The Many Mansions of Henry Clay Frick: Clayton (Part 1)

Henry Clay Frick is one of the most well known names from the Gilded Age, but where did he get his beginnings? Today, we are exploring the many mansions of Henry Clay Frick in a 3 part series.
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
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Historic Photos of the Clayton mansion: Courtesy of The Frick Collection/Frick Art Reference Library Archives.
Creative Commons 0(creativecommons.org/publicdom...) Photos from: Daderot
Creative Commons 3.0(creativecommons.org/licenses/...) Photos from: Stahlkocher
Creative Commons 4.0(creativecommons.org/licenses/...) Photos from: Leepaxton
Music by: Epidemic Sounds

[@seattlebeard]

This home is amazing. I toured it in the 90s. It was haunting to stand next to Henry Frick's bed when the tour group had moved on. It felt like a bedroom someone still used, not like a museum. Be sure to view the garage with its collection of vintage cars.

[@GetReady4LiftOff]

hse had to be freezing cold so big, haha no, they owned coal silly.

[@ThomasELeClair]

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,well said............................energy in life,,,,,,,,soul in spirit...............................the man had it all..............

[@roystrickland3363]

Frick's taste noticeably improved by the time he built a house on New York's Fifth Avenue. Then again, he had better architects and art consultants. It's now a crown jewel among the city's art museums.

[@monicacall7532]

Victorian homes often were incredibly dark and had just about every wall and flat surface crammed with photos, nicknacks, china and paintings. Just looking at the interiors of the Frick’s made me extremely claustrophobic! Give me Georgian style architecture and furnishings any day!

[@monicafiore20]

I live a mile from Clayton. It's a gorgeous property and they decorate it beautifully for Christmas. It is one of my favorite historical places to visit in Pittsburgh. I love that it is still decorated with the family's belongings. It's like stepping back in time. 🥰

[@jamesdugan3079]

Yikes! That parlor would make me nervous. More is more is more decorating style.

[@graceyoung3544]

I live near Frick’s Pittsburgh home. This house was meant to feel like a “lived-in” space and reflect the individual tastes of his family. The home he built in New York City looks and feels like a museum. Essentially, Frick wanted to house his massive art exhibition in New York. To this day, the Helen Frick trust is used to curate the family art collection and host moving art exhibits at both the New York and Pittsburgh locations. If you are ever in Pittsburgh, the art museum and antique car museum are free to the public. The grounds around the Pittsburgh home are an excellent place to check out if you can’t afford to tour the mansion. One last note, the relationship between Frick and Carnegie deteriorated so badly after the Homestead strike that they stopped talking to each other. Carnegie tried to repair their relationship a few years before his death. Frick responded to Carnegie’s entreaties with this classic line, “I’ll see you in hell.” I guess Frick was aware of his less than ethical business practices he employed.

[@roystrickland3363]

Frick's private quarters above the "show" spaces are as refined as the galleries--and even nicer because they're domestically scaled. They'll be soon open to the public as part of the house's restoration and expansion.

[@LJB103]

The house in the next video was supposed to be Frick's museum, but when the Lenox Library and its whole 5th Avenue block came available he couldn't resist building in NYC.

[@graceyoung3544]

@@roystrickland3363 Thanks Roy, next time I’m in the NYC it would be nice to see Frick’s living quarters. I’ve only seen the “show” parts of the home.

[@wendyannh]

@@roystrickland3363 Oh, that's wonderful news! I live in Shadyside, and haven't been in the house in years, but will totally come back to tour it again when those rooms open.

[@wendyannh]

I live nearby, too, and I just love the museum. I go there more often than any other museum in town. It's such a wonderful size, and the curators do a terrific job.

[@audreye9465]

such a beautiful museum i remember going on high school fieldtrips and admiring the collection of paintings, vases as well as the antique furniture and cars. such a shame he was such a prick. thank you Helen for giving us the chance to experience this truly special home, your work is appreciated, may you rest in peace knowing many people got to experience what you had hoped they would.

[@loriwatters8661]

I learned so much by reading the comments very very interesting! Thanks to All for being so knowledgeable

[@D-Rex-]

One of the first private homes in the world to have electricity, pretty noteworthy. If I remember correctly, George Westinghouse lived in the neighborhood and in the evenings worked on the installation of the electrical system himself.

