition of Inisfada <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcnDqsEH7H1ET184H1M90c__ej9-xlZN395DQqkwEhc6gvMet5XMbFQXUhxsMCG-Xoss-wzGk-oZFpnhDp9z6Q1O7HiqtUE-UHQNbMdu8b5HnhiSNXRoErBtIBzDvIB7WWN6wol7Rh8j0/s1600/Picture+16.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcnDqsEH7H1ET184H1M90c__ej9-xlZN395DQqkwEhc6gvMet5XMbFQXUhxsMCG-Xoss-wzGk-oZFpnhDp9z6Q1O7HiqtUE-UHQNbMdu8b5HnhiSNXRoErBtIBzDvIB7WWN6wol7Rh8j0/s400/Picture+16.png" height="271" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">'Inisfada' Front facade. </span></b></td></tr>
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<b>Today, December 5, 2013, demolition was officially begun of the historic 'Inisfada' estate on Long Island, which happens to be the 4th largest home built in the United States. Built between 1916 and 1920, the estate was constructed for Nicholas and Genevieve Brady, a wealthy Catholic couple. After Mr. Brady's death, the house was willed to Genevieve, who in turn gave it to the St. Ignatius, who used the residence as a retreat house. In 1936, the home served as the base for Pope Pius XII during his U.S. tour. 75 years later, the home was listed up for sale by the institution, who decided to sell the place after previously auctioning off several furniture pieces dating back to the Brady ownership. It was sold for $36 million in August of this year, and was rumored to be demolished. After a last-ditch attempt by preservationists, demolition crews finally showed up this morning, ready to begin. Already, the solarium and many exterior walls lay in a pile of rubble. Here are some links regarding the estate and the demolition. </b><br />
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<b><a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=inisfada%20demolition&source=web&cd=5&cad=rja&sqi=2&ved=0CEYQqQIwBA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.newsday.com%2Flong-island%2Fnassau%2Fgreat-gatsby-era-retreat-house-dismantling-begins-1.6550511&ei=dDqhUti-BpLaoATEs4LICA&usg=AFQjCNFgBJKrm9ADu7wUVD6WXVy9vmV2yw&sig2=zKd7SeGBX4Q2E8Lm6C9Jag">'Great Gatsby'-Era Retreat House Dismantling Begins</a></b><br />
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<b><a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=inisfada%20demolition&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&sqi=2&ved=0CEQQqQIwAw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theislandnow.com%2Fnews%2Farticle_50ac3cb8-5dee-11e3-bf30-0019bb2963f4.html&ei=dDqhUti-BpLaoATEs4LICA&usg=AFQjCNFxEnzyAl-tl15V1Kio_P-2od7KLQ&sig2=h8DNzuFu6UZllcYfoL6uxQ">North Hills OK's Inisfada Demolition Permit</a></b><br />
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<b><a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=inisfada&source=newssearch&cd=2&cad=rja&ved=0CC0QqQIoADAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theislandnow.com%2Fnews%2Farticle_4644ef10-52cf-11e3-bb9b-001a4bcf887a.html&ei=XzyhUtyVHpfjoATp8oD4BQ&usg=AFQjCNGqt5JW_UOrpIwOz56Kjkyt-0kcjg&sig2=Fm6fmGmFhT2GFK4N6EUh0Q">Inisfada Furnishings Net $51K At Auction</a></b><br />
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<b><a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=inisfada&source=newssearch&cd=2&cad=rja&ved=0CC0QqQIoADAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theislandnow.com%2Fnews%2Farticle_4644ef10-52cf-11e3-bb9b-001a4bcf887a.html&ei=XzyhUtyVHpfjoATp8oD4BQ&usg=AFQjCNGqt5JW_UOrpIwOz56Kjkyt-0kcjg&sig2=Fm6fmGmFhT2GFK4N6EUh0Q">Inisfada Sold To Developers For $36.5M</a></b><br />
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<b><a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=inisfada%20demolition&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CCkQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2013%2F07%2F31%2Fnyregion%2Fpreservationists-try-to-bar-demolition-of-87-room-mansion-on-long-island.html&ei=uTqhUrmpNoLaoASI_4GIBA&usg=AFQjCNFjlkqNhXMeFZd3bx4R6mHsnOEG0w&sig2=EK4OjOH8doWVSRmn63Deaw">Preservationists Try and Bar Demolition of 87-Room Mansion</a></b><br />
