The Most Opulent Lost Gilded Age Mansion

When we think about fleeting beauty, we imagine aging. But some beautiful things have just one spectacular moment before they are gone forever.
Location: Manhattan, New York
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Music from: Epidemic Sound

[@litamtondy]

New York really was on another level. The destruction of all this beautiful architecture really feels like a modern day Atlantis.

[@craiggillett5985]

I find so many of these videos so depressing, you do a fantastic job Cam, but it’s the loss of so much incredible history that depresses me. Just so sad

[@arslongavitabrevis5136]

I do agree with you Craig. Mind you, we must remember that almost all the new rich that appeared during the XIX century were people without refinement or cultural awareness, therefore the houses were basically structures to show off their obscene wealth, that is why their despicable heirs, also awfully vulgar and only interested making money, did not care for them, by the way, this mindset was/is typical of the average North American obsessed with making money.

[@chuckandmax7313]

What a travesty, I can’t believe they just demolished this beautiful mansion and left all the architectural elements inside, one would think they could have at least stripped it down and sold them. Such a waste and complete disregard. I would love to have saved those things and put them in a museum or another mansion.

[@Dina52328]

I agree; a complete waste and disregard. Sickening 😖.

[@anncrow3340]

Every generation wants "new", something their parents/grandparents didn't have. Other than stripping old family homes in Europe for architectural elements, reusing old homes' beautiful designs, wasn't done until recently. You'd be shocked how many original Tiffany-stained glass windows were destroyed for "modern" buildings.

[@sergpie]

@@anncrow3340 Sadly, and against typical trends; Portland, Oregon, has been on a demolishing spree in the past couple of years (Covid really did a number on their real estate market); we’re seeing all sorts of Victorian and eclectic homes being demolished for typical, green-washed cubes with “wood-effect” siding.

[@arslongavitabrevis5136]

@@anncrow3340 You are right. The problem is the lack of sensitivity with regard to beauty; this is usually the by-product of the North American education and ethos that prioritize wealth and success above everything else. Well-educated and refined North Americans are very rare.

[@michaelroark2019]

@@arslongavitabrevis5136 There has developed a greater sensitivity to the past and its architectural heritage since the historical preservation movement developed in the 1960's. I was a professor for thirty two years and had many historic preservation students that can make a difference. But in the 1920's and thirties there was almost no such appreciation of the past unless the building was associated with a famous person and even then it was limited. The first example was the preservation of Washington's home, Mount Vernon.

[@ashleighzee1611]

The marble stair hall was just gorgeous!

[@badbiker666]

I have seen rooms like the one with the chairs set along the outer walls before. This room resembles meeting rooms I have personally seen - not just in photos - of The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Freemasons. I am not saying that Salomon hosted meetings such as these in his house. I am just saying that is what the room very much resembled. It is eerily similar to a Mason's Lodge I visited in a small town in Michigan. It was built close to the same time as this mansion, very early 20th Century, and the Masons who showed it to me were very proud of the way they have maintained its old timey character. Obviously, it wasn't as fancy as wasn't as Salomon's house, but it had the same character.

[@helenhelen1476]

Thanks. I wondered about that room too. It has a churchy feel but probably was some sort of benevolent society.

[@bigredc222]

If we could decipher the code in that banner above the chairs I bet we'd know what those chairs were for.

[@Gizathecat2]

I thought the same thing.

[@henrylivingstone2971]

@@helenhelen1476 It’s probably because the seating used in that room are repurposed renaissance era church stalls used for choirs.

[@helenhelen1476]

@@henrylivingstone2971 Yes, similar seating in Anglican cathedrals used to seat the Canons of the diocese.

[@TheJojo01902]

This home, and many others, were works of art. It’s so sad so many have been destroyed (for many differing reasons and due to a wide variety of circumstances). Sometimes I wonder about the wisdom of erecting such magnificent beauty knowing in the way back of your mind it may be destroyed. A modern day example: a monstrous edifice in Florida the builder’s wife calls Versailles - it’s incalculably large and of questionable beauty. A monument to ego, vanity, and “look how rich I am!!”. Will this too be destroyed in future decades?

[@paulinebrew9886]

@Eduardo Morales p

[@SeattleBoatdog]

Hopefully...

[@dorothyd.6506]

Thank you for bringing this incredible building's beauty for us to enjoy. I like everything about the home. My favorites are the exquisite white marble staircase and the bedroom withe corner fireplace whose shape mirrored the adjacent arching windows. If ever I am able to design a dream home, those two rooms will be my inspiration.

