The American Princess & Her Lost Manhattan Mansion: Emilie Grigsby

Dive into the extraordinary tale of Emilie Grigsby, known as the 'American Princess,' in today's episode of This House Join Ken as we explore Emilie's lavish mansion and uncover the scandalous journey from a dwindling fortune to high society's pinnacle. Learn about her mother's shocking secret venture and Emilie's strategic rise amidst New York's elite, challenging norms and sparking controversies. Witness how Emilie captured the hearts of millionaires and royalty, her luxurious lifestyle, and the art of maintaining mystery and elegance amidst turmoil.
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The Lost Manhattan Mansion of the American Princess: Emilie Grigsby
• The American Princess ...
Public Domain Photos from: Library of Congress, New York Times, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Assets from: Envato Elements
Music from Epidemic Sound

[@autumnfall8829]

It's so sad how all those beautiful buildings were torn down instead of reperposed. They replaced them with the UGLIEST buildings possible.😒

[@Asdfhjkl998]

Life is no mining it’s just dream ,

[@EcceHomo1088]

welcome to American industrial Communism...

[@jaybee4118]

Sometimes repurposing is isn’t possible and ugly is subjective to time. Give it enough time and the “ugly” buildings demolished now could be mourned in the future.

[@EcceHomo1088]

@@jaybee4118... this Modern stuff is ugly regardless of time...

[@RD-nq7fl]

It’s sad a few had so much money to build beautiful homes, while thousands of Americans had no shelter and no food.

[@janusquiamco7128]

I love how emily remained loyal to her mother even though she was the reason she got shunned by high society twice. Not that her mother was unworthy of it; she did it all to give her children good lives, and i think emily appreciated that. It‘s good that emily found the right people to support her ambitions, and lived a comfortable and interesting life as a result.

[@SMtWalkerS]

What an interesting life Emily led - as well as her mother! Now this really deserves a movie or mini-series. Imagine cutting up antique tapestries to upholster your furniture and re-binding antique books in leather. This woman had money to burn!

[@williamsmith5549]

Julian Fellowes needs to write in a similar Mother Daughter pair into The Gilded Age. What a story is Emilie's...AND her Mother's. Thanks as ever, Ken!

[@RRW276]

Quite a fascinating tale, especially when considering the times of today. I really love the drawing at the very end, her 20ft deep mansion was absolutely gorgeous. But more interesting is how she seemed to bounce back, something that rarely ever happened when one was ousted from High Society in those days. Very well done!

[@BennyM_]

I can’t say I agree with cutting centuries old tapestries for upholstery material, but I guess when you’re used to having every wish fulfilled it might seem perfectly normal. Interesting story!

[@StamperWendy]

What a story! What a past, but she never let it stop her. Amazing. ❤

[@starsrhi2335]

Yes, Emily Deserves good words. She did lead an interesting lifestyle. This was most interesting , and more interesting than most in her time.❤

[@stretch9952]

Charles Yerkes made a great deal of his money initially by building rail transit systems in Chicago. He then continued by financing, owning and operating a significant portion of the London Underground system. He made many financial representations that were, let us say, not wholly above board. Nonetheless, these went largely overlooked and his contributions to expanding the system and even contributing to its efficiency, were considerable. All of this may have been a factor in why Emilie received such a warm welcome.

[@jetsons101]

Ken, I came across your channel by accident "A very good thing." What I enjoy the most is the detailed backstories to go along with all the architectural details for each house/building being covered in each video. Top-Notch work. And yes, I did subscribe after the first vid I watched.....

[@andiedonahue9400]

Great video! I love your channel. Good research!

[@desertsunman5880]

Emily & I, both, were thrilled - as Society snubbed us - absolute freedom💙😉😎

[@janedee6488]

Very interesting. Liked hearing about her life as well as the house.

[@johnvonundzu2170]

Excellent retelling of Emilie's oddly , surprisingly successful career. The building which replaced her NY mansion (660 Park Avenue) is a very grand one unit per floor co-op, but it's not the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company HQ (at 1 Mad Ave) , though it was built by that company's president - for his mistress maybe? Her taste seems to have evolved, the room @4:40 is crammed with brand new in 1900 "antique" furniture - which must have made way for the good things that fetched top dollar when she eventually auctioned her things.

[@theresawilson2647]

I love the colorized picture of the mansion.

[@lynngoing508]

I like the colorization. It is so nice Ken. You do a wonderful job.

[@mileshigh1321]

I thought you had maybe covered this house before. But I think your updated version is great too!

[@sherirunnels545]

Thank you for that interesting bit of history. Strong women for that time period. Well done!

[@user-sg6ji2kk3u]

Great video . Excellent research and background history . Sadly a sad ending a beautiful mansion Mets the wrecking ball !! 🙌🏻🙌🏻👏🏻👏🏻😢😢☺️☺️

[@jefflawrentz1624]

I did remember your first video on this. You did a wonderful job in the revision and it’s a great bio. Thank you

[@maevewhite4376]

Facinating woman ive never heard of until now

[@seltexmx]

Wonderful story beautifully done. I didn't see the first version but am very glad you remastered for us new to the channel. Thanks.

