The Conservative Cave
Interests => Around the House & In the Garage => Topic started by: Karin on April 11, 2013, 09:48:39 AM
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I was reading a review of a memoir written by Alexandra Mizrahi, one of the descendents of the Astor clan. The family estate is 195 year-old Rokeby, in the Hudson Valley. It piqued my curiosity, I looked into it.
(http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/misc/pixel.gif)
This is a classic example of an extremely rich family who have become "Once Hads." They struggle to keep the place maintained, and to pay the taxes ($65K/year). One of the relatives in there has a regular job, all the rest are "artists." That explains alot.
A while ago, they allowed the NYTimes to come in and take some photos of the interior. Have you ever wondered what the inside of some grand homes look like? I do all the time.
I tried direct posting some pictures, but NYT is not letting me hotlink them. You can see them at the link below.
I take some measure of comfort. There's so much to improve on with the interior of my old pile of stones, but only so much the checkbook will allow. So we do what we can with the fundamentals, and the exterior.
At least we keep it clean. These people behave as if they still had servants (one of the articles recounted). They figure if it gets dirty enough, the hidden servants will magically appear.
More here, if interested. http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2010/07/20/garden/20100722-hudson-slideshow.html
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People start out poor, get rich and the non-working young run thru the riches.....that's the capitalist way of spreading the wealth around.
Communist way of spreading the wealth around, you start out poor and get poorer.
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did you see this one?
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2013/04/11/garden/20130411-SYLVESTOR.html#1
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That would be a great property to own.
It's a shame they didn't keep it up.
I was in an old home in Los Angeles that still had its original wallpaper mural in the dining room. It was actually hand screened silk with a Chinese look, but in amazingly good condition.
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That place looked so great on the outside, but the inside was a huge disappointment.
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Some of the "art". I think I see the problem.
(http://static.wix.com/media/8aeebd_290c953ca20cf17a1f1a2b96efcc39ca.jpg_256)
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This is a 'Old, Grand House":
(http://i1.trekearth.com/photos/27914/bidwell_mansion.jpg)
The interior is gorgeous.
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TgcQoVyOTvk/TlPkWiawQUI/AAAAAAAABbM/vKClbu2bRZY/s1600/IMG_2059.JPG)
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I need links :-)
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Where and whose is that, Wineslob?
My picture links didn't work. They can all be seen at the link. Sorry about that, they probably block hotlinking.
The author of the memoir had better find a new place to live. It's extremely uncomplimentary to her mother and father, who still live there. They're not on speaking terms.
That "art" is hideous and hilarious! Some other loon there makes giant puppets for use in the NYC Halloween parade. It's all she does.
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It's Bidwell Mansion, Chico Ca. My daughter loves the place, she's into "old" homes.
We also have The Stansbury Home, it's not in as good condition as Bidwells place, but still it's pretty neat:
(http://www.trailergypsies.com/_images/Stansbury-House.jpg)
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I need links :-)
Your wish is my command....
http://www.bidwellmansionassociation.com/
http://chicowiki.org/Stansbury_House
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Your wish is my command....
Have you been to the Huntington Library?
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=huntington+library&FORM=HDRSC2#view=detail&id=ADEABAF40D364CA4A2E4AE1EE6DA840C23A3056D&selectedIndex=33
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I love those old houses. We have nothing like that here.
Looking at them, though, reminds me of the Italian saying about "Three generations from shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves." I agree that few families can "live off the wealth" and they have to diversify and keep building it.
Back when I was a street urchin, growing up in Detroit, I haunted the cathedrals, grand hotels, old office buildings, and dumps that had wonderful architechure and a history. A couple of my favorite neighborhoods to roam were Indian Village and Palmer Park. Beautiful houses.
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I work on the heating systems for most of the mansions on the banks of the Hudson. I will say I would not want any of the house's as you would not be able to maintain them nor are they maintained without a full grounds crew and maintenance dept. The only ones that are maintained have been taken over by the state. Scary thought huh, but true. I get free tours all the time. Not impressed. If I were rich I would not live like that. I would just be free and live free so far in the woods it would take a team of drones to find me!
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If I were rich I would not live like that. I would just be free and live free so far in the woods it would take a team of drones to find me!
My wife and I are the same way. Nice to go look at those old homes, but give me a cabin near a trout lake/stream.
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My wife and I are the same way. Nice to go look at those old homes, but give me a cabin near a trout lake/stream.
Same here! Additionally, those old homes aren't very well insulated, either.
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Same here! Additionally, those old homes aren't very well insulated, either.
Cold air builds character! :-)
I really like that crow mural on the wall in Karin's link.
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Any of you ever see this place?
(http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/68/d7/2a/biltmore-house-in-asheville.jpg)
It's the Biltmore near Asheville, NC. Jawdropping.