[@suzyfarnham3165]

It isn't even finished yet is it??!! Needs tearing down anyway. SHE might think it looks like Versailles....others don't!!

[@LJB103]

The sitting room furniture was Louis XVI, not XIV. The stair hall was absolutely magnificent. I like the "extension cord" to the lamp in the sitting room/study: this fed gas from a ceiling light to a desk lamp. The only time I have ever seen an actual one is in Mark Twain's bedroom in his Hartford home.

[@honestmom1958]

Ouch. It always hurts to hear that old buildings were demolished. But when they are destroyed with all that artwork inside, it really hurts!

[@danielkoher1944]

Probably the only good thing about present day. There wouldn’t have been a single piece of inside architecture. From some Crack🐒 wanting another fix. Pitiful yet true.

[@eastcoastartist]

4:38 The chairs look ecclesiastical. The desk looks like it is for an office. Maybe, a meeting room? 🪑

[@mileshigh1321]

I can see why it is one of your favourite houses! The front hall was beautiful! And the rest of the house was just so ornate and incredible too! I just can't believe they let a dunderhead developer with more money than brains, go and destroy the place without taking out the incredible interior first! A real travesty!

[@pmm3112]

Amazing!! The architectural elements in this palace are the most intricate I've seen. I can't believe with the fine artistic carvings and the extent these talented artisans went in the decorations that there was no interest in saving any of it. The fact in those days this type of decoration was all done by hand and nobody wanted to take, salvage, buy or preserve any of the ceilings, fireplaces, doors or wood paneling is a Crime!!!!! Thank you for sharing this video. It's a shame that all that's left of this house is the photos! WOW!! Thanks Ken!

[@karenryder6317]

It seems rather incredible to me also.

[@andyokus5735]

That's because all these greedy fools think of money, and nothing but money. It takes a fine mind and a cultured eye to appreciate art and beautiful music. I grew up in Boca Raton with trust fund brats. They just can't wait to get their share of the pie. Some real screwed up people I'll tell you!

[@luisporfiri7352]

There is a room whose purpose, as you said, is unknown. I may not have any in particular. But I think that those choir stalls belonged to a convent or a monastery. The secret is in the writing above:"SIN PECADO CONCEBIDA" (Conceived Without Sin). With a big "M" in the middle where it is clear that it refers to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Thanks for your videos.

[@asporner]

I agree -- I think that looks like an altar in the room with the chair being for the priest. Not sure what his religious affiliation was but this could also have been Episcopal besides Roman Catholic.

[@Nicole-on5oq]

I was also thinking it looked like a private chapel.

[@karenryder6317]

@@Nicole-on5oq salvaged from a cathedral in Europe, no doubt.

[@RandallMacDonaldVIPness]

Oh that just breaks my heart to know that the fittings were just demolished!

[@mrs.g.9816]

I loved _all_ the rooms! I'd love to wander through all of them. I feel terrible every time I learn that something that beautiful was destroyed.

[@sandypompilii6901]

Amazingly beautiful. Imagine calling that "home". The house was huge, but still homey and comfortable.

[@baystated]

The room with the choir stalls positioned around an altar-like table, and the large latin lettering on the wall above them, has a bizarre secret chapel feel. It is like when folks nowadays take used furniture from their tall family rooms and move it into their short finished basement spaces.

[@andrewbrendan1579]

What a loss! Bad enough the house is gone but that the fittings went too. The waste is sickening. Ken, along with others who have already commented, I'm thinking the room with the built in seating may have been used for the gatherings of some kind of lodge or fraternity. I didn't see anything to indicate the Masons thought maybe such indications were intentionally kept out sight of the photographer and the outside world. I noticed that the room had a couple of portraits (indistinct) that may have been of a man and a woman. Ken, I don't know if there's enough material for a video but I'll mention a house that interests me is Rosewell, the 1725 colonial mansion built in Virginia and that is now a ruin. Rosewell was one of the grandest and may the grandest of the homes of the colonal period in the U.S.

[@guyfawkesuThe1]

Don't forget that property taxes ended the "Gilded Age."

