Inside a Jazz Age Mega Mansion (The Crane Estate)

[@jelsner5077]

This is my favorite house that you've featured so far. The pre war designers and craftsmen cannot be beat. There was a natural, innate knowledge of classical proportion that was simply lost and discarded after the Wars.

[@DarcySteele]

Mine too. I was really surprised at the natural wood walls! Everything was so tasteful and well done in balance. I’m so glad it still exists!

[@williamtyre523]

I was always fascinated by the story of the first house, designed by Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge, being torn down because the wife found it "drab." Yikes - if my husband built a house like that for me, I wouldn't complain at all!

[@MrsRobinson0741]

Yeah that nauseated me hearing that! Why didn’t she stop it before…must be nice to be able to tear down a mansion because it was “too drab”! & just build another 🙄

[@brandyjean7015]

Just a wee bit spoiled & entitled, eh?

[@califdad4]

Yes I love Italian style house's, but the very wealthy before income taxes had more money than they knew what to do with

[@sachemrock]

The original house was better looking than what they built in my opinion. And the entitlement to tear down a beautiful mansion after its completion because his wife felt it was too drab. He should have traded her in instead! 😂

[@Helen-hy3gv]

So many mansions in NYC were torn down because they were out of style. The new mansions were Baeux-art style

[@krazmokramer]

A kitchen with a mezzanine! That's impressive.

[@DarcySteele]

I would love to know how to get up to the mezzanine, what’s in there, and the view from it ! 😊 never heard of one before

[@Mark723]

The Library! Cozy opulence - is that a thing...? If not, could it be...? I had no idea that this estate existed - thanks for sharing, Ken.

[@mgarbarz]

I visited this estate in 2016 and what blew me away was the exterior & grounds. There weren't many of the rooms or upper floors open to the public so I spent the most time wandering around, it was so fantastic to see. The interiors were more simple than the newport mansions, but the grounds were a notch above. I always thought it would be beautiful with that view to build some marble deck / grotto outbuilding at the cliff at end of the green to have some way to get down to the beach.

[@803mastiff9]

Chevy Chase (born Cornelius Crane Chase) is the great great grandson of Richard T. Crane.

[@portodemos3622]

I loved visiting "this house ". Set up on the hill catching the ocean breezes. The baths were revolutionary at the time. The green lawns with statuary down to the ocean pastoral, lovely and graceful. It would have been a treat to be a guest at a weekend shindig when the house was in it's heyday.

[@lawrenceflynn2447]

I visited the mansion about 3 years ago and it truly is magnificent - everything Ken described and more. The trustee who did our tour was very knowledgeable and let everyone hangout on the rooftop platform at the tours end. Beautiful views for miles in every direction. Mr. Crane was an avid sailor and commissioned a huge boat to be built for his Son. There was a room on the second floor dedicated to that which was interesting.

[@krcmaine]

Oh I've been a few times, very cool place. Saw fireworks there once, was a lot of fun. Always wished the rose garden could be brought back to full glory.

[@Sweetyhide]

The grand alley looks amazing!

[@LJB103]

When I first visited the estate, all the brush at the end of the grand allee had been allowed to grow in and block the ocean view. I was glad when I went again and it had been cut down to allow that magnificent view.

[@iainsutherland1113]

You know you’ve made it in life when you can build yourself a house with your own personal bedroom away from the missus !!! Richard was livin’ the dream 💪

[@hell-hollowfarmer41]

One of the greatest gems youtube has presented to me. A most welcome reprieve from the daily chores of pig and sheep farming to sit down with a cup of tea and enjoy some culture. Thanks for what you do!

[@ronwalker4849]

THIS IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL HOUSES I HAVE SEEN ON THE NET WITH FEW EXCEPTIONS. THE EXTERIOR ARCHITECTURE OF BRICK AND WELL PROPORTIONED WINDOWS ETC. IS VERY ARISTOCRATIC AND NOBLE.

