A Newport Poem ~ Cliff Walk

~Cliff Walk~

Aquidneck Island, in Rhode Island's Ocean State, hosts a trail beside the sea

Where on Newport's legendary cliff walk fog-shrouded mansions rise in mystery. 

Above the Atlantic's pounding rage one walks past treasures from another age

To glimpse grand palaces on a fabled path along a precipice above the ocean's wrath,

As ghostly mists from another time enshroud the visitor with the sublime,

To view gray sentinels that echo times of lore from the Gilded Age, that lavish life before, 

When Newport was but America's social queen, of an opulence our nation has seldom seen. 

Many mansions there, yet, now do last, those triumphant reminders of the past, 

Where, by moonlight, lofty chimneys yet silhouette the sky above cliffs and rocks over the ocean's haunting sigh.

Above the gray cliffs, those do yet dwell, who recall legends 
of the cliff walk's many tales to tell

Of gossip and social scandals and tragedies of the sea, of success and failure during Newport's proud history.

-Alfred Richardson Simson 

Grey Gardens

'Grey Gardens' ~ Before the Beale residency. 

'Grey Gardens' ~ During the Beale residency. 

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 'Grey Gardens'. 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'. 

Little Edie on the cover of the Maysles's documentary ~ Grey Gardens.

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. 

Big Edie in her eighties, sitting near the window of the living room at
Grey Gardens, with her portrait sitting in the corner beside her. 

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. 

"All the house needs is a new coat of paint!!" Little Edie said to potential buyers. 

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. 

Please, also visit the website dedicated to the home, known as 'Grey Gardens' Blog, by clicking HERE.

Newport ~ Queen of Resorts Reaches Over 400 People on Facebook!

'Marble House', the Willie K. Vanderbilt cottage, Newport, RI. 

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 HERE.

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! 

The Firestones in Newport

Harvey S. and Elizabeth P. Firestone sailing onboard a ship to Europe, 1958.

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. 

Elizabeth Parke Firestone (1897-1990)

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. 

'Ocean Lawn' ~ The Firestone cottage in Newport, Rhode Island.

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. 

'Ocean Lawn' 

Elizabeth Parke Firestone, photographed by Cecil Beaton.

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. 

Mrs. Firestone's dressing table at 'Ocean Lawn'.

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. 

To read more about 'Ocean Lawn', click HERE. 

To read more about Mrs. Elizabeth Firestone, please click HERE  and HERE to read about her fabulous wedding dress, currently on exhibit at the Henry Ford Museum. 

'Beechwood' Evolves!

Sketches of Larry Ellison's plan for 'Beechwood'.

'Beechwood' today, currently in the process of exterior and interior
restoration. 

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.

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. 

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.

To read more information on the restoration currently going on a 'Beechwood', please click HERE. 

If you are interested in the Newport "cottages", such as 'Beechwood', please visit my Facebook group, "Newport ~ Queen of Resorts" by clicking HERE, and please ask to join. With almost 400 members, we can so be called the Newport "400"! 

Also, please show your support and visit Gilded Age Era's Facebook page, by clicking HERE, and please give us a like in support! 

Also, if you are on Pinterest or Twitter, please follow me by clicking HERE and HERE.

'Blair Mansion' DEMOLITION

The historic 'Blair Mansion' in Tulsa, Oklahoma, long a Tulsan symbol of
history, a mere days before it's demolition to make way for a $200 million
park plan. 

On February 1, 2014, Tulsa's historic 'Blair Mansion' 

facing Riverside, overlooking the Arkansas River, 

was demolished after attempts to move the 

residence to make way for a park. Demolition begun 

at 8:00 a.m. and was completed by 10:00 a.m. With 

it, went a piece of sacred Tulsa history.

Constructed in 1952 for Tulsa millionaire, B. B. Blair, 

one of the largest investors in Canal Refining Co. 

and Western Supply Co., and his wife Priscilla Blair 

on their dream lot, 33.2 acres overlooking the 

Arkansas River on historic Riverside Drive, a plot 

that the Blair's cozily called their little 'farm'. The 

Blair's commissioned local architect John Duncan 

Forsyth to design their southern plantation-style 

home, inspired by 'Beauvoir', the Mississippi home 

of John Davis, President of the Confederacy during 

the Civil War. With two stories, expansive gardens 

and wide veranda, the home for many years 

functioned as a full working farm, complete with a 

large vegetable garden, fruit trees, and a manager's 

cottage. Many can recall driving by the mansion in 

50's and 60's and smelling the aroma of Blair's 

freshly mown alfalfa. 



Blair died in 1980, after which it was inherited by 

Priscilla Blair, who was a member of the Tulsa 

Garden Club and also a charter member of the 

Philbrook Art Museum. The home was passed onto 

the Blair's only son, John Blair, a longtime resident 

of Swan Lake, Montana, upon Priscilla's death in 

1995. John Blair promptly sold the residence. In 

2012, Dan Buford, a nursing-home builder and 

twenty-year resident of the Blair Mansion, sold the 

property to the George Kaiser Foundation, with the 

intention the Buford would be given a year to try 

and relocate the home. After consulting numerous 

architects, the plan was to have the home split into 

three halves and moved to a separate location. This 

would prove to be nearly impossible and extremely 

costly. After a year, Buford gave up. It wasn't till the 

day of the demolition, February 1, that I realized the 

home was being demolished. 


It was 7:15 a.m., and the crews had already arrived 

at the site, to meet 

the 8:00 deadline. I was still bewildered why the 

home was being demolished. "To make way for a 

Tulsa Parks Gathering Space" the papers said. But 

why did the home need to be demolished? Couldn't 

this "gathering space" be built somewhere on the 

other 33 acres of the property? Or why couldn't the 

home itself be used? The lavish interiors would be a 

perfect fit for weddings, receptions and other such 

events. Why did the home have to be demolished? 

That question will forever ring in my mind "Why did 

it have to go.. why... why was The 'Blair Mansion' 

demolished??"


The 'Blair Mansion' will forever remain in the hearts of 

Tulsans as a symbol of history, elegance and stately-hood.


To read more about this magnificent piece of history, please 

visit my FaceBook page about the property, "The Legacy of 

The 'Blair Mansion'", and give us a like. Click HERE to do so.