[@christopherkraft1327]

Thanks for sharing another fascinating story of another fascinating mansion!!! 👍👍🙂

[@kissingcandy1]

love the stain glass, the desk with all bits and bobs. So sweet Helen returned to her childhood home. it is very homely.

[@nicosuave713]

I love your channel,its one of my FAVORITES !! ...just wen I thought it couldn't get any better,I watched this clip @ 50% playback speed and I loved it even more !! Thanks for your wonderful house profiles,and keep up the good work !! Thank you !!💖🔥💖🔥💖🔥💖🔥💖🔥💖🔥💖🔥

[@LJB103]

The glassed-in front porch hosted weekly poker games with Frick, Andrew and Richard Mellon, and the original H. J. Heinz. Frick also had 2 more children who died young; one, his daughter Martha (the painting of the little girl with the flowers that is shown in his bedroom), died after swallowing a pin. Daughter Helen got the bulk of his fortune but was one of those girls who had their life ruined by daddy always telling them that no one would ever love them - only their money (Barbara Hutton and Doris Duke were in that same boat). Waiting for the next video on the great museum Massachusetts lost out on. Very good video.

[@reuvenknight1575]

The bust is also of Martha. Her death really impacted him. His youngest son Henry Jr. died presumably of disease and his mother was very distraught over it. There is a photograph of him in her sitting room that may have been taken after his death. Childs got largely left out of this video but did a lot along with his sister to preserve the estates. He was involved in other philanthropic and historical activities in Pittsburgh as well.

[@cobeer1768]

You sure can spit shine the reputation of an evil man.

[@Jessie-le5mv]

You are right, so many Amazing houses and their interesting histories, its really rare to know these, thanks a lot🎉

[@lizlittle1641]

I love the playhouse! Wow! My favorite room is the playroom. I love children's things, so those will always be my favorite.

[@longhairbear]

Hi, I can't wait to see what you have on Eagle Rock. My grandfather worked for Mrs. Morse as head gardner during the time period at Prides Crossing .I'm not sure how close her mansion was to Frick's, but they knew him. My mom grew up in the duplex that was near the railroad crossing. The other half of the duplex housed the chauffeur and his family.

[@jamesmooney8933]

Carnegie and Frick were members of a country club, called South Fork. South Fork was located in the Allegheny mountains above Johnstown Pa. South Fork had a lake, which was created by an "Earthen Dam". The Dam was in bad shape, but none of the Country Club members wanted to spend the money to fix it. There was a large rain storm, and the Dam broke. A wall of water decided upon Johnstown completely wiping out the City of Johnstown, killing hundreds of people. I grew up in Pittsburgh. I heard about the Johnstown Flood, but never knew it was caused by the Dam breaking, until after the death of Alice in 1984. At that time, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ran a story about the Flood, and the country club dam bursting. This is how powerful the Fricks and Carnegies were, that they kept the truth out of the media for almost 100 years. In Pittsburgh, you will see no monument to Frick or Carnegie, but Westinghouse has a monument. Westinghouse was a good man. Also Frick and Carnegie were behind the Homestead Strike.

[@jokerz7936]

It was never a secret that the Dam caused the flood. Survivors even sued the Club and unfortunately lost. Also, while no monuments of Frick and Carnegie exist their names are over the city of Pittsburgh. On buildings, museums, schools/universities, libraries, and parks. Carnegie, Frick, Westinghouse, & Mellon are probably the 4 most recognizable names in Pittsburgh especially Carnegie the man has a section of the city named after him.

[@wendyannh]

They were actually behind the violent putdown of the strike, and were, of course, its cause.

[@jamesmooney8933]

@@wendyannh They were ruthless.

[@wendyannh]

@@jamesmooney8933 Unquestionably.

[@wendyannh]

@@jamesmooney8933 Unquestionably. Ruthless and cruel. Still, they both did a lot of good, but it's harder to see it nowadays now that I know more about them.

[@danielkomorowski7966]

I am from pittsburgh, born and raised. The company I worked for restored that house about 20 years ago. You could actually feel evil in the walls

[@jamesmooney8933]

I am a 4th generation Pittsburgh. My family hated the Fricks

[@christinebenson518]

@@jamesmooney8933 Way to hold a grudge. I'm not saying Frick was remotely decent, but eventually you need to get over it.