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Any of you ever see this place?
It's the Biltmore near Asheville, NC. Jawdropping.
I went there once when I was very young. I'm thinking Asheville might make a good weekend trip for a visit.
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It's very nice. If you're into art, there's plenty of it. Easy access to the mountains.
I enjoyed my weekend there.
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When I lived in Marion, I went to the Biltmore all the time. Fascinating place, especially at Christmas. You have to take the "behind the scene" tour.
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Do they have self-guided tours or do I have to follow along with some group? I want to go and take some pictures (I know there's no flash photography allowed... I don't need it).
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Have you been to the Huntington Library?
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=huntington+library&FORM=HDRSC2#view=detail&id=ADEABAF40D364CA4A2E4AE1EE6DA840C23A3056D&selectedIndex=33
Nope, but looks pretty cool. It's at the other end of the state from me, about a 10 hr+ drive.
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I keep this place warm. Every summer I spend 2 days here all alone servicing the boilers. I always lunch in the gazebo.
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3304/3217340261_53a07cac4f_z.jpg?zz=1)
http://youtu.be/kwjks6TRqKk
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These also
(http://www.scalanews.com/scala/feb11/Esopus.jpg)
(http://www.iment.com/maida/familytree/henry/bios/images/montgomeryplace.jpg)
(http://www.jgwaarchitects.com/images/portfolio-images/museums/Wilderstein_01.jpg)
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3587/3510529090_ac5468ed4b_z.jpg)
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Where and whose is that, Wineslob?
My picture links didn't work. They can all be seen at the link. Sorry about that, they probably block hotlinking.
The author of the memoir had better find a new place to live. It's extremely uncomplimentary to her mother and father, who still live there. They're not on speaking terms.
That "art" is hideous and hilarious! Some other loon there makes giant puppets for use in the NYC Halloween parade. It's all she does.
Yeah, it appears their once strong family has devolved into the mental illness of full time artistry. A shame none of them have any expertise or artistic knowledge of restoring a home like that; then maybe they'd have something actually useful.
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My wife and I are the same way. Nice to go look at those old homes, but give me a cabin near a trout lake/stream.
Same here--modest home hidden away somewhere. I do think those grand homes are a testament to the times they lived in; they could both afford or 'keep' scores of individuals to do those tasks to keep that home in order.
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catsmtrods --
I really like the Victorian house. Not a gaudy castle, but a place where you can live and feel at home. You work on that one, too? Is it as nice inside as out?
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catsmtrods --
I really like the Victorian house. Not a gaudy castle, but a place where you can live and feel at home. You work on that one, too? Is it as nice inside as out?
I'm always attracted to the Victorian homes too. But honestly I love them all except for ulta modern.
Recently I've been attracted to the Craftsman architecture and even the classic Hollywood homes of the 1920's.
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catsmtrods --
I really like the Victorian house. Not a gaudy castle, but a place where you can live and feel at home. You work on that one, too? Is it as nice inside as out?
I assume you mean Wilderstein? The next to last photo. Cordts mansion is the first photo also Victorian but owned by a weirdo artist. Yes I work in all the houses I posted photos of. Wilderstein is a historic site and as such it is kept as it was. Its filled with antiques. Very impressive. We did replace the coal fired boiler a few years ago. The old boiler really was impressive though.
http://www.wilderstein.org/
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I assume you mean Wilderstein? The next to last photo.
That reminds me a little of Winchester House. Mrs Winchester was a little crazy and built stairways to doors where there were no rooms and it had secret passages. She spent her whole life adding on to that house. They call it the mystery house and say it's haunted.
http://winchestermysteryhouse.com/
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Some of the "art". I think I see the problem.
(http://static.wix.com/media/8aeebd_290c953ca20cf17a1f1a2b96efcc39ca.jpg_256)
My three year old grandson is an artist ? Wow. I'll start saving them.
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My three year old grandson is an artist ? Wow. I'll start saving them.
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Believe it or not people pay big bucks for that shit!!
This is the guy that owns Cordts Mansion, he's an "artist", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunt_Slonem, http://www.huntslonem.com/ He's gay!!
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Believe it or not people pay big bucks for that shit!!
This is the guy that owns Cordts Mansion, he's an "artist", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunt_Slonem, http://www.huntslonem.com/ He's gay!!
Ya, more "garbage". Shit, it is.
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Dori, thanks for that link up there, I'm going to look at that.
I got that book I mentioned, "The Astor Orphan" by Alexander Aldrich. I am devouring it! Staying up too late. This shit fascinates me. I hope the book does well for her, so she can make money on her own steam. The rest of the family is nothing but house poor DUmmies. The only guy with a job took a bureaucracy job in Albany, since he despises business ::). What the hell does he think built that house he's parked in?
Catsmtrods, those are some kick ass buildings you posted!