What Happened to Perry Belmont's Wedge House?

Imagine having a mansion in Washington DC more grand than the White House. Today, we are exploring the Perry Belmont House.
Location: Washington D.C.
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Creative Commons 2.0(creativecommons.org/licenses/...) photos from: Flickr user: NCinDC Flickr User: bootbearwdc
Creative Commons 3.0(creativecommons.org/licenses/...) photos from: Wiki user: AgnosticPreachersKid
Creative Commons 2.0(creativecommons.org/licenses/...) Photos from: Wiki User: Limerick007
Music from Epidemic Sound

[@nonadeplume1145]

Imo, this is one of the most beautiful and unique homes you've covered. What a talented architect.

[@MB-nn3jw]

It’s nice that some of your recent videos are of houses that have survived, one way or another. I was beginning to think nothing remained of the US gilded-age and slightly later era. Keep up the good work; I enjoy your videos.

[@Derek.Duquesne]

Mrs Roosevelt had some nerve huh? You go out of your way to not invite somebody and then get irritated and Petty when they don't invite you.

[@cassandraralph5906]

It's called being capricious and petty.

[@cuucnsbfl9913]

Joe Says: The Presenter - Ken - is a very circumspect and polite host. Someone else might have worded the story as follows: High Society circles are not immune to the temptations of gossip, and it was inevitable that conversations would turn to whispers about the Belmonts and their massive balls... word reached even the circles surrounding President Theodore Roosevelt and his family; his wife was famous for holding balls - perhaps it was jealousy that was responsible for a notorious "feud" between the two couples? The ice was finally broken, however, when the Prince of Wales visited the United States and found himself in a bedroom in the Belmont mansion; when the Prince of Wales comes, everybody wants to be in "the room where it happens!" 😉

[@jayalanchristianson7070]

Just relieved this beautiful home still stands.

[@D-Rex-]

I toured this house about 15 years ago, really impressive. The volume of the spaces, such as the entry stair and gallery room, are very grand and beautiful.

[@claudiocavaliere856]

Absolutely majestic architecture! Beautifully decorated! Absolutely magnificent! Fabulous to see! Congratulations!

[@carolynsaffoe8718]

Ha, when I lived in DC, I used to walk by this building all the time. Didn’t know what is was or who occupied it. I called it the “secret society” building due to the insignia on it and that I never saw anyone go into or out of it.

[@sexydirrtymoney]

GORGEOUS house indeed!!!

[@brentivey9819]

What a beautiful home......loved it

[@314jrock]

This is one of my favorite houses on this channel. It is fancy but not too ornate.

[@mbww8572]

Love the beaux arts and this one looks fabulous.

[@stretchgrieme]

So relieved to hear it wasn’t demolished!!

[@petermacdonald3061]

Great to see a fine house has remained standing and is used and cared for. Another interesting tale. Thank-you for your work and attention to detail.

[@paco7992]

This may be my favorite so far! Wow, what a pad! I love the triangle shape.

[@kellingtonlink956]

A video just on Mr. J. Abele might be quite interesting.

[@kellingtonlink956]

Very elegant. Thanks for the video.

[@theresawilson2647]

I love this channel. Always great videos.

[@creoleking8905]

Stunningly Breathtaking ❤

[@litamtondy]

Full praise to the architect! Simply French magic.

[@StamperWendy]

I love that it has a porte cochere... I found out what that is a few years ago...

[@badassunicorn5351]

STUNNING!!!!

[@virginiaeckley3047]

Absolutely Gorgeous

[@jb-fb4od]

I like the staircase. It was grand but still very light and airy.

[@barbra9099]

Wow 😮

[@rayn8740]

The family dining room was my favorite.👍

[@SMtWalkerS]

What a beautiful, beautiful house! The history is fun, too. So glad it survives..

[@davidcattin7006]

Passed by this regularly when I lived in DC, and always wondered what it looked like inside. Thank you!

[@buzzkincaid5521]

Something went terribly wrong, I am supposed to live there!

[@pampurr1]

Gorgeous

[@markwagner4909]

It does seem folks were just as petty back then as they are today 🤣

[@lisariggs8947]

I really like the whole house, the unique design, execution and elegant decor. Absolutely stunning!!!

[@wdjones4735]

What a beautiful house! I couldn’t pick a favorite room. I loved them all❤️ Thanks for sharing😊

[@ushathottan6785]

Such a beautiful house made differently. For one night I would love to stay and feel the soul of the house.