[@jamesmooney8933]

@@christinebenson518 You misinterpreted my meaning. Actually I don't give a second thought about Frick. I will remind you of a quote by Frick in his last conversation with Carnegie. Carnegie wanted to have dinner with Frick. Frick responded, there will be enough time in hell for us to meet.

[@claudiamann7111]

What a beautiful estate to visit if you are ever in Pittsburgh. The greenhouse, main house, and art museum are well worth it. They also have a wonderful cafe on the property. Thanks so much and can't wait for the next video.

[@jamesmooney8933]

In downtown Pittsburgh is the Frick Building. The lobby is beautiful with marble walls. It is the most beautiful building in Pittsburgh. It's across the street on Grant Street from the Allegheny County Court House another beautiful building.

[@elijahreagle2825]

He was an evil person

[@StamperWendy]

Very nice video! I can't wait for the next one. Thanks, Ken!

[@lbu9542]

My tiny high-school in Pittsburgh had our graduation on this estate in the 90s.

[@tim7409]

Wonderful Video with great information. Thank you I so look forward to your work.

[@honorladone8682]

I'm a coal miners granddaughter. Nice pile of bricks. Philadelphia USA

[@DETROIT1948]

Excellent, thank you.

[@marlinhuey7125]

I went there in 2016 beautiful place it was like walonk back in time. The guide said that 90% of the stuff on the property actually belongs to the Fricks. You can look out from his bedroom window and see the graveyard where they are buried. Homewood cemetery.

[@j1st633]

Frick in .Manhattan. A place to go.

[@monkeygraborange]

It’s been closed for renovation and expansion for the past two or three years, but the artworks can be seen at the old Whitney Museum on Madison.

[@danbowman9294]

The first time I've seen a chandelier draped with plants! I hope they dusted it frequently.

[@robyndavis3043]

Beautiful house

[@ReesieandLee]

When I see these super ornate gilded houses all I see is dust! It gives me asthma attacks to watch 😎

[@jamesslick4790]

"Homewood" is now the name of a prominent Pittsburgh...Well ...No other way to say it: ghetto. The Frick house is in the Point Breeze neighborhood, it's not far from the Homewood neighborhood, but might as well be in a separate world.

[@califdad4]

In the North East, that greenhouse likely provided nice food that wasn't available in the area. It's interesting his daughter came back in her 90s and lived there for the rest of her life

[@GetReady4LiftOff]

thankU for comments

[@MrFandex]

Didn't he have something to do with the Johnstown flood?

[@wendyannh]

Yes. Someone already posted about that.

[@davidayn2853]

please showcase the Hoffstatt mansion on 5th Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa. It is the most elegant, well-proportioned mansion enywhere.

[@wendyannh]

It's also still a private home and has never been open to the public, so there's not a whole lot to showcase.

[@tommywolfe2706]

I live near South Bend and we have a mansion around here named the "Oliver Mansion". Worthy of a video I think.

[@esteban1487]

With the exception of really bad health care back then, it must have been a helluva time to be alive.

[@j1st633]

If you were wealthy

[@QuanahParker17]

Unless you worked for the prick, or lived in Johnstown......

[@tommycharnie987]

I’ve been there. The Frick foundation takes great care of it.

[@maroru7577]

Some portraits hanging on the walls were not from family members. Those were randomly bought in auctions in Europe to make to look the family as if they were from a long and wealthy aristocracy .

[@SubliminalLocks]

Henry frick is my great grandfather.

[@andrewbrendan1579]

A remarkable house, but so much stuff in it! Maybe someone else knows this better and can add a comment: I think it was Elsa Maxwell who encouraged people in the earlier part of the 20th century to reduce by half the number of things in the rooms of their homes. The Frick house is wonderful but so much is in there. Is there anyplace restful to the eye?