[@WelshRabbit]

ron, you might also enjoy seeing my close runner-up favorite -- the Charles Hilton Architects recent version in a similar style in Greenwich, CT. It does not have a name (yet). Chas. Hilton just calls it "Georgian Lakeside House." I describe both the Crane Estate Castle Hill -- and the newly built Chas. Hilton design as "Belton House Done Right" since both look to me to be inspired by that magnificent house in Lincolnshire. (I started saving in my piggybank to build my own, too, but I'm still about $30 mil. short right now. 😂)

[@ekaterinafedotova6913]

Wow! What super beautiful house and estate. The location looks outstanding. Its kind of strange to me that many of those grand houses aren't kept in family through generations. I realize that its very expensive to keep up with such house, but the families that owned them are usually pretty rich... I m glad that its saved for generations , open to the public, and i love to see such places in movies.

[@marieschmidt9416]

Times have changed so much. Now a days things like maids, servants, and groundskeepers aren't even available to hire, let alone being able to afford the help. And the cost of heating a house is much more today compared to yesteryear.

[@chucklambooy8457]

Sometimes the generations have blown the wealth. Think about where you reside and what it costs for upkeep. Take for example a 2,000sf home…utilities run on average $300 per month and tax (property) is around $2,400.00 per year. This mansion is 68,000 sf and with the property would be at a minimum $35,000 per month! 59 rooms…it would be divine to live there but seriously you would need to be a billionaire!

[@chucklambooy8457]

@@marieschmidt9416check my post for what you described.

[@haydenhannan6019]

I've been to this house, it's stunningly beautiful. Do note if you want to see the full houses interior you need to book a separate tour for that. Aswell as paying for entry of the estate

[@rollingtones1]

During a car show at which I was a sponsor I got to snoop around. Some of the bathrooms have a large open stone-tile shower with 3 nozzles at different heights on the wall - probably the earliest example of a feature that is so chic nowadays. After all, toilet fixtures were Mr. Crane's specialty.

[@TraderTimmy]

Castle Hill is a lovely place to have weddings. The hall and other rooms would be grandly decorated. Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres outside and inside. Sometimes there’d be a chamber music group playing during the reception. Elegant table settings. The kitchen was huge. Really great parties.

[@Bigbird1ist]

Growing up in the 1950's and 60's I remember seeing a new home in Alabama that had knotty-pine panels. I couldn't help noticing one of the bed rooms had the same.

[@mikeraba396]

I used to work at this majestic and stunning mansion during 2021 part time on the weekends. I loved it and felt it was my own place if I was there alone sometimes. I studied every little details and always found something new anytime I entered this beauty. Thanks for a great adventure back to a place I love so much.

[@ML-xi2rt]

I was there in 1979 for a college orientation picnic/outing and the estate grounds were nothing short of magnificent. I have never been in a more gorgeous or magical place.

[@raymondmuench3266]

In 1973, I sang there as part of a small group. Have no recollection who we were entertaining but I remember the beautiful high-relief woodwork and the view down the lawn. Exquisite place!

[@StamperWendy]

Thanks for chronicling another fabulous property in Massachusetts! 💜

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

Of course my favorites were the impressive faucets and fixtures in the kitchen and in the bathrooms shown to us!

[@bowiearcangeli11]

Love the stunning gardens. The house is beautiful too. Thank you for sharing. Love your channel! 💜

[@janedee6488]

Dining room is exquisite

[@susprime7018]

Nice kitchen.😊

[@josieann5031]

Florence's bedroom (4:47) is my favorite room. I like the rustic simplicity of it.

[@jesseboy303]

Some of my favorites mansions are: Beauport McCann House The crane estate Glensheen Biltmore Ennis House

[@LMays-cu2hp]

Thank you for sharing this beautiful estate mansion and property.

