What Happened to Florence Vanderbilt's Mansion? (Florham)

High Society during the Gilded age was largely headed by Mrs Astor, but her replacement as the matriarch was taken by a new money heiress. Today we head off to Morris County, New Jersey to explore Florham.
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Location: New Jersey
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Historic photos from: Fairleigh Dickinson University Digital Archives
Creative Commons 4.0(creativecommons.org/licenses/...) photos from: Trinitarian Creek, Profdarden
Music from Epidemic Sound

[@geneod9438]

I attended college here in the early 90’s. The mansion as it was called was for various classes and administrative use. We all used the grand staircase to go floor to floor. And the back patio was often the site of outdoor philosophy or literature courses. The pool was still there, and the giant stable was converted to the science and chemistry departments. Overall the grounds were well kept and the architecture was respected and not altered. The entire town (Florham Park) behind the estate was their back yard that was sold off as the estate shrank. And the name of Florham was a combination of Florence and Hamilton’s first names which stuck even to the borough of Florham Park.

[@mikenixon2401]

It is amazing how some people both historically and today have more money than common sense. Good report Ken.

[@davidboehringer5750]

Remember Mike most of the ones with "more money than common sense" were not the ones who earned that money.

[@dontarguewithidiots7459]

Yup. There's a reason people say "shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in 3 generations." Very often (not always) the first generation earns it, the second builds on it, and the third has very little connection to it and often fritters it away.

[@cogitoergospud1]

It’s even more amazing how many people have no common sense and no money …

[@pampurr1]

My brother graduated from this college. We had a party in the back of this house in the gardens. It was splendid.

[@christopherkraft1327]

I can't imagine living in such a large home. The opulent entry hall is my favorite. I'm glad that this magnificent mansion is still in existence today!!! 👍👍

[@kjquinn7856]

Florham is on what was "millionaire's row" in Madison, Florham Park, and Morristown, NJ during the Gilded Age. Sadly, most of those mansions are gone now. I'm glad Fairleigh Dickenson University is trying to restore the mansion and gardens.

[@debralavoie9095]

Crazy amount of wealth. Beautiful buildings.

[@LJB103]

I've been here (exterior only) and walked around it. Design-wise it is one of my favorite still extant mansions. and one of the ones that I most wish I could have seen in its heyday as an estate. The only "flaw" in the current use is that the wooden front entrance door was replaced with one of those steel framed doors with wire mesh encased in glass (at least it was when I was there a number of years ago). Also most of the rear gardens are now athletic fields. Florence was the last surviving grandchild of Commodore Vanderbilt. Both her daughter Florence (Mrs. William Burden) and sister Emily's (of Elm Court in Lenox) daughter Florence (Mrs. James Burden, Jr.) married brothers; but because of Hamilton Twombly's financial acumen, the William Burdens were called the rich Burdens to the James Burdens' poor Burdens! At the end of Prohibition, there were still over 10,000 bottles of wine left in Florham's cellars. Excellent video.

[@andrewbrendan1579]

I've read about Florham in the book "Fortune's Children -- The Fall of the House of Vanderbilt" by Arthur Vanderbilt II and I think what appeals to me about Florham is not any particular room but the lifestyle that was lived there for many years: a year in advance you could know what would happen there and the estate was largely self-sufficient and the Twombly's were not celebrity rich people but a family that lived quietly and without much public attention. In her memoir "Dead End Gene Pool", Vanderbilt descendant Wendy Burden tells about going to Florham after it became a school. Both books are engrossing though the second one is the story of a family of tragedy and makes for heartbreaking reading.

[@bonitahobbs2374]

Is their record if enslaved Black Men were the people who built this house ?

[@andrewbrendan1579]

@@bonitahobbs2374 The mansion at Florham was not built by slaves. New Jersey is northern state and if it had ever had slavery it had long since been abolished even before the Emancipation Proclomation of 1863. Slavery in the U.S. came to an end a little more than 30 years before the house was commisioned.