[@lisaknell1809]

I’m in the Order of Eastern Star. I believe members can visit and tour this mansion if in the area. I was in DC a year ago and would’ve loved to have visited it!

[@elmofudpucker3418]

Another beautiful mansion. I love your voice and history you provide. Always an educated pleasure.

[@CherylSimser]

Every room was my favorite! Their taste was impeccable and far from a lot of clutter, chunkiness, and gaudiness of the day. Also the light in the rooms was very welcoming. Edith Roosevelt's use of her husbands power to dissuade others from attending the Belmonts was low in my opinion.

[@sergelouissieben6754]

Love this channel

[@kennethbraun1568]

Brilliant solution for a difficult lot.

[@dannyc.jewell8788]

This is one of very few houses featured on this channel that impressed me

[@ropeburnsrussell]

My favorite so far.

[@lizlittle1641]

This house is really beautiful. I love it's unique style. My favorite room was the butler's pantry. Not sure why, but I loved it.

[@christopherkraft1327]

The Belmont home is so elegant!!! It's nice to know that it's available for public tours. My favorite room is the opulent dinning room!!! Thanks for sharing this exciting video!!! 👍👍🙂

[@gregrenn2138]

I always appreciate a shout out to Julien Abele. He seems to be slowly gaining recognition. Great job.

[@bscottb8]

Credit where it's due -- Ernest-Paul Sanson was the French architect. Julian Abele oversaw construction.

[@desertsunman5880]

Now that's what I call a house - I would have 'lived' in the golden ballroom !

[@stevenbartley6088]

Many years ago, I tuned and serviced he pipe organ in this house. Residential pipe organ were the thing to have for wealthy. Other DC uber-residences had or still have pipe organs.

[@jared1870]

Fascinating house and history. I'm glad one of the Belmont brothers had taste. I found the feud between Mrs. Belmont and Mrs. Roosevelt hilarious. The entrance and staricase were my favorite parts of the house and I'm glad that it is still in use and in good condition.

[@michaelplunkett8059]

Well the other Mrs. Belmont had feuded with Caroline Astor when she was Mrs. Vanderbilt.

[@BusyBob6971]

I would have loved to have seen more of the entryway and the stairs.

[@osandoval5335]

Gorgeous house!!!

[@jimwiskus8862]

Hard to choose a favorite in this mansion.

[@andrewbrendan1579]

What a remarkable house with a remarkable location and shape. Beautiful place. I think I'll pick the Gold Room as my favorite. Seriously, I wonder if the Gold Room provided some inspiration for the room of the same name in the Stanley Kubrick's movie version of "The Shining". Some believe that the movie has references to America being on the Gold Standard. In that famous ending that shows a picture taken at the 1921 Fourth of July ball at the Overlook Hotel, some of the people in the photograph have since been identified as prominent people of the era and who might have been guests at the Belmonts' home such as one of President Wilson's daughters. How sad and silly that there was a feud or competition between Mrs. Belmont and Mrs. Roosevelt. I hope people have moved beyond that sort of thing, but even though architectural and clothing styles have changed, human nature apparently hasn't!

[@DemnRaig80]

Love to see one on the Henderson Castle. The house isn't there but the wall surrounding it still stands

[@kathytrimble4223]

I liked the music room.

[@calendarpage]

Boy, another grand home in DC! While my mother and grandmother would point out important buildings, obviously from your videos, there were many that they overlooked! This was one of the more beautiful houses, though everytime I see staircases like that, I think of women in long dresses - especially servants who might be carrying things. Even if they always used a less ornate back stair, it still must have been dangerous.

[@sopwithsnoopy8779]

My favorite room always seems to be the library 😊

[@SKF358]

Awesome house. Thank God the Masons saved it

[@heathergreen6394]

Wow

[@D.Garcia007]

It's amazing how these rich people do not lose any money on these houses they either mysteriously burn up without an investigation and all the valuables inside are mysteriously saved from the fire so they can be sold separately

[@lesahenderson7365]

Thank you for this episode. However, I’m curious, why are some pictures shown partially faded?

[@ThisHouse]

The partially faded photos are just duplicated photos of the non-faded portion of the photo. It is just a creative way to show the entire photo without having black bars on the side of the video. Thanks for watching!