[@vanesqua]

@@guyfawkesuThe1 Antitrust Laws brought the superrich down to size and needs to happen again. Those railroad and mining barons, and their ilk, got richer and stayed that way driving down wages of their employees, who lived in squalor and poverty their whole lives, as did generations before them and after. So f the gilded age pigs and their ridiculous wealth at the COST of other deserving human beings. Whole towns, regions, STATES, and really, the whole country would be healthier and happier if greed was not allowed to run so amock; if the owners of businesses HAD to pay their employees GOOD salaries, so everyone prospered from their work, which would spread money all through the economy. The trickle-down wealth 'promise' that, yes, we did find out was complete lies and was never going to happen to begin with, didn't trickle down so much as one cent to one person. It's inhumane. and the human race can do so much better.

[@joemackey1950]

I was thinking it was for shoe shining. :)

[@joemontano71]

@@ItsMe-yv9jd Seems like the owner of this home (with built-in chamber) would be a high-ranking Mason?

[@sarahb4394]

What an amazing house!!! All the rooms were stunning!!!

[@sunspiral79]

Wow...Another brilliant video Sir The labor that went into these homes just blows my mind

[@coronajewelry]

that rooms with chairs near the walls looks like orthodox church chairs, but also there were similar chairs in the sistine chapel when I visited vatican this year

[@josephsf2452]

unbelievable, that the city of New York would allow someone to purchase this home and demolish it with all the architectural artifacts. truly a dark period in the preservation of architectural gems

[@lisariggs8947]

I'm mortified that the developer demolished the building with all of artisans elements left inside. What a horrible waste😪

[@berley1083]

it’s like looking at our ancestors happily chopping down ancient trees - what a crazy generation mindset

[@ceceliaclarke264]

The room with high-backed chairs set in a line against a wall looks as though the purpose could have been ceremonial. It would be interesting to know...was the owner listed as a high-ranking member of a Lodge or Society? Founding members of certain secret societies are known to have maintained elaborate, formal meeting rooms in their homes. The center-piece of the room with the line of high-backed, throne-like chairs may have served as a type of altar. I can't provide exact examples, but I have noticed that in many cases, great elaborate homes of this type were destroyed, even as an heir tried to preserve house and contents. As noted in many videos produced by this channel, in these cases, "a developer" acquired the house and property, and then removed every trace of house and contents. The reason would be: Surviving members of the Lodge would have maintained financial and legal interest in the property, and would facilitate total destruction of house and contents, to maintain secrecy concerning Lodge ceremonies and activities.

[@ceceliaclarke264]

@@ItsMe-yv9jd Your detailed response is appreciated. City of Pittsburgh, where I started out, is the place of the first Freemason Chapter in the United States. Through the 18th and 19th centuries, the US had members, all belonging to European chapters. The first US Chapter was started in about 1900. Andrew Mellon, who lived in Pittsburgh, started this first chapter . City of Pittsburgh is the historical center of Freemasonry, and so has had a large number of these Mansion/Temples. Person named James Oliver, one of Andrew Carnegie's business partners, built an enormous "mansion" on a hill above Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh. Supposedly "for his new wife" but somehow they never lived there. From 1900 to late 1950s, no family lived in that house. The land around it was sold as a sub-division, and my parents owned one of the houses in that subdivision. We did see people coming and going, into and out of this supposedly un-occupied house. I was inside once, and while I did not see a room like what you have described, I did come to the conclusion that this had been built as a Lodge, and not as a "house for a brand new wife". The ground floor consists of a square shaped central lobby and surrounding rooms which are all exactly square shaped. The floor of the lobby is black and white squares of marble. The lobby, or whatever you would call it, (Foyer?) has an open ceiling, with a stairway all around four sides, and winding up through three stories. So it was possible to see, through the railings of the stairway, multiple rooms, each with heavy wooden door. So this "mansion" was built with at least 30 square-shaped bedrooms, all in lines, like hotel rooms. In this way, the interior of this mansion is very much like the interior shown in the film called "The Shining". Lines of doors, leading into square-shaped rooms. If I had to take a guess, concerning the purpose for all of these identical rooms, in a Lodge, I would say...sex activities. Just judging from my view of this Lodge/Mansion I would say that a large percentage of these over-sized, fantastically expensive 19th century mansions were actually intended as Lodges. Thank you for your contribution.

[@billallred2350]

The chairs, most likely, were choir chairs, perhaps medieval, from a monastery, repurposed, as others have suggested, for Masonic ritual

[@thrumylenns2207]

I agree it looks like a set up for Freemason lodge

[@bludeetu321]

My first thought was Freemasons too. If so, there would be a record somewhere.

