Carriage Entrance To The Collis P. Huntington Mansion

Above is a picture of the carriage entrance to the New York City mansion of Collis P. Huntington. Huntington was a railroad millionaire and had married the mysterious Arabella Huntington. On Collis's death the house passed to Arabella, who continued to occupy the house until her death. Upon her death the house was promptly demolished and replaced with Tiffany & Co.

"Ochre Court" The Goelet's Newport Chateau

"Ochre Court" was the massive Newport palace of the Goelet family. It was built for Ogden Goelet and his wife May as a summer retreat by architect Richard Morris Hunt. It was inherited by Robert Goelet, Ogden and May's son, along with some $45 million. Robert continued to live there year around until about 1945, when Robert moved to a much smaller cottage. He donated "Ochre Court" to the Salve Regina University, who continue to occupy it today.

                                                               The Great Hall

                                                               The Dining Room
                                                  

                                                              The Library

                                                               The Ballroom

"Ochre Court" The Ogden Goelet Estate, Newport

The Goelet fortune was estimated to be around $50 million and it was principally maintained by brother Ogden and Robert Goelet. These two brothers not only maintained the family fortune but also were one of the wealthiest landowners in New York City (second only to the Astors). Eldest brother Ogden had married Mary "May" Reta Wilson, daughter of Richard T. Wilson (of the marrying Wilsons), and had already established himself in a large townhouse in New York City.

May's Family Was Called "The Marrying Wilsons" Because They Each Picked Spouses That Were Wealthier And Much More Socially Prominent Than They Were. For Example, Brother Orme Married Caroline "Carrie" Astor, Daughter Of The Mrs. Astor, Sister Grace Snatched Up Neily Vanderbilt, Son Of Cornelius Vanderbilt II And Another Sister Married Into Royalty.

Robert Goelet married Harriet Warren and moved into a townhouse across the street from Ogden. Robert loved the sea and was the first person to bring the Goelets to Newport (although it's likely they would have ended up there anyway, everyone in society had a cottage in Newport), he commissioned Stanford White to build him a simple and comfortable cottage, not a large marble chateau or french palace but a real cottage. Robert named his new cottage "Southside".

Robert's Cottage "Southside" Was A Real Newport Cottage, Simple And Comfortable

Ogden Goelet had a different vision in mind than his brother's simple cottage. Ogden went to famed society architect Richard Morris Hunt and commissioned him to build a large french chateau on a relatively narrow lot, right next door to "Southside", which he had already named "Ochre Court". Ogden's "Ochre Court" was going to be considerably larger than Robert's "Southside" and would be much more grander. When it was complete, "Ochre Court" was the largest cottage in Newport (although it didn't hold that title long for soon the Cornelius Vanderbilt II's built their massive "Breakers" cottage which quickly stole that title from the Goelets) and one of Hunt's most impressive creations.

 "Ochre Court" Was The Goelet's Newport Showplace

The interiors, considered the most luxurious in the world, were said to have cost some $2.5 million of the total $4.6 million spent. The floor plan of "Ochre Court" was centered around the largest room in the house, the great hall, which had magnificent views of the ocean. The ground floor held the dining room, drawing room, library, ballroom, conservatory, an office, breakfast room and the pantry. The upper floor consisted of bedrooms, boudoirs, a billiard room, master suites, baths, servant's rooms and sitting rooms.  

                                                                    Second Floor

                                                                       Third Floor


The french, heavily gilded rooms were designed for show, not for comfort. The grandest room was the great hall, which reached to the top of the house. The Rococo ballroom was, perhaps, the most detailed room in the palace with heavy gilded carvings and designs. To show off the magnificent interiors, Mrs. Goelet opened the house with a magnificent ball, at which guests danced and twirled through the grand rooms.

    

The Magnificent Great Hall Was Beautifully Decorated With Spoils Collected From The Goelets Many Trips To Europe.

                                     The Sumptuous Dining Room Could Seat 200 People 

                                   The Gilded Library Really Didn't Hold Many Books  

                                    The Rococo Ballroom Could Easily Hold 1,000 People

By the time "Ochre Court" was built, May and Ogden had lost interest in Newport. They mostly lived in Europe, close to May's sister and mother, although they did return to the United States to attend Mrs. Astor's Patriarch's and Summer Balls and stayed at "Ochre Court" for 2-3 weeks of the Newport Season. In 1897, sadly, Ogden fell victim to a fatal stroke while on his yacht the "Mayflower " and died . His will revealed his estate to be a colossal $65 million, out of which May received a $5 million trust and life occupancy of all of their homes. Ogden's son, Robert, was named the principal heir, inheriting almost $45 million. By 1903 May rarely ever came to America, staying in her apartment in Paris. Robert continued to occupy "Ochre Court" seasonally and soon became a year around resident. Surprisingly, when May died, she was in a New York City hotel. May left "ochre Court" to Robert who lived there till 1945. In 1945 Robert downsized to a smaller cottage called "Champ Soleil" and donated "Ochre Court" to the Salve Regina University, who continue to occupy it today.