[@christopherkraft1327]

This home is stunning & the grounds are spectacular!!! 👍👍🏣

[@user-cm2nq1is3n]

Visiting Salem, we found the Crane Mansion while road tripping. Great tour, fantastic home.

[@arnoldacerimmer6790]

In the 70’s my friends and I would hang around there sometimes on those lawns. Sundays in the autumn were nice. You could drive right up to it and park your car near those long lawns. We would bring coolers of food and beer. Play frisbee or just lay around on the lawn. No one ever bothered us. If the cops or security did drive up they would just ask if we were having fun and then tell us not to leave any mess and drive away.

[@LJB103]

I've only been inside the house once, but I have been to the property several times (when at Crane's beach - and got poison ivy on the walk up to the mansion! Also, for many years the house was rarely open, but mostly used only for functions.). While the mansion is beautiful, I feel that it's its situation that really creates the "wow" factor of the estate. Excellent video.

[@kevinhanson6106]

Endlessly Breathtaking!!...

[@angelahartley3212]

I did not know about this person and his mansion but my father’s only job was working at Crane Co. he started there before World War ll and after serving he went right back to work for them and stayed there until his retirement. Rockwell International bought them out but I remember him taking me to see the cupolas and even as a child seeing the work was fascinating! They don’t make them like that anymore! He worked in the payroll department. This was in Chattanooga Tennessee. I so enjoyed seeing this!! Thank you

[@111Phoenix777]

Wow!!! Magnificent!!!

[@greghammer5321]

beautiful brick

[@Ivehadenuff]

I love this area of Massachusetts! I always end up at the beach, instead of visiting the house. I will have to stop short of the beach one of these days.

[@garycraigart3579]

This is the house where the filmed the exteriors in "Witches of Eastwick" Fun to see the actual interiors! Thank you.

[@jacklewicki7720]

I just visited this lovely estate this past weekend! Definitely worth the trip!

[@Amethys12]

Toured this lovely property and house in 2021, it was a dream walking through every room- just stunning and well worth the trip!

[@sadjaxx]

Jekyll Island, Georgia has a Millionaires Row that includes Crane "Cottage" where they would go to escape winters up north.

[@marieschmidt9416]

Wow! I wondered about the out buildings. Where and what?

[@connor_flanigan]

that's where the slaves live who have to maintain all that crap

[@joantrainor6584]

As always, I love the library.

[@warrenwinslow4266]

The evil Grandmother's house.

[@maryanneckenrode1773]

I always love the staircases

[@stevemiller7949]

Adler is not widely known by the public, but I believe he was one of the best architects of all time.

[@rugged1509]

I lived in Ipswich for many years, and have been to the Crane Estate, for cpl functions, and Crane's Beach many times. Parking is vry expensive, and the Green Heads can be pretty bad. They bite u when ur on the Beach, they will draw blood. The Estate is Spectacular tho 👍

[@maxwalker1159]

Love it!

[@sopwithsnoopy8779]

My favorite room, as always, was the library 😊 56,000 sq ft.? 😮 I see that the state of Michigan's largest private home is up for sale right now (summer 2023) and it's only 32,000 sq ft. Known as the Bishops Palace, as it was built for the Bishop of Detroit in the 1920s. Former NBA star John Sally owned it at one point, and said in an interview that it is actually closer to 40,000 sq ft... I'm not sure but I think the 32,000 number didnt account for the rooms above the 4 car garage? Anyways, this Massachusetts house in the above video is huge, if its well over 50,000 sq ft 😮

[@dougjones4007]

Unlimited money? 🤔 I would have a bunch of homes! Up State Ny, Florida, and Lexington ky!

[@jeffbowes8224]

Cool video I was there today

[@user-er6gx5or5x]

Beautiful

[@jilltagmorris]

Another great episode ❤

[@jedwalker4543]

Wonderful video! Do you think you’d ever get a chance to do the Waggoner mansion in Decatur TX?