[@bonitahobbs2374]

Good news. Enlightened area.

[@Emily_Paris]

Thank you Ken for all the details of the New Jersey Vanderbilt home. These mansions are amazing and beautiful. I wait in anxiety and the anticipation to hear at the very end of your video if the home is still here today. Happy to know it is still standing and being used.

[@jimflanagan6029]

I work at FDU and I love going in the Mansion every time.

[@p.mckenzie2921]

Vanderbilt family was very fascinating and they built wonderful homes. It’s nice to know it’s still being used for a school you have a good .😉

[@kendranewton9071]

Love the barrel ceiling above the pool.

[@dougcargill6730]

Florence was THE Mrs. Vanderbilt. She has a cottage next to her brother Cornelius in Newport (now part of Salve Regina University) and eventually a townhouse at 5th Ave and 71st St across from the Frick mansion. She was quite a lady.

[@oldworldmichigan705]

I love your videos. Thank you

[@kellyfisher4378]

Such an incredible story. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[@jimwiskus8862]

What an incredible home! This is one of the few where no expense was spared. I wonder what happened to the Rolls he’d acquired? Love the entire place. Glad to here it’s still breathing.

[@StamperWendy]

I like that the decor is a bit more toned down than some of the other homes of that era. Nice pool! I'd want plants in there, too. And I'd kill for those stables... Thanks, Ken!

[@ceejay960]

Legend has it that when Florence left the room, the party was over. At one such party on a holiday weekend, Florence left the room on Sunday evening, leading the guests to think that the party was over. What about tomorrow? Tomorrow is Labor Day. Aren't we staying through the holiday? They sent the butler to inquire. He returned a few moments later with the answer..."I'm sorry, but madame has never heard of Labor Day"

[@Rocco-bm9cf]

Beautiful mansion from McKim, Mead & White. Another MMW project worth a look is Beacon Rock in Newport. Love the videos!

[@cassandraralph5906]

What a absolutely beautiful manor and gardens. I had an English father, who passed on his love of good architecture, art, music and beautiful beaches. I would quite happily live in this manor if it was possible to do so. I especially loved the playhouse, as I have a love of doll houses, and smaller versions of a playhouse. Thank you again. 😊

[@devo648]

The entrance. beautiful floor, light and grand

[@myopinioncountsmost2419]

I went to Fairleigh Dickinson in the early 80s. They had spray painted the entire interiors I assume when they took possession in like "off green, blue, yellow" flat paints which was shameful; everywhere, everything. There were a few rooms they hadn't touched that were original so you could see what once was the grandeur of the interiors (president's office, etc.). The gardens were all overgrown and when you went out to the back yard it all just ended and ahead of you was that fantastic stone railing then a jungle of overgrown thicket within you could make out an inoperative fountain. The playhouse was the gym and in the basement were the locker rooms. I spent a lot of time there and remember how humid it always was; I believe they leveled all that for a new gym/pool/weightroom facility. I haven't ever been back but hopefully, FDU applies some of the exhorborant tuition they charge towards rehabilitation. Would love to see a follow up in this regard as I'll never go back to NJ. Another good one for you to do is Monmouth university's (NJ) mansion, known as "shadowlawn" and formerly owned by the guy that was Woolworth's president that lost everything, including the house, in the depression. Monmouth has restored a large part of that house, particularly the great rooms and hall. Also, if you research, Monmouth U calls it Wilson hall but President Wilson never stayed in the existing structure, he stayed in the house that either burned down or was raised to construct the present house. Thanks.

[@RyomaG]

It is great to see such beautiful estate being preserved rather than being torn down like so many others.

[@robyndavis3043]

At least it was saved

[@samanthab1923]

The gardens are amazing. I think some statues are still around.