The Henry G. Marquand Mansion New York City

When millionaire Henry G. Marquand decided he wanted to built a triple palace on the northwest corner of Madison Avenue and East 68th Street, he contacted a good friend of his, architect Richard Morris Hunt, and asked him to design and build the structure. Hunt had done previous commissions for Marquand, such as his Newport cottage "Linden Gate" and the Marquand Chapel at Princeton University. Although the Marquand commission is not as well know as some of Hunt's other masterpieces, it is one of his biggest residences he's built. Henry would occupy the largest of the homes,  while the others would be rented out to others much like Mary Mason Jones's "Marble Row" or Henry Villvard's house. 

Henry Marquand Was A Prominent Banker And Strong Patron Of The Metropolitan Museum Of Art, While His Wife, Elizabeth, Was A Kind And Gentle Woman.  

While construction was under way on their $2 million New York City fortress, the Marquands decamped to Newport and stayed at "Linden Gate", occasionally traveling to Paris to acquire furniture and art for their new residence. Although in Paris they did acquire art, they had a huge collection, back at home, done by some of the best painters, which eventually found its way into the hands of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

The Marquands Followed The Social Ritual Of Summering At Newport By Staying At Their Cottage There, "Linden Gate" 

When it was completed, the Marquand residences were one of the largest homes in New York City. Although they were large, they did not receive the best reviews, although Montgomery Schuyler preferred them to Hunt's most famous house, Alva and Willie Vanderbilt's "Petit Chateau". 

Alva And Willie Vanderbilt's "Petit Chateau" Was Considered The Most Magnificent House In New York City, Despite The Fact That Willie's Brother, Cornelius, Had Built The Largest Residence Ever In New York City

The interiors were an interesting mixture of new and old. The floor plan of the Marquand's part of the house was even a little odd compared to that of other New York City residences, and there was not ballroom, an important feature in any millionaire's home. As Mrs. Charles B. Alexander had said "No home is really a home without a ballroom". 

Floor Plan Of Henry's Side Of The Triple Palace. 1)Entrance And Cloak Room, 2)Hall (Or Art Gallery) And Main Staircase, 3)Greek Music Room, 4)Conservatory, 5)Moorish Smoking Room, 6)Japanese Room, 7)Dining Room, 8)Pantry and 9) Elevator and Servant's Stairs (Photo From The "The Marquand Residence") 

The rooms were designed by various different firms and were said to each contain at least $16,000 in furniture. Of all the rooms, the library on the second floor was Mr. Marquand's favorite, while Mrs. Marquand's favorite room was the Greek Music Room. The ground floor contained the principal entertaining rooms: dining room, drawing room (Japanese room), music room, smoking room and conservatory (very rare for a house in New York City, considering the fact that the Marquands were only there during the cold winters).  

                   The Greek Music Room Held One Of The Largest Pianos In New York City 

        The Japanese Room, A.K.A. The Drawing Room, Was Where Mrs. Marquand Served Tea

             The Moorish Smoking Room Also Held The Marquand's Extensive China Collection 

                               The Dining Room Held 4 Tapestries Said To Be Worth $3,000

The Picture Above Of The Great Hall Was Taken After The Marquand's Art Collection Was Removed  

The Staircase Was Made Out Of Dark, Stained Oak And Was A Dark Contrast To The Bright Great Hall 

When Henry died in 1902, he left a large $500,000 to Elizabeth, along with both of their homes. The majority of his fortune was divided between his son Allen, Princeton University and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

                                   Allen Marquand Inherited Some $7 million From His Father 

In 1903, Elizabeth deemed she could no longer afford her New York City house. An auction was held of the house's contents and the decorative features that made the house unique were stripped and sold. Elizabeth, who moved to a comfortable apartment house in Park Avenue,  sold the house to developers who promptly replaced it with a commercial building. Today, several buildings stand on the site. 

"Crossways" The Stuyvesant Fish Cottage, Newport

When Marion Graves Anthon Fish a.k.a. "Mamie" decided she wanted a cottage in Newport, she wasn't thinking of a French chateau or a French Renaissance palace, but a colonial estate, American through and through. This was surprising because most cottages were based off of European castles and palaces, but Mamie, as always, loved knowing she was doing something no one else would do, so she commanded her husband Stuyvesant "Stuyvie" Fish to build them a Newport estate.

Mr. And Mrs. Fish Were One Of The Few Gilded Age Couples Happily Married, They Were Childhood Sweethearts

In the Spring of 1896, Stuyvesant began negotiations to purchase a large, elevated plot with views of both Bailey's Beach and Gooseberry Beach. Because  of Fish's shrewd negotiating, the plot had been acquired for only $11,000. But because of it's rocky topography (which no house could be built on) Fish had to acquire additional land. Unfortunately the owner of the land west of the property was asking a sum Fish felt was outrageous, so it took an additional 3 years of negotiations before the land was obtained.