[@mstsp9546]

There is something about how they tore down the first house that hurts my appreciation for the new one. I understand that it was a different time, but, that's just a waste and is offensive as the work of those craftsmen is now gone.

[@sachemrock]

I whole heartedly agree. I know it was there money to spend as they want but what a slap in the face to all those talented craftsmen that built the first in my opinion even more beautiful mansion.

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

4:05 How do you eat when your china, crystal and silverware are covered in a lucite box? You are so rich that you have products that are not invented yet! I sold Wholesale Plumbing Supplies and the Crane brand was way ahead of other makes!

[@bifeldman]

A real house.

[@presspound7358]

Of palatial quality right down to the statue lined gardens leading down to the Atlantic coast. Reminiscent of European “grandeur” complete with the “his and hers” sleeping arrangements. 😂

[@dennislogan6781]

When you said the family name was Crane all I could think of was the movie The Haunting with Liam Neason and Catherine Zeta Jones.

[@politivonsyt7010]

it is a huge and beautiful mansion indeed but not ostentatious and fairly "simple", beautifully crafted of course, in term of furnitures design and décoration with only touches of elements of art that shows how wealthy they were. It looks more like a bourgeois house than what you would find in others gilded ages fortunes mansions They seemed to be down to earth

[@redburban1394]

I thought you were going to talk about the jazz music played there ? My senior family members used to tell me the music was great. Too bad you didn’t mention the original Tom Crown Affair movie ( parts of it. ) where film at the estate.

[@califdad4]

One nice thing in California, is the beach along the Pacific from the top to the bottom is owned by the state, no private beaches

[@califdad4]

@johnmeigs719 but you can walk the public beach , which is my point most of those private area become yard areas but in the summer people are laying on the beach

[@dankeller399]

Do you have any idea the number of staff it took to operate the estate? How much the house cost, and in today's cost? How much the landscaping cost? What was the yearly cost of maintenance? Thanks.

[@diamondbolton2944]

We have the same taste in buildings, we’ll do great things together 💎💋

[@ianwright6893]

What was up with the second story overlook in the kitchen!? The bannisters and rail - please explain its use and purposes?!

[@peterbradshaw8018]

Someone had taste.

[@dawnadriana1764]

My answer to that question is that I would find ways to help the less fortunate. Not build a giant, grotesque mega mansion.

[@mgithaiga1]

I wish was under house arrest, home confinement, or home detention in this house

[@aeriheirsling2735]

I like that photo how many acres?

[@glennhertel1165]

Hey Bob

[@StellaMartinez-th4pe]

Most wealth deteriorate to nothing by the fifth generation. The first two generations being the most productive.

[@jillatherton4660]

👍

[@bethbartlett5692]

It's thick with busy detail that's like too much glaze on a donut, hollow in purpose, and stale in the culmination of it all. There's nothing, save the location that's inviting, to me. I continue to understand the perspective of Frank Lloyd Wright.

[@DJL78]

The cupola on the roof looks ridiculous. Why is it there?

[@ronwalker4849]

SEPERATE BEDROOMS FOR MR. AND MRS.? NOT MUCH LOVING GOING ON THERE. JUST MONEY I GUESS.

[@shebamaree9026]

my grandparents had separate bedrooms. they had money but not like this

[@JosephStJames2000]

Jeeves, do be so kind as to prepare for me a wonderful pee bee & jay.

[@margarita8442]

looked too cramped for me

[@sachemrock]

😂😂😂😂

[@johnsmith100]

The narration is a bit too soft.

[@asylumlover]

ANOTHER BIZARRE STORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 'I DON'T LIKE THIS NEW MANSION, SO I'LL TEAR IT DOWN AND BUILD ANOTHER ONE'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Jmittle101]

Did they have any children?

[@psallen5099]

Looks old and stuffy

[@ML-xi2rt]

@johnmeigs719lol !😂

[@CommanderStarblaster]

BORING!!!!