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<b><a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=inisfada%20mansion&source=web&cd=15&cad=rja&sqi=2&ved=0CHwQFjAO&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnarrative.ly%2Flive-from-long-island%2Fgold-coast-goodbye%2F&ei=DD2hUoeWKZLzoAT4qIHABw&usg=AFQjCNFEyAzwKRl1tlZ_ctqycgUOgN7gwg&sig2=cgCIDyBA5OYfQ7dZBVey4A">Gold Coast Goodbye</a> </b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>Tyler Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09804014270509565721noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585753048698058724.post-3392079916898659282013-12-01T11:25:00.000-08:002014-03-25T07:59:57.178-07:00Kennedy Family - Book Recommendations!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb_BaMvoMO6g8tna1ZfKSh3A11UYFOiqr4s32u60wB7wy_fzP_pj_FXcIICIMe6rzH2GHFLQZVzSNckiE2Hc-Of2JKSxQOc9zN4uxd584TrAGKmtFp_5HFBcbKrl6HNLY2T0H1Vil-uxw/s1600/after_camelot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb_BaMvoMO6g8tna1ZfKSh3A11UYFOiqr4s32u60wB7wy_fzP_pj_FXcIICIMe6rzH2GHFLQZVzSNckiE2Hc-Of2JKSxQOc9zN4uxd584TrAGKmtFp_5HFBcbKrl6HNLY2T0H1Vil-uxw/s400/after_camelot.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"<i>After </i>Camelot: A Personal History of the Kennedy Family"<br />by J. Randy Taraborrelli </span></b></td></tr>
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<b>The Kennedy family is perhaps one of the most iconic and well-known families in America today. Their lives have been the subject of hundreds of articles, films, TV shows and books. Originally descended from farmer John Kennedy, the family first gained notoriety for Joseph "Joe" Kennedy, who was appointed U.S. Ambassador to England. Patriarch Joe and his wife Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy (who would go on to outlive the majority of her family, dying at the age of 104 in 1995) gave birth to the most legendary of the Kennedy clan: JFK, Bobby Kennedy, Ted Kennedy. Then there were the glamourous Kennedy wives: most notably Jackie (d. 1994) and Ethel (-). Though JFK, his brothers and Jackie are dead, they continue to impact America and the world today (Most recently, the fiftieth anniversary of JFK's assassination.) The following is a list of great books I recommend about the Kennedy's and their influential lives. </b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"<i>Grace and Power</i>: The Private World of The Kennedy White House"<br />by Sally Bedell Smith </span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJnJEX_6sjHVvE7h3pPBK6P_3arzzVDSFMmZKp-IRPeQBOzkfc-QqOzDncH7v63E5W8_1GC7miOM4fBDOnD3O6SOh3Qreql1w_PIobeIlzqH53I-jFZbu_KiOLe7mrNFybYE75brvIug/s1600/TheseFewPreciousDays.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJnJEX_6sjHVvE7h3pPBK6P_3arzzVDSFMmZKp-IRPeQBOzkfc-QqOzDncH7v63E5W8_1GC7miOM4fBDOnD3O6SOh3Qreql1w_PIobeIlzqH53I-jFZbu_KiOLe7mrNFybYE75brvIug/s400/TheseFewPreciousDays.jpg" height="400" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"These Few Precious Days: <i>The Final Year of Jack with Jackie</i>"<br />by Christopher Andersen </span></b></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvH7__nF4c9u4qbRv9sBCwzi6-SGD700Jov0PTArF9ReHQT6pNfVa1sC6ag-GIzQHOuJdWLlTzOCCWuDHcXslrorD8daXIeib6txOhfQxPMBo6de0c7Tzr5KL_Tj8xTh7l1bIng3KFdjE/s1600/capturing-camelot-3_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvH7__nF4c9u4qbRv9sBCwzi6-SGD700Jov0PTArF9ReHQT6pNfVa1sC6ag-GIzQHOuJdWLlTzOCCWuDHcXslrorD8daXIeib6txOhfQxPMBo6de0c7Tzr5KL_Tj8xTh7l1bIng3KFdjE/s400/capturing-camelot-3_4.jpg" height="400" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"Capturing Camelot: <i>Iconic Images of the Kennedys</i>"<br />by Kitty Kelly </span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmbHfFESEmy0TVEHynV9DxkldmwYKCwrVFLDEnBaOVQNa4w2YRrwRC_BjC69xsm4Rz3jn9zpCjQOAXgQyqrtBM64VPgz4VAnPhOMGh_USPb3garhYAlwGYcjRH6DNOl7r00kaapAhbgi4/s1600/portrait+of+camelot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmbHfFESEmy0TVEHynV9DxkldmwYKCwrVFLDEnBaOVQNa4w2YRrwRC_BjC69xsm4Rz3jn9zpCjQOAXgQyqrtBM64VPgz4VAnPhOMGh_USPb3garhYAlwGYcjRH6DNOl7r00kaapAhbgi4/s400/portrait+of+camelot.jpg" height="400" width="326" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"Portrait of Camelot: A Thousand Days In The Kennedy White House"<br />by Richard Reeves </span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtn3ohDKyJRsW9HQZWfmrde2vqKj1nv8BbhnzmUdX1vX4R4ztzVO53bHUz7XN31nIHS13dwGanrrGspWs12BvaYaMIcDUXd6D17kwnzH2zz_A7TtC9zegInZRt1DJqIU_fYsHqqXLc-Jk/s1600/janet+and+jackie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtn3ohDKyJRsW9HQZWfmrde2vqKj1nv8BbhnzmUdX1vX4R4ztzVO53bHUz7XN31nIHS13dwGanrrGspWs12BvaYaMIcDUXd6D17kwnzH2zz_A7TtC9zegInZRt1DJqIU_fYsHqqXLc-Jk/s400/janet+and+jackie.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"Janet & Jackie: The Story of a Mother and Her Daughter, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis"<br />by Jan Pottker</span></b></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>Tyler Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09804014270509565721noreply@blogger.com11