[@joemontano71]

Maybe the rooms purpose was associated with a fraternity?

[@petrithalili7253]

I like the marble staircase with walls around it and the ceiling. it looks magical from the fairytales!

[@karenryder6317]

Yes, that several story high entry hall with glass-domed ceiling just pours light on the gorgeous white marble of the staircase. Incredibly beautiful! I also like the sitting room where the mirror was made to look like a third window.

[@andrewbrendan1579]

Things actually could have been worse. I read Monica Randall's book, "Winfield: Living in the Shadow of the Woolworths". Ms. Randall told about how on Long Island after World War II there were mansions being bulldozed with the CONTENTS STILL IN THEM. On of the treasures lost was a statue by Michelangelo. At least the furniture and other times were taken from the Salomon house.

[@xanthopanmorganii229]

Jesus Christ, just why would anybody do that? At least let it get looted if you can't imagine any urther use for antiques.

[@andrewbrendan1579]

@@xanthopanmorganii229 It makes no sense to me either. Items could have been auctioned or sold outright or given to museums and historical societies and the "developers" could have made more money and/or possibly gotten tax deductions or refunds, depending on how incomes taxes were done in those days. Or even just open the houses to the public and say, "Here, take what you want". Monica Randall wrote about how she and her sister did get into some of the mansions and were removing what items they could such as gold door fittings and, if my memory is correct, a hanging globe light by Tiffany. The sisters were even removing clothing from the houses; not trying to make money but were trying save what they knew where historical items. Sometimes retired servants who still lived on the estates , though the mansions were no longer occupied, actually helped the two sisters.

[@henrylivingstone2971]

@@andrewbrendan1579 It’s because there was no such thing as an estate tax or modern day equivalent of an income tax. That’s why the rich of the gilded age were able to amass such great fortunes because the government didn’t hinder their money-making. If you think today’s rich are wasteful, the things people did during the gilded age will absolutely disgusting you

[@farajaraf]

I call bs. They just wanted those artifacts under cover

[@djquinn11]

@@farajaraf : Me too. There is no way they bulldoze a home with a MichaelAngelo statue still in it.

[@lizlittle1641]

That's so sad that developers don't value the artistry that is lost now. I loved all the rooms but I think the Conservatory was really unique. Thanks for sharing! Looking forward to seeing more.

[@wincrasher2007]

nobody did. It was already considered old fashioned by then. people's lives were hardly valued in those days, so I supposed their hard work got no consideration at all.

[@Just1Guy1000]

This has to be one of my favorites that you have done.

[@marklewis2744]

This literally breaks my heart

[@LJB103]

I totally agree.

[@karenryder6317]

@@LJB103 "Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone!"

[@LJB103]

@@karenryder6317 Villa Rosa in Newport went the same way: Marble fireplaces and crystal chandeliers and everything else were demolished in the hurry to destroy it before a new tax year!

[@clairwaucaush7225]

How anyone could tear that down is beyond me. Like he couldn't build an apartment house somewhere else. This house would have been the best house museum of all! Maybe there is a House Heaven they all go to once they're tore down!

[@lawrencesiskind3554]

While I can certainly understand people's desire to see these Gilded Age mansions, the reality was and is that they were just too much house for real estate that was and is still some of the most valuable in the world. The building that replaced this mansion on the corner of 83rd and Fifth Avenue, 1020 Fifth, is one of the most elegant apartment buildings of so many elegant apartment buildings on Fifth Avenue, all of which took the place of mansions. As I write this, there are three apartments for sale in the building ranging from 8.8 million to 17.5 million in price. Several Fifth Avenue mansions were preserved. The largest ones are museums: The Frick, The Smithsonian Design Museum, and The Jewish Museum, so one can easily visit them. A few others became consular headquarters for nations. As for the apartment buildings that replaced these mansions in the 20s and 30s, themselves now landmarks, we can all rest assured that they will never be destroyed since they are among the most valuable apartments in New York, ranging in price from 5 to 30 million dollars. Take a look at the ones listed for sale on Zillow.

[@tallslimguy]

So sad 😥 but that's what happens when the land value is greater than the home it sits on - A beautiful work of art destroyed 😞

[@reneemb4319]

Ken, I LOVE how you greet us! “Welcome to This House.” Love the pause and the drop of your voice.

[@josephcummings2892]

My favorite house for sure. the chairs lining the wall on the second floor are monastic choir stalls used by monks when they chanted the Divine Office. It looks like it could have been used as a chapel of sorts given the religious statues on the mantel.