[@Dina52328]

I bought a small Victorian house built in 1898 and hired a contractor who specialized in the restoration of Victorian homes. Not only was she knowledgeable in that type of architecture but also in the interior decoration of that era. She used to tell me that it was the trend of Victorians to decorate and display as much stuff as you could in your home. The wealthier you were the more stuff on display so that your guests could see all that you were able to acquire. Generations come and go and so do trends. I remember as a teenager, the trend was to have wood paneling throughout the house and wall to wall carpeting in every room. The appliances came in different colors; green, yellow, red, pastel blue, etc . . . 😳. My aunt used to have a sofa set sealed in plastic straight from the factory, everybody had those 😵‍💫. The sofas never got dirty but your legs would sweat and stick to the plastic 😖. ha ha 🤣. . I say decorate your house however you want and forget about the trends.

[@JimmyCall]

Don't tell me, they burnt it down because no one wanted to clean up the garden leaves. Now it's a car park. Arr this one survived.

[@annonymously331]

Some trivia: Helen, Fricks daughter, had numerous prejudices and hates, one of which was towards the Germans because of the First World War and the Hun. So deep and thoughtless was her hatred of all things German, that she effectively blocked, whenever she could,the emmigration of German Jewish scholars, art historians, etc who, more far thinking museum directors were attempting to aid in the years leading up to the Second World War. So apparently during the Second World War, Helen was at Clayton for Christmas dinner. Two of her nephews entered the dining room dressed as Nazi officials, and proceeded to "arrest" Helen. They marched her around the room, then plunked her down in her chair, whereupon her brother poured a bottle of champagne over her head. She apparently never visited Clayton again.

[@ThomasELeClair]

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,thank you...................I respect the great man ,,,as I too in my home surround myself with all I respect and admire.....My greatest gift to do so is being a bachehlor .....I get no complaints............................

[@amandab.recondwith8006]

Sooooo, his wife shared a bed with their governess? And a small bed contained dolls? Sounds like something from a lesbionic horror movie!

[@elizabethdingley1348]

No, that was his daughter.

[@maurawhite3119]

I've been there many times it quite something

[@nicknick9081]

@ 1:17 there is a drawing shown. I’m that drawing there is a train car with the words “Globe Lines” on the side. I think that has to do with the same company that Globeville in North Denver, Denver, CO is named after.

[@kathleenmartin8334]

Carnegie and Frick got into a dispute, and never spoke to each other again. Why? Because in the 1890’s, Frick raised the price of a pound of coke by 10 cents. Carnegie never forgave him. Carnegie and Frick were actual neighbors of each other.

[@mikeyweaselwhipper3074]

"..there was more demand for their coke than they could supply..." 🥳

[@kidmohair8151]

the very man who, as a robber baron of the gilded age, was directly responsible for the Homestead lockout/strike which resulted in the deaths of at least 12 people and started a string of union busting lockouts across the nation, setting back the labor movement for 30 years...not a nice man at all

[@jalanj2053]

History and facts prove the workers STOLE the Carnegie property, and then opened fire on the Pinkerton as they sailed down the river for work at the factory. The workers fired first. Nice try though with your selective and attempt to re-write factual history.

[@kidmohair8151]

@@jalanj2053 you should not let Frick off the hook so easily. He locked them out when the workers were told that they would have to accept lower wages, and they said they wouldn't. He started the process which led to those deaths. Even wikipedia will tell you that...all you had to do was look.

[@jalanj2053]

@@kidmohair8151 1. They were fired and then they prevented other people from working and that’s a violation of those peoples human rights. 2. They then STOLE Carnegie property when they trespassed and locked themselves in. 3. They then FIRED down upon the Pinkertons who were hired as security as the approached the factory via boat on the river.

[@kidmohair8151]

@@jalanj2053 1) Why were they locked out (or as you say fired)? To use your logic, the strikers were the first to have their human rights violated. There would have been no need for the scab labor had Frick negotiated, but like the barons of old, he had the right to dismiss out of hand, so he did, in violation of the contracts that had been negotiated in the previous 4 years. 2) Yes, they occupied the factory.... it's called a sitdown strike. The AA was not blameless in this. They had purposely been set up as an elitist bargaining unit, that excluded a large proportion of the unskilled labor force at Homestead from membership. This would cost the union later, and it would collapse in the following decade, providing a negative example for future organizing efforts by all kinds of unions. 3) There is no reliable first-hand evidence that confirms who fired first. 4) Why, and at whose cost were the Pinkerton goons hired and supplied with arms, and then shipped up the river to assault the factory?