[@lesahenderson7365]

@@ThisHouse Ahhh. Thank you again for all that you do. Your work is much appreciated 🧡

[@SKF358]

When were these pictures and who took them?

[@vickiephilpitt7697]

If the 2nd floor was for the family's living spaces and then 3rd floor was for servants, then what was the ground/first level for? Hope they had an elevator. 😉

[@nailadee]

I noticed the Eastern Star emblems were visible in the pictures but the medallions on the other end were covered with what looks like plastic or white cloth. Anyone know why?

[@racheldianeames3729]

Pls do sagomore hill the thedore roosevelt estate

[@erikaramirez8514]

Im inside of it right now my mama m works here im in the 4th floor where all the gest rooms are i this i only my 2. Time here i just watching to learn more about it

[@sanlkar]

La mansión menos extravagante y recargada que he visto hasta ahora. Bella arquitectura y decoración lujosa, estetica y mas al gusto europeo. Los millonarios americanos suelen pensar que más es mejor, y recargan sus mansiones más que en las cortes europeas.

[@lindafurr2404]

“Tell me what room was your favorite.” If you would show all the rooms I could probably pick one.

[@brianthomas5260]

54 rooms and only 3 are bedrooms!! That way you can tell your in-laws “would if I could but there’s a motel in the next town over.”

[@amesavis]

they were jewish but it is quite a beautiful house. cavernous rooms, the beaux arts period is perhaps my favorite and the most beautiful. i also adore the creepy 2nd empire style you find in dc, there's a house on logan circle that we always called the haunted house

[@pamelahonakerlewis4707]

Mrs Roosevelt was that not President Roosevelt Mother, Eloise.

[@Suntan38]

I just can't imagine being this wealthy!!! I guess in the end, their wealth did bring them back to high society

[@wendywarrior2264]

Gorgeous house, but Mrs. Belmont looked like an old grouch!

[@califdad4]

Interesting that Belmont and the Roosevelt's were adversaries, both were Freemasons, Belmont was a congressman for years and likely not in agreement with the progressive Teddy Roosevelt. I remember seeing pictures of this house, my Mom belonged to Eastern Star and about once a year they got literature from the national organization

[@patricialong5767]

Magnificent house, for sure! Such social snobbery was the usual thing, but today it is quite comical! Who cares about such trivial details as to what goes into a party? I guess it still exists today, in some fashion. Quite laughable, really!

[@patricialong5767]

Is this why in the present day, they are saying "Drain the swamp!" LOL One would certainly think that our father of the country, George Washington, could have chosen a much more healthy location rather than an awful swamp! And so history goes...

[@claudermiller]

The Masons, the Rothschilds, the weird shape, I'm surprised it hasn't become the subject of a conspiracy movie.

[@edramirez1240]

Aaaah, pushy, pushy social climbers. This could have been an episode of the “Real Housewives of the Turn of the Last Century”.

[@sashasue00]

I loved the tour, but strangely, even before I heard the end, I did not like this house. That's not a criticism, it just didn't "feel right"

[@veronicaroach3667]

All of the homes built for wealthy people in the !8th & 19th centuries were built in competition with each other to impress & outdo everybody else - all quite silly - and resulted in such over-the-top decor, that it takes a fortune to maintain them. Very sad, nowadays they are expensive boon-doggles that we all enjoy looking at, but which everybody knows were really a huge waste of money. To think this house was not easy to sell when they finally left the country just shows how ridiculous & wasteful all that fancy decor was.

[@gandfgandf5826]

Yes, and even if sufficiently wealthy to maintain one of these places, who would want to? Too much bother. Many are beautiful though, but also many others are grand, but not at all beautiful.

[@bscottb8]

Nobody buys tickets to tour mediocrity.

[@scottphillips3008]

5th

[@thecaptain4829]

I like to look at the foolish houses that they so called smart people built, but I can't imagine living in one of those drafty houses. it would be like a ball bearing rattling around in a top hat

[@donovanreimer2324]

You try so hard with your videos and there’s an impressive amount of interesting detail always and obviously it’s a passion project. A little thing for your improvement….. sometimes you’re making a mistake with your English. More grand than the White - Grander than the White House. Almost all your videos contain this same grammatical mistake at least once and it really jumps out. Trust you welcome this feedback with my positive wishes and continued support.

[@SymphonyBrahms]

Who cares.

[@Dulcimertunes]

Edith sounds like Meghan Markle