[@juant3969]

Unbelievable. A developer purchased it and demolished it with everything such as the solid marble staircase, fireplace and the rest of the unique craftsmanship still inside. They have no respect or appreciation for anything

[@davidcattin7006]

I agree with Andrew about the built-in seats along the wall. They look like a lodge room that would be used for inducting members and other special meetings. The local Elks lodge has something like it. Although they look too high to actually sit on; your feet wouldn't reach the floor. Maybe there were stools when they were in use?

[@rutheliz75]

The first sitting room viewed on the second floor was my favorite. . With the carpet one can almost feel the quiet comfort of the space.

[@Polemodrome]

2:46 I simply love the Baroque fireplace and with the intricately carved coffered ceiling, it'd be my dream study! I wonder whether it'd be possible to recreate a mansion as lavish as this with our the current state of expertise, or if it's all lost... Still, I'd still be happy if it was possible to recreate an accurate digital rendering of some of the rooms, at the very least...

[@cathifamjourney469]

Makes me so sad everything I watch a video like this. All the hard work from expert wood and masonry masters just demolished. 😭

[@johnmcdonald587]

What a tragic loss of such beauty. The room shown at 04:30 looks to be Masonic in purpose.

[@robinhumphrey2692]

Beautiful staircase!!

[@Kirktalon]

It's a tragedy that all the artwork that was done for that house was destroyed when they demolished it. On the other hand though these ornate houses with such detail was like wow it's kind of overwhelming. I'm 61 years old and I guess I grew up with the Bauhaus theory of less is more.

[@wallacehamilton5596]

I love the architecture and craftsmanship. It struck me how most of these grand building projects make very cold uncomfortable homes. More museum or hotel then family home.

[@juliasouthick2232]

I so enjoy your program but am absolutely HEARTSICK to hear of these homes being torn down. 😢

[@dstaugustinefl8832]

Have you considered doing the Stetson Mansion in DeLand Florida. I just went there this past weekend and took the tour. JT & Michael have done an awesome renovation job on this house, I believe this year it turns 135 yrs old. All the wood floors are original, along with many others items in the home. The home was once owned by Robert Stetson and is known as the House that Stetson built (Stetson Hats) Check it out.

[@gas8823]

I live right down the street. What a small world :) And I agree. It's a fabulous home.

[@andyokus5735]

Thanks for the info. Now I'll definitely buy that Stetson hat I always wanted. Yes, as a Composer and musician plus art lover it pains my heart to see all the mindless greed and disregard for all that cultural wealth. Especially when you think back to how hard it was to acquire money in those days and try to remember how much a single dollar would buy. The incredible amount of work the architect and decorators had to do not to mention the immense amount of time and effort to travel the world picking out the special pieces of art, wood, marble, etc. And look at America today; a land of repulsive cookie-cutter cheap-ass synthetic wood over-priced shacks. Makes Me want to vomit. Like what a taxi driver said to me in Amsterdam one night in his Mercedes Benz; " Europe is a glass of fine wine and America is a cheap ice cream cone ".

[@dmd5645]

Love this video, Ken!!!. But, I can tell by looking at the decorations, that even though it's "1906", the owner was probably much older by the time he built it and as such this is heavily "Victorian". Meaning, just as everyone is, when a person is in their 20s-30s they get influenced by everything and as such, that design idea of the Victorians of "More is More" is clearly evident in these pictures. Even though I do believe this was now the Edwardian era. Also, that room with what looks like "shoe shine chairs" lined up against the wall, my guess is that a translation of the inscription on the wall would be a good starting point. It looks like a "secret society" room where they did their strange rituals of whatever society the owner belonged to. Ok, guys, now translate!!!!. Lol .... 👍😁 Luv from Michigan!.

[@andyokus5735]

Probably Freemasons.

[@thinktonka]

You do great work! You should feature Edsel and Eleanor Ford's house in Grosse Pointe! It is stunning and a museum today! It had a wonderful art collection, VanGogh and Cezanne represented. Probably the nicest house museum I have ever toured in this country!

[@moirafurlong1154]

What a crime to destroy such irreplaceable artisans work

[@buzzkincaid5521]

The entrance, stares , and the sitting room are my favorites

[@lawrencewild2523]

I can answer one question. The room with the seats built into the walls would have been the gentleman's gaming & smoking room. The desk is what throws it off. Normally there would have been either one or two billiard tables in the center. The chairs were where the gentleman who were not actively playing watched and observed from with their drinks and smokes. If you go to Nemours in Delaware you can see the exact same style room with the identical arrangement of chairs built into the walls.