 "Crossways" Was Built On A Large Hill Off Of Ocean Avenue Surrounded By Rocky Topography

Mamie brought in Newport architect Dudley Newton to build a large colonial mansion (which she had already named "Crossways") on a budget of $100,000. Despite the small budget, Newton was still able to deliver Mamie's dream house and the Fish promptly moved in. The original floor plan of "Crossways" was centered around a large hall, the biggest room being the drawing room and the smallest being the alcoves on either side of the vestibule.

              The Floor Plan Of "Crossways" After The Ballroom Addition Was Added In 1913

The interior of "Crossways" was designed for comfort, with the occasional entertaining. The decorating firm of Vernon, also Newport based, had designed the interior of "Crossways" as a comforting space, yet still able to hold large social functions, with the drawing room doubling as a ballroom.

        The Large Entrance Hall Would Also Be Used As A Banquet Hall For Large Social Dinners

                        The Dining Room Could Seat And Dine 75 People On Large Occasions

The Library Was Where Mr. Fish Conducted Business And Retreated From His Wife's Social Functions 

The Drawing Room Also Originally Doubled As A Ballroom And On The Floor Was Mrs. Fish's Famous Polar Bear Rug, Which She Brought To All Of Her Homes.

In 1913, with broadening social horizons, Mrs. Fish felt "Crossways" was just to small for her social position. To solve the problem, Mamie called in architect Joseph G. Williams to add a ballroom and servants wing at the back of the house. Upstairs additional servants bedrooms were added and more guests bedrooms were added.

       The Ballroom Addition, Added In 1913, Was The Scene Of Mrs. Fish's Annual Harvest Ball

With the new ballroom addition, Mrs. Fish could now have a place to hold her famous annual Harvest Ball. The Harvest Ball was in many ways equal to Mrs. Astor's annual Opera Ball or her annual Patriarch's Ball which started the New York City social season, because the Harvest Ball was what closed the Newport social season. Thus it went, Mrs. Astor's annual Patriarch's Ball opened the New York City social season, Mrs. Elbridge T Gerry's annual Art Ball closed the New York City social season, Mrs. Astor's annual Summer Ball opened the Newport social season and Mrs. Fish's annual Harvest Ball closed the Newport socials season.

  "Crossways" Being Set Up For Mrs. Fish's Harvest Ball, Held On The Lawn And In The Ballroom

With the home finally complete, Mamie was finally able to enjoy her Newport home and she gave several lavish parties during the social season. With every year, Mrs. Fish seemed to grow only more and more eccentric and her outrageous behavior was always reported by the latest gossip magazines. Once at the start of the new season Mamie greeted her guests with a "Well here you all are, older faces and younger clothes", another time Mamie, who had no trouble speaking her opinion, told her dinner guests that "Mrs. Roosevelt dresses on $300 a year and looks like it too!". Mamie seemed unable to use any self control. Once in Newport, Mamie decided to take her new automobile for a spin and while driving around in the city, ran over a man walking across the street. The poor man barely had time to get up before Mamie put her car in reverse and ran over him a second time. The going forward again she ran over the guy a third time, then drove off without even asking if he was okay.

                                Mamie In Later Years, Just As Witty And Sharp As Ever


Sooner or later Mamie's mouth was going to get her in trouble and eventually it did when she had a run on with railroad magnate E. H. Harriman.























    E. Harriman And Wife, Mary, Who Were One Of The Many Victims Of Mamie's Harsh Tongue

E. Harriman had worked with Stuyvesant Fish for many and they were good friends, so it was expected that he turned to Stuyvesant and Mamie and asked them to help him and his wife get excepted into society. It would have been very easy for Mamie to help them get into society. But instead of help them, Mamie flat out snubbed them into society. At a dinner party Mamie even had the nerve to go up to Mary and tell her that her husband only married her because of the way she looked. Mary came home in tears and told her husband everything Mamie had said. Edward launched a successful campaign to remove Stuyvesant Fish from his position of almost 30 years as President of the Illinois Central Railroad in revenge of Mamie's rude comments and snubbing.

Stuyvesant Fish Had President Of The Illinois Central Railroad For Almost 30 Years And Started When He Was 28 Years Old

By 1915 Mamie wasn't making rude comments or snubbing anymore, her mind was deteriorating, although she still was just as eccentric as she always had been. On her last day alive she spent the day wandering around "Glenclyffe" the Fish estate in Garrison, still bossing around Stuyvesant and the other servants, just as usual. When Mamie died, she was surrounded by Stuyvesant, her three children, and the servants who had served her so faithfully over the years (despite her eccentric requests and harsh punishments). Stuyvesant continued to live at their three homes until his death in 1923. Upon his death the home was sold to Mrs. Morris De Peyster. It was later on converted into condominiums. 

                               "Crossways" Today Nothing Remains Of The Original Interior