The Astor Orphans: Their Tragic Tale and Beautiful Mansion

[@tudorjason]

It sounds weird for a family like the Astors to be house poor

[@lorir5728]

It happens in the UK. They have to use their estates as tourist and wedding venues. The upkeep is crazy.

[@here_we_go_again2571]

I suppose that some rich person(s) will (eventually) buy La Bergerie/Rokeby with it's 400-plus acres (Barrytown, Duchess County, New York). Since it is on the list of the National Register of Historic Places as well as being in a U.S. Historic District. The place can't be just torn down and sub-divided. The original site was over 700 acres and was a sheep farm. I do not know how much of the current 400+ acres could be used for modern farming. People with money who have influential vistors usually do not like to be within smelling distance of a working farm! Also, taxes (of all kinds) are high in New York state

[@SandyToes75]

Thank you for covering this lovely home. Sadly, education of the upper class was more for how to get along with others within their class, to find a mate, and to entertain. If you did not have a parent to guide you into a career beyond the social pages, you were fairly lost. That is how so many ended in this same situation a few generations from the wealth of the guided age.

[@monkeygraborange]

Shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in 3 generations.

[@Mark723]

That library! And love the casement windows in the dining room - such a brilliant way to maximize light while minimizing shutter clutter. Nonetheless, I wouldn't mind being an orphan with a yearly $500,000 stipend. Thanks, Ken - such a great story.

[@cassandraralph5906]

My favorite home. I'm sorry about the sad part of the descendants losing their money because of poor money management and education. I hope this house will get saved for future people to enjoy.

[@SpanishEclectic]

Yes, nothing thrills me like a beautiful gothic library room full of gorgeous wood and many, many old books. Sad about the family, but I appreciate that recent "This House" mansions have been restored, or at least escaped the wrecking ball.

[@Gizathecat2]

The bed in one of the rooms is almost identical to a bed my sister inherited from our mom. It’s been in the family for over 150 years and needs a custom made mattress set because it is a three-quarter size.

[@ThisHouse]

Amazing! Thanks for sharing!

[@bbe3034]

I often forget that during this time in history, wealthy families married into other wealthy families. 😊

[@mariakettlehut7399]

Stanford white sure got around.i think he built every mansion that existed back then

[@DawnMuzyka-k7x]

I love your videos. They way u provide the history of the familys and the house. Can you please do a video of the Sprauge Mansion in Cranston RI

[@ThisHouse]

Thank you for the suggestion, cheers!

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

They yearned for the simple life in a tract home which wouldn’t cost a fortune to maintain! I cannot imagine the costs of maintaining a property like that, especially if not flush with a bottomless bank account.

[@ThisHouse]

Great point! It seems like the family was DIY'ing a lot of it as recently as 50 years ago. It would be a never ending project considering that at the height of the estate's prominence it required dozens of live-in staff. A true labor of love to keep it standing.

[@williamtyre523]

I always seem to be drawn to the libraries in these houses, and this one definitely does not disappoint!

[@ThisHouse]

It's a stunner!

[@christopherkraft1327]

This is a very lovely & interesting home with a fascinating story!!! 👍👍🙂

[@ThisHouse]

Glad you enjoyed it! Cheers!

[@patbowman6723]

If the estate is managed right the house will be there for many years to come.

[@veronicaroach3667]

It's a sad story but the same story for so many of these Gilded Age houses. This one looks pretty modest on the outside, but not inside - keeping all that going is an impossible task without a big investment income coming in !

[@francesgrumblatt3420]

Never again will we experience such grandeur

[@bobbyspapercraft]

Everything has a chance

[@francineherron1940]

I think it may have a chance

[@user-bu9qs6zu9r]

It’s going to do well

[@stevem.8339]

I always appreciate the homes you delve into and doing your homework on them before presenting. One point I would suggest is learning correct pronunciation on architectural terms such as cupola, clerestory , etc. -sorry being an architectural geek on you .. Keep up the great work !

[@ThisHouse]

Thank you for the constructive feedback. Glad you are enjoying these videos, cheers!

[@asylumlover]

SHOULD WE CALL IT THE 'ASTOR POOR HOUSE'???????????? DECLARE THIS A "DEMOLITION FREE ZONE" AND SAVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@andrewbrendan1579]

I could live in that house. It's big and grand yet simple and on a reasonable scale. I liked how in one of the photographs we can see clothing drying out on the clothes line!

[@lauraharris6987]

Stanford White the architect was tangled up with Evelyn Nesbit

[@starsrhi2335]

GOOD MORNING - The house can be saved for sure. All it needs are some real and sound creative minds that are talented in both beauty and investments. This would be a beautiful place to vacation with private rooms. When things are beautiful, and clean, it will last.

[@bethbartlett5692]

Madden actually brought the exterior of the house to a reasonable and enjoyable state of appearance, calming the eyes through smooth form fitting the function of the home.

[@thehipmusicologist]

They got any great-great grandkids that are looking 🙋🏽‍♂️

[@patriciathurman8632]

Let's give it a chance it just seems like a good investment.. I am on my way ... Open the door,see ya soon !

[@dianacanales2526]

Love the library! I hope they can become innovative in their fund-raising to sustain the home enough to preserve it for future generations. Fascinating story, would love to take a tour! Thanks, Ken!

[@LarcR]

I suspect a nearly exact copy of this house - or maybe even better - could be built for about the same amount it would take to put it back in pristine condition.

[@califdad4]

Sounds like it has a chance, but only if the family keeps thinking business minded

[@claudiamann7111]

I'm glad they turned it into a business so it generates money. Those huge houses are so expensive to upkeep. Thanks for another great video.

[@jamesslick4790]

I hope it has a chance! It's a cool building!

[@jimwiskus8862]

Quite a story. Will it survive, tune in for part II.

[@jillatherton4660]

Picturesque pile. 👍

[@ShirleeKnott]

here's my daily comment to help keep the algorithm feed. one of the many things it feeds off of is community interaction why not feed it and help the channel grow

[@ThisHouse]

Thank you!

[@ShirleeKnott]

@@ThisHouse yw!

[@JorgeClar]

It will be around forever!!!

[@francesgrumblatt3420]

It’s absolutely amazing

[@janedee6488]

It’s lovely. Hope it survives.

[@kendranewton9071]

Love that library, wow!

[@carolynlanham3170]

Thank you for this.

[@jonclassical2024]

After raising 3 daughters and working 47 years in hospitality, I squandered my retirement on my 1990's apartment rent in Raleigh to date...am I allowed an opinion on the Astor's?!?! NO PITY!

[@jefflawrentz1624]

I e read several articles on Rokeby over the years. I think it stands a great chance of surviving. Especially if they work to go off grid. If I had to choose a room to spend time in it would definitely be that wonderful library. Thanks Ken!

[@earllutz2663]

Thank you for the video tour. It was, and maybe now is, a beautiful house with the restoration completed.

[@StamperWendy]

50/50 chance

[@rickyt3961]

thank you!

[@amyjones8114]

It has a chance, I think. It’s so nice to hear that the family hasn’t sold it and still live in it.