[@123pb]

What I find ironic is that many of these houses were filled with architectural items from other homes in Europe and yet when these homes here in America were no longer used no one would remove any of the architecture item for Salvage for another house. they just destroyed them very sad

[@Waitingforthemetro]

Another great job, thank you! And my guess on that room would be that is used to have a billiard table. His buddies would sit around and smoking their cigars, and the like, observing the game.

[@juliebleasdale7098]

Absolutely stunning

[@nicknick9081]

Sad to see such intricate work is often replaced by much simpler work. A total loss.

[@sf9145]

If my memory serves me correctly, one of our founding father's had a room decorated like this and it was for meetings. Important business meetings. I'm sure with a little research you can verify this.

[@salavalos]

So sad that such a work was just demolished without any regard. The staircase was my favorite. Thank you!

[@MrMigueldelaO]

One of the things I have noticed about gilded age mansions is the short time the tycoons lived in them. I.E the house was finished but the owner died just 2-3-4 years later. I wonder if anyone has ever done a study about say - the 50 biggest mansions??

[@monkeygraborange]

The built in seating was most likely an English church choir loft.

[@guyindiman8701]

Regarding the room with the seats lining the wall all around the room and a desk or podium in the middle, I have seen this configuration only three times. It seems to be tied in with some kind of ceremony. Those 3 places are the Parliament of the UK, the Masonic Lodge Cathedral or Temples and the Choir Lofts of the Anglican/Episcopalian Church. Has that confused you even more? It certainly has left me scratching my head.

[@davidrahnis7341]

What a beautiful house. As a real estate attorney, I can't believe not one person bid on this property at auction. I wish I could travel back in time and put in my bid.

[@TheGreatTimSheridan]

enjoy the glimpse of the room at 5:08.. A nice effort. Thanks for an interesting video.

[@monalisamartinez2628]

Heart breaking...😥

[@tarareads23]

All that money, time, effort and beauty destroyed like so many of these mansions. Luckily the furnishings were saved but the attached (what I call it lol) architecture gone. Wow! I think my fave rooms are the sitting room, the bedroom with the bookshelves and that mystery room with seating built into the walls. I would love to know what that was used for. Probably meetings he had with staff, maybe? Thanks for sharing!

[@millardfillmore241]

There is a beautiful sedan chair next to the stairs in the stair hall.

[@EclecticDD]

I love seeing these mansions in your videos. If you don't already know about it, you would probably like Phil-Ellena in Philadelphia. She was grand and is long gone, but the street name persists.

[@garygloska7396]

Makes me cry big long tears😭my passion is towers and turrets but amazing interiors purposely destroyed is so maddening😨 I believe the room with the built-in raised seating is similar to Billiard rooms to view the pool table while sitting.

[@jefflawrentz1624]

What a shame to have lost such remarkable architectural salvage. While a great many of the architectural elements appear to be of their period, some I suspect were later copies- such as the chairs along the wall at approximately 4:34 minutes - I suspect the architect was copying some of the “Great Halls” dwellings had some 500 yrs ago. Still even today these would be wonderful antiques to have. Nice work!!

[@eastmanwebb5477]

It’s criminal to have demolished that marble staircase.

[@jimmyjacks64]

I really hate the end of this videos, it makes me so sad every time ends up with a "developer" ☹ and then you know everything is gone.

[@asporner]

I am waiting for one of those videos where he surprises us in that the building has found new purpose or has been rescued.

[@davidemoore1620]

Thank you for all of the videos you prepare and present. I imagine that "The Most Opulent Lost Mansion" contained in the mystery room was a Masonic Lodge. It looks a lot like it. Certainly, it is worth investigating. Have a great 2023. God bless you.

[@derricklangford4725]

I always find it really strange how the heirs pretty much wanted nothing to do with these homes. Maybe it was because of the upkeep, or by the 20s and 30s, the design would've been terribly out of fashion, but to just destroy it makes no sense to me.

[@kellingtonlink956]

It is quite saddening to lose so much handcrafted and detailed works. Simply irreplaceable. If the mystery room were the colour Blue, then I would think that there may be a Masonic significance. Without getting into too much detail, there would be ‘a reason’ for the pew-like chairs (especially against the 2 longer walls) and the corner armchairs. And probably, the desk is not a just a simple desk (as it might seem). Interesting. Thanks for the video.