[@jalanj2053]

@@kidmohair8151 1. They walked of the job and therefore quit! They were not allowed on the property ever again. Which they stole and barricaded themselves on. No need for frick to do anything for the quitters. Fact. 2. Call it what you want they quit plain and simple. Those weren’t their jobs. That wasn’t their factory. They have no right to assault other workers, shoot at the security guards unprovoked from a hilltop. 3. Wrong wrong wrong. Historical FACT that they fired on the Pinkertons while they were still on their boat and not even on the property yet. Fact. Fact. Fact. 4. Why were they hired?!??!! Are you serious 😂 whatever other questions you have reread 1-3 over and over and over again. Goodbye.

[@Kandi_Pup]

I’m actually related to him!! I told the dna test 😮😊

[@jeanlaws8210]

My ancestors died in Frick's mines, so I have a very low opinion of Henry Clay Frick. He was brutal and horrible to those men (and children) who worked in his mines. So glad to see that his family lived the good life off of those lives lost and ruined from his mining operations.

[@denisemarks8798]

My family also emigrated to this country to work for these Robber Barons, they worked in dirty, dangerous conditions.

[@alanblanes2876]

@@denisemarks8798 It is great that Theodore Roosevelt and the Progressive Era began to create civilized standards for work and production. If this process is to continue, FDR's #2ndBillOfRights has to become an all-party, all nations in the Americas endeavour.

[@aimeefriedman822]

I could imagine there were few protective regulations. I never understood the concept of being mean (to say the least) to people, even during slavery. If you treat your people better, you don't have to rule in such a way.

[@derricklangford4725]

I was just about to say when I ran across your comment, that house was built at the cost of exploiting his workers, but nice house tho 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@jalanj2053]

Yeah and we believe you 🙄

[@beachcaving]

No rich without the poor....

[@paulalim1476]

I own an Overholt Whiskey shipping box….

[@bethbartlett5692]

Mercy the Victorian Egos were vulgar in overdone, *"No wonder Frank Lloyd Wright called them Interior Desecrators!"*

[@bigredc222]

I wonder how they had kids since they slept in separate bedrooms?

[@stst77]

The video said he had a daughter and son.

[@bigredc222]

@@stst77 I know, that's why I said, "I wonder how they had kids" Did they have a date night, and she let him spend the night in her room? Did he have to sneak out before morning so the staff didn't see him coming out of her bedroom? Strange times back then.

[@lestucker7460]

This unrelated but thought you may find it interesting

[@ginger1549]

I was born & lived in Pittsburgh all my life. The name Frick is thought of as the devil in person. People hate him, this hate comes from growing up with stories of how our ancestors lived.

[@crookedbird6589]

Great house but Frick was a horrible man. He was tasked with breaking the Homestead strike for Carnegie at his Homestead, PA steel mill while Carneie hid in Scotland to save face.. It took years for the workers to finally unionize and better there lives. Wealthy men often stand on others backs.

[@mariannemarek6683]

Absolutely the TRUTH. Look into Charles Swaab who owned a Steele mill in Braddock. He died penniless and was supported by Carnegie in the end. He lived in Loretto, Pa. and his sister is a Carmelite nun buried in the Carmel in Loretto. She spent her life in service to the Lord making restitution to the Lord for the sins of the world. Makes you think????.

[@SuperMickeyhouse]

I wish you cause find some colored r pictures.

[@sexydirrtymoney]

The interiors look a bit too much to me 🤷‍♂

[@LJB103]

Typical fussy "overstuffed" Victorian

[@judithmcbride4023]

No Thanks! WAAYY too much stuff!! Overcrowded!! I would feel like I couldn’t breathe! Perhaps he should have taking all that extra, and done something good for his employees!

[@paulmezhir8354]

"Rubbing shoulders," honey......RUBBING shoulders.

[@bcfairlie1]

This house is awful. Lacking in symmetry and style. The inside is just overstuffed with things. Proving again that you may have a fortune but that does not mean you have taste. Looking forward to his later house. 8m sure it will be great.

[@BitterSong28]

Yawn. What a common, cookie cut, and typical boring and rambling wealthy person’s house.