[@janemckee4922]

Wonderful story

[@cmecre8629]

lovely story. worthy of a biopic good job, thanks

[@paco7992]

I noticed the difference in this episode. It's amazing how fast you have grown! Both of you have grabbed your dream, good job!

[@jimc4731]

Ah yes, a bonus repeat! I liked this time around best. JIM ❤

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

Ken, I really loved the extra details presented covering this incredible woman and I had no trouble watching her amazing story once more!

[@JuliaShalomJordan]

Well done.❤

[@joedirt3449]

Top tier my man!

[@lauriekeikkala9937]

Great story! Soooo interesting, THANK YOU. ❤

[@laurielaurie8280]

Standards of beauty have changed. Look at Madonna lol. I think American Gold Digger would be more appropriate than American Princess.

[@chrisvanderveer4757]

wonderful work, as you do always`

[@marshasimpson261]

Love this story!❤

[@giselekusmik9167]

You did a GREAT job on this update! Love both “versions”!!☺️💖

[@joanwiebe3654]

Thank you so much Ken!! Happy New Year 2024❤

[@CuriousEarthMan]

I did recall having heard parts before, while watching this, but it did seem different. Thank you for the remake!! Another well done piece!

[@vrj40]

How was Emilie a role model for someone when she was somebody's mistress for years?

[@Linda98671]

Thank you for realizing this. She may have been clever but she sold herself for money. I don’t admire her life style.

[@shenabrown8038]

exactly…. this is a sick world… the comments alone say so.

[@hyperpunk3499]

Nobody, at that time knew she was a mistress. She was a role model until her secret life as a mistress was revealed in New York. Then, she went to England and was a role model until her secret life as a mistress was revealed. The royal family snubbed her and she went back to New York.

[@louispitalo7401]

Great story thank you, I love the gilded and the Edwardians. All things Downton ✌️❤️❤️

[@kennstransky]

Loved this!

[@jilltagmorris]

This was so interesting. Thanks ❤😊

[@donnatierney2078]

But in the end, her tombstone will be The Residue of all that's left of her mansion..... Which will be for all of us when it's our time to go... Someone even get a tombstone maybe just a marker

[@Randee04]

Thank you for making this! I enjoyed it tremendously. I'm a fan of aristocratic society.

[@conmckfly]

Fascinating bit of history.i was not familiar with this story. Very well done. Thank you!

[@nancyfrees585]

I enjoy your stories very much

[@janebrady1389]

Excellent

[@DLeadVox]

Great job Ken!

[@marjanahjaiyana5272]

Great story , loved it

[@kissingcandy1]

She sounds amazing

[@terahill]

I too laughed at the does anyone have a Charlotte phobia joke for like 1 minute straight

[@dianeruiz0721]

Just came across your channel! I love ❤️ it. Very interesting and great narrative. I’m a new happy subscriber.

[@ThisHouse]

Welcome aboard!

[@romana34]

She cut up centuries old tapestries! What is wrong with her? That is an affront to art!

[@williamtyre523]

This is such an interesting story, thank you for revisiting and expanding it. I think she would have a much harder time keeping her secret today in a world of social media and the internet!

[@Gertyutz]

Nobody would care today.

[@blueyzsf]

I thought it sound familiar! Enjoyed it just as much the second time. 😁😁

[@tamieckert4548]

Back then women usually married money in that job opportunities were held out high money jobs for people who already had money, and college being expensive, the short cut was taken for a smoother path, but Emily was a great purchasing agent 🌂☂️☔️💵

[@annarosetarot]

would of loved a deep dive 😘

[@ronen160]

very interesting story!! Did she have any estate to leave when she died? if so where did that money go to ? I would think that her antiques at least, were worth something

[@deborah8887]

Emily’s lack of morals started with her own mother

[@texaswunderkind]

What's immoral about running a brothel? What consenting people do behind closed doors is their own business. As long as people aren't being trafficked, or forced to do anything against their will, I see nothing wrong with it. It isn't the job of the government to legislate morality.

[@serahloeffelroberts9901]

In a time when women were not allowed to enter the professions nor even manage their own money, Emily no doubt realized from her mothers profession that a woman's youth and beauty were rapidly depreciating assets. She simply set her sights on the man most likely to be generous and had the money to support her in a very comfortable lifestyle. When her benefactor died and she was played out in New York she simply moved to Great Britain and fascinated upper crust society with her beauty and intelligence. She chose not to marry because it would have meant a man would control her finances. Had she lived today she may have ended up running her own corporation

[@markritchken-hs9hx]

Love ❤

[@sharonpolome3033]

Ironic that Emilie was shunned because her mother was a Madam -- it's a good bet that all of the "shunners" had earned THEIR fortunes by shady, illegal or immoral means -- paying their workers nothing, taking advantage of everyone, making no restitution for damage to the environment (such as the Johnstown Flood, caused by the rich damming up the river and when the dam broke, the entire town was lost, not to mention how-many fatalities) -- let's face it, the robber barons WERE robbers, and even their children profited by their parents' entire lack of conscience.