[@windronner1]

It’s so absurd, it’s magnificent. I’m glad to hear Fairleigh Dickinson University was the beneficiary. Better than having it demolished due to operating costs and no buyers.What is amazing is the scope of wealth even before the time of Bill Gates.

[@dougm5341]

Having grown up in nearby Chatham, I vaguely remember the last of the great mansions of Morris County

[@RaniGaddy]

Sounds like a good storyline for Larry and Marian on the Gilded Age

[@DaleRussell2]

Stunning! 👍

[@33Donner77]

The house was for others of wealthy society as much as the owners. Still, it's better to be used for a wider range of society, and it's good it was not torn down after 50 years, as was the fate of so many mansions in urban areas. As for my house, it has a full-time staff of - One.

[@NelsonClick]

Mrs Twombly was an absolute paragon. As grand and formidable as Mt Everest. Many stories came out of Florham revealing a cool, sleek marble statue of a woman. Once when guests were leaving after a house party they were unable to depart because the trains weren't running because it was a holiday; Labor Day. When the butler told her the guests weren't leaving she said, "I've never heard of Labor Day". Hollywood came to prominence during her day and she was quoted amusingly, "In my day we had them but now they have us, if you please".

[@garaldtao1801]

I always have this fear that if I have too big of a house, that my grandkids and great grandkids will not be able to keep up with the repairs and maintenance of it and would end up chopping it apart and selling off everything. I guess the Vanderbilt's didn't care about tomorrow while living for today but fortunately for Florham a post secondary institution with some means pick it up.

[@melanielazare9]

Agreed 100%

[@melanielazare9]

What's the point

[@dontarguewithidiots7459]

Wow.. what a building. When I think ornate estate/palace, this is sort of what comes to mind.

[@lawrenceflynn2447]

Thanks Ken ……I can’t say this for a fact but if I lived this sort of lifestyle I would probably have a long life line as well. Great work as always!

[@lindakerekes1669]

Love that the house was lighter with gorgeous white woodwork and ceilings. So many of the homes were all carved dark wood and very oppressive to me. Florham has a more classic feel

[@user-ux9dk3mc2o]

Ken you’re awesome, love your channel . ❤

[@andrewaway]

That is a great story.

[@brentfairlie]

By far one of my favorite American mansions

[@heidisalaka6938]

This is really great work as usual, but I think when framing the “portrait style” black and white photos, you should consider not distracting with color and movement in the vertical frame.

[@carolekrug6027]

It’s Fairleigh Dickinson University- endowed by and named for Fairleigh Dickinson, its benefactor. Becton Dickinson medical technology company is what made him wealthy.

[@armlovesmetal1036]

I remember all those houses when I attended FDU.

[@1940limited]

Hamilton died at age 61 at this home distraught over the death of his 18 year old son who died of a heart attack after swimming across a lake. Another daughter, Alice died at 16 from scarlet fever. Despite their wealth, in those days, there wasn't much that could be done about childhood diseases. Ruth died 2 years after her mother at age 70 also from a heart attack. She had been in charge of the houses. With her passing in 1955 the estate was sold.

[@mstsp9546]

The walls, ceilings are beautiful. My favorite room is the drawing room. I am laughing at the maroon outfits though.

[@francesgrumblatt3420]

It’s like a small hotel

[@jerrys9226]

They also had their own private rail siding off the main line. It was apparently somewhere near the entrance to the estate.

[@1940limited]

I've never been able to find any remnnts of that or much information about it.

[@rosepelzel4244]

Ken, I thought the outside was nicer than the inside. 100 rooms?? Were 80 of them guest bedrooms?? That's a hotel! 😊

[@ShirleeKnott]

this comment for feeding the ever hungry algorithm it's favorites are comments, replies and likes to them

[@anthonypopola5773]

Comments from a couple of “comrades “ , I see…..

[@Portland4114]

Happy ending

[@The_Smith]

Favourite room? Library.

[@rosssouza1551]

I like the whole thing.