[@llulu8516]

Should be a criminal law, for those monters, that destroy are and history.

[@wilsixone]

Can you imagine this home located at 5th Ave & 83rd St TODAY???

[@brendaroth100]

It is stupid to destroy such amazing houses. It breaks my heart.

[@superdougie10]

Possible Masonic or even secret society elements to some of the rooms. Ive been privy to internal chambers of a local Masonic lodge my family belonged to in the past.

[@tgmorrow]

Incredible!!

[@danielintheantipodes6741]

I loathe the waste of the demolition. It could all have been re-purposed. Thank you for the video!

[@MrHorse-by3mp]

Hard as it is to imagine now, by the 1920s this style was regarded as simply old-fashioned and tacky and not historical or worth preserving at all. Not just in Manhattan where land values were skyrocketing and the benefits of building vertically tremendous, but even in some less-than-glamorous cities like Cleveland and Pittsburgh that nevertheless produced some extraordinarily wealthy individuals. Probably through the early '50s these Gilded Age palaces were still being knocked down with shocking indifference. Maybe the owners had been robber barons in life and so on, but all the same it's a pity how casually we destroy what little history our country has in comparison with many other parts of the world.

[@eldaourso4053]

if Only save those beautiful marble fireplaces, stone work - so sad it was all destroyed. Someone now could be enjoying the artisans beauty 💔

[@mstsp9546]

Just a guess but the unknown purpose of the room would seem to be like a court, or like a city council meeting room. There is some form of writing above the built in chairs. Great video again too! That was a spectacular house, and I am so sorry all of the beauty only remains in photos, but thank you for keeping that around for us!

[@jrw5831]

The central hall and beautiful staircase...........................

[@Gizathecat2]

I think the room with “high chairs” for adults lining the may have been a room for free mason type group meetings. Their meeting halls have unusual layouts!

[@baffledanderanged2101]

Simply beautiful 😍 ❤

[@YuTbCensorship]

The Room with raised seating built into the wall may have once held Billiard or Pool Table in it. The raised seating was for guests to watch the game.

[@Beezner122]

I believe the built-in seating along the walls may indicate that was a billiard room. Similar to the billiard room at the Stanley Hotel.

[@scottanthonyweidner8692]

Thank you so much for this channel. It is at once the most addictive and most infuriating I have ever encountered on KZbin. The skills to reproduce those architectural elements have almost completely vanished, or at least reached prices to reproduce which would make even these robber barons gag. That's the other aspect of these videos which ought to make me even angrier if I had a more virtuous conscience - the number of poor people in the US at the time who could have benefited from these folks' extreme capability for largesse if they gave a fig about others (with the exception, of course, of Andrew Carnegie).

[@aileenbie291]

The outside was so clean and simple but the inside was super ornate. WOW. Maybe too ornate for me.

[@amyo.loggins4231]

I think the room with built in seating along the wall looks like the layout of a Masonic Lodge.

[@chriswatkin5476]

People tend to forget that after the First World War houses like this went out of fashion and the opulent interiors would have been worth very little.

[@jedimaster8818]

Beautiful 🤙

[@BrianJosephMorgan]

At 4:50 are choir stalls, used in monastic churches.

[@johnengland8619]

Thanks again for the content

[@janinestearns7288]

The room with the seats along the walls looks like some sort of meeting room.

[@WaM1756]

You find that special kind of row seating in cathedrals like Notre Dame for the choir and/or monks or priests in charge of the cathedral.

[@turdferguson74]

Take the wrecking ball to it. The answer to everything

[@gandfgandf5826]

I wondered why this was your favourite, but then that staircase. Wow. It looks like a movie set, not a house.

[@keningall5404]

Another great presentation thank you could the room with built in seating around the walls been a billiard room with a large billiard table originally in the Center of the room ?

[@chucklambooy8457]

Fabulous

[@BOEHHO89]

Did you ever do a video on any of Huguette Clark's mansions ?

[@andrewbrendan1579]

If you haven't already read it, I want to highly recommend the book "Empty Mansions" about Huguette Clark. I read the book several years ago and could hardly put it down.

[@buckbuck9225]

Breaks my heart..

[@pauljay5495]

There’s a house at Park & 28th by Stanford White that looks similar in many respects