[@christinaparduhn1150]

Thank you for educating us on Emily she must have met the queen😂

[@D...M...A...]

Ambitious little hottie ... Nicely played ...

[@MyNameIsChristBringsASword]

She reminds me of the character who played Maude in Harold and Maude

[@sprague49]

Ruth Gordon. She also played the satanist next door neighbor in "Rosemary's Baby", set in The Dakota, another iconic New York residence.

[@MyNameIsChristBringsASword]

@@sprague49 that's a lot of coincidence. Rose Marries Baby and then Harold and Maude.

[@bonquiqui874]

It’s crazy how beauty standards have shifted

[@DollshouseGirl1]

It’s terrible that all the old buildings were torn down and replaced with ugly, high-rise flats or horrible plain buildings

[@blazefairchild465]

Emilie had such nice red hair. What a beautiful home , why would she be worried about her mom’s occupation? Hers was not an acceptable one either. Her boyfriend gave her everything when he was alive but didn’t leave her anything to maintain her lifestyle after he died. Sadly her home was torn down.

[@pjlps]

🙌💜🙌

[@bethbartlett5692]

Considering the era options for women and her family's profession, she likely made the best choice. "Thoughts+ Feelings X Beliefs" Creates our Reality, the "Universal Law of Attraction" is Absolute.

[@totallydomestic433]

What shall it prophet a man if he gain the whole world but lose his own soul?

[@savannahblanch1991]

I never knew the name of BRAXTON had an older connection

[@Asdfhjkl998]

It’s not Mather where you come from , it’s Mather how build yourself , how God gift you …… I know soo many thrush cary channel or carrier, I Know some people wear no name look very elegant and royal……………..

[@pietro4772]

Tartarian buildings found dead (founded) and claimed as personal property. They are all over Earth. Build by divine hands and demolished by parasıtes. It's a tragedy.

[@Gertyutz]

Does this have any relationship to the video, or are you off in your own little world?

[@stephaniecepeda9914]

💯

[@sallyreno6296]

If she was beautiful she surely wasn't photogenic.

[@ST-rj8iu]

25 million to 900 million with inflation. Wow!

[@TheTriplelman]

The evils of selfish narcissistic society - there is nothing at the top, but a long fall into hell

[@frankebell2383]

Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

[@HEIMAT64]

This building is buried 1 floor in mud.

[@lynnoliver1595]

LOVE your videos.......but could you speak just a little bit slower????

[@kylestuartcordova-evans7087]

So sad they didn’t save her mansion and instead tore it down for some stupid life insurance building! 😢 that makes me so sad for her! Fuck that insurance! lol I would much rather have had her mansion

[@princesssadieloo]

So she sold herself to an old man who cheated on his wife for years and she is celebrated? Gross.

[@orethawitcher3133]

Since when did they have white American princess in America never heard such

[@LJB103]

A repeat posting!!

[@ThisHouse]

This was more of a remaster with a few corrections to the original. As stated at the end of the video, Grigsby’s story is one of my favorites and I wanted to do it a justice with higher production value. There is only a small handful of videos/houses/bios I would ever be interested in remaking, so rest assured this will not be the norm.

[@kaylaaa317]

To sum this up lol she was just okay looking n extremely greedy.

[@garryferrington811]

Quite a career. She knew how to get what she wanted, yet still exuded class. She must have been very intelligent. "Colorization" - meh.

[@avatar-wc6jd]

You mean A YT F/MALE IMMIGRANT IN AMERICA💯💯💯

[@allenvestal4474]

Not the first female to get rich this way.

[@deinos9661]

Um, am I the only one who does not think Emily is that pretty? She looked rather ordinary to me.

[@aprilhiggins6885]

Home wrecker

[@shenabrown8038]

its amazing how we celebrate sin, this woman was a mistress- meaning the man she was bedding was married…. If she didn’t know God and repent of her sins, she’s in hell because they were terrible sins against God and man.

[@m.p.7732]

🤣🤣🤣

[@CJ-dg3bm]

His voice is super annoying, I couldn't even concentrate

[@jamesbyrne9312]

She's not beautiful tho

[@hyperpunk3499]

Every decade has different beauty standards. For example, go back and look at your own pictures from years ago. What's the first thing that everyone says about their own pictures? We all say, "Look at my hair! What was I thinking! And, "What was I wearing?" Lol

[@jamesbyrne9312]

@@hyperpunk3499 I suppose.

[@ML-xi2rt]

Fascinating