[@RY-xz4so]

I would love to see a video discussing the tearing down of Tel Aviv's beautiful Herzliyah Gymnasium to build the Middle East's tallest skyscraper in the 1960s. In general (and tragically), many historic buildings in Tel Aviv were torn down and replaced with skyscrapers--until the city realized the damage it was doing and began designating buildings as historic. Great channel.

[@lisariggs8947]

I enjoy this channel very yet its still hard to fathom such a life , and excessive lifestyles and " homes" were a a fact of history 👍

[@jbrooke156]

I am from Florham Park

[@1940limited]

Too bad all the shutters were removed at some time although I'm sure they'd be a big maintenance headache.

[@SMtWalkerS]

Is the pool gone now? I'd love to see more photos of the interiors, the gardens, and the murals.

[@1940limited]

Sadly, I don't think there's as many pictures of the plae as we'd like. The pool was in Ruth's playhouse which was torn down long ago.

[@SMtWalkerS]

@@1940limited Well. I'm glad we can see what we can see. I very much enjoy these videos. Vicarious tours are so fun, as I rarely get away from home, and I love seeing these old grand houses and buildings.

[@LMays-cu2hp]

Look very nice...

[@ricksadler797]

Nepotism didn’t always win

[@papapa7027]

Try to save the past or parts of it. Once gone it’s gone.

[@heathergustafson4237]

So what happens to all the contents in the house

[@kmp8985]

I wish your videos were longer

[@hewitc]

Today's billionaires don't build like this. Or if they do it's on a much smaller scale. Noticing the elaborate plasterwork in this house I was reminded that much of it was applied by hand. A long tedious process. Today you buy pre-made molding, altough there are still artisans who do "real plaster" work, if you have the time and money. It takes weeks to dry.

[@jameskiehm546]

I think today’s Billionaires realized these old homes, while beautiful to us to view were albatrosses around the necks of the owners. How many were built and the owner died shortly before or after completion? How many were abandoned because heirs didn’t want them or couldn’t afford the upkeep and taxes.

[@JAGBRG]

Not Steve Cohen. Check out his house in Greenwich CT and what he did in the Hamptons..bought a million $ house, tore it down and built another million $ house on top of it…next the Mets and now he wants to turn Times Square into a Las Vegas strip….

[@cogitoergospud1]

Property taxes. It’s part of the “discourage success in order to subsidize failure” mentality of the “progressive” left. Eventually we will get to the generic Soviet block style monoliths for everyone. The U.K. Is far down that road already. Because, after all, everyone is entitled to whatever they want. 🙄

[@JennySiede]

Living room.

[@caroltapia1343]

I’d like to know where all of this money comes from. Not a 9-5 job. Has to be insider trading.

[@jeanberard2078]

Too bad they end up being used as colleges. I can envision them as high end hotels so you can pretend for a weekend how many these wealthy people lived by actually using the various rooms etc.

[@user-xd8pj2mm4t]

Think ANDERSON COOPER, ( newscaster) a Vanderbilt

[@brozbro]

we don't need the subscribe reminder with every video.

[@JeffersonMartinSynfluent]

Far-lee Dickenson University? Never been to New Jersey?

[@Sushi2735]

This is just insane! It’s too much! Not impressed by this in the least.

[@jrgnc1]

Way too much house for ANY human being.

[@user-gj7oq1el7w]

Eat the rich

[@ronniedelahoussayechauvin6717]

Crimes, No Doubt!

[@David-qz8gm]

Not impressed.

[@greeneyedwarlock882]

SUCH ASTOUNDING WEALTH. To go with SUCH AN INCOMPREHENSIBLY AND EGOMANIACALLY GARGANTUAN "SINGLE" "FAMILY" "HOME". Limitless vanity, greed, ego and materialism, thy name is HUMAN.🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯

[@katie195]

The man worked and earned it. What he did with his money is his business. These were the days before income taxes.