America's Secret Baron of Industry and His Many Mansions

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  • čas přidán 4. 06. 2024
  • Discover the enigmatic world of Arthur Curtiss James - the Gilded Age magnate whose riches rivalled the most famous tycoons, yet remained a mystery. From opulent mansions in Manhattan to sprawling estates in Newport, step into a forgotten era of grandeur and secrets.
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    Public Domain Photos from: Library of Congress,
    CC BY-SA 4.0 Photos from: Wikipedia User: Rhode Island Collection, Providence Public Library
    Assets from: Envato Elements
    Music from Epidemic Sound

Komentáře • 64

  • @Mark723
    @Mark723 Před 8 měsíci +17

    That Great Hall, because every mansion needs a minstrel gallery. I always love getting a vacation "cottage" for my birthday - makes all those Starbucks gift cards seem superfluous. Thanks, Ken, for this fascinating video.

  • @LukerativeLion
    @LukerativeLion Před 8 měsíci +14

    This is a unique case where I feel Arthur Curtiss James is absolutely ok with all his mansions being torn down and gone now; he seems like the type that is too busy living their best life and making their own memories to worry about leaving a legacy

  • @ML-xi2rt
    @ML-xi2rt Před 8 měsíci +15

    How sad for us today that none of his incredible homes have survived. He sounds like he was a very kind and benevolent man. Another GREAT presentation!

  • @LJB103
    @LJB103 Před 8 měsíci +39

    I have actually read a biography of Arthur Curtis James. He did not leave millions to his children as he didn't have any, but he was close to his wife's sister's family. Beacon Hill was the largest estate in Newport. Unfortunately, like The Bells, it was abandoned and eventually burned down by vandals. You can see that the gardens are obviously quite beautiful, but what you cannot see in these old photos is that they were almost totally blue. An excellent video of a little-known man. BTW architect Isaac Newton Phelps Stokes (his parents built Shadow Brook in Lenox, MA) was his cousin.

    • @BlaineShire
      @BlaineShire Před 8 měsíci +19

      The gardens of Beacon Hill were in the process of being renovated by my cousin, Dorrance "Dodo" Hill Hamilton, who passed away in 2017. Her home in Newport, RI was bought by 'Judge Judy'.

  • @randyboglisch137
    @randyboglisch137 Před 8 měsíci +8

    Afternoon..thank you again for your wonderful tour. Each house is so very lovely in its own way...hope the restoration is going well

  • @maryannruffini2169
    @maryannruffini2169 Před 8 měsíci +17

    The cottage was beautiful. There was so much detailed work done on both of his homes that it's sad that they were torn down

    • @LJB103
      @LJB103 Před 8 měsíci +1

      Beacon Hill was burned down by vandals.

    • @Trenaway
      @Trenaway Před 8 měsíci

      His children...ugg! All they cared about was the money!

    • @LJB103
      @LJB103 Před 8 měsíci +1

      @@Trenaway What children? He didn't have any children.

  • @user-hp9or4ls7p
    @user-hp9or4ls7p Před 8 měsíci +9

    Ken, you've done it again, my guy. Great photos of beautiful homes coupled with a riveting story. 😎❤️

  • @TimKelleherCorp
    @TimKelleherCorp Před 8 měsíci +5

    That row of houses on Park and 69th are all gone, minus the corner. Replaced w sad apartment buildings

  • @Steven-wm9vu
    @Steven-wm9vu Před 8 měsíci +6

    Awesome video. Well put together as always.

  • @jefflawrentz1624
    @jefflawrentz1624 Před 8 měsíci +7

    The grandfathers house was my favorite.

  • @theresawilson2647
    @theresawilson2647 Před 8 měsíci +6

    I loved the Newport house but they were both beautiful.

  • @bowiearcangeli11
    @bowiearcangeli11 Před 8 měsíci +6

    Loved Beacon Hill. The gardens were gorgeous. Thank you for sharing 💜

  • @jenpink4298
    @jenpink4298 Před 8 měsíci +7

    I like the cottage, but it seems strange not to buy a property that connects to the sea. I mean, as long as you’re giving someone a cottage for their birthday😂 This was really interesting! I’ve never heard of him. I love that he gave away so much of his money.

  • @williamtyre523
    @williamtyre523 Před 8 měsíci +2

    Thanks for shedding light on this often overlooked individual and his wonderful homes. I like the Newport house with its removable wall for large dinner parties, but was most drawn to the interesting village he built to house his live-in staff.

  • @danielintheantipodes6741
    @danielintheantipodes6741 Před 8 měsíci +3

    Thank you for the video!

  • @christopherkraft1327
    @christopherkraft1327 Před 8 měsíci +3

    Wow, a dining table that seats 40 guests!!! The Newport home is over the top opulent!!! 👍👍🙂

  • @lisaburns2117
    @lisaburns2117 Před 8 měsíci +2

    So sad that none of those beautiful houses are still standing. Great video.

  • @janemckee4922
    @janemckee4922 Před 8 měsíci +4

    The Newport house!

  • @creativo4ever564
    @creativo4ever564 Před 3 měsíci

    The Manhattan house was my favorite. It was stunningly simple, horizontal in a city which favored vertical, yet light inside. Quite an architectural accomplishment in the most dense city in the country.

  • @LoVi-ff3dt
    @LoVi-ff3dt Před 6 měsíci +1

    The Newport house is my favorite. I love that he was so generous and private.

  • @kenjd57
    @kenjd57 Před 7 měsíci

    The Newport mansion with formal gardens would be my favorite because I am fond of great landscapes. 😎

  • @SagacityLost
    @SagacityLost Před 8 měsíci +1

    Loved the second house with the rounded ends!

  • @vickiephilpitt7697
    @vickiephilpitt7697 Před 8 měsíci +4

    Wow, a cottage???? That is/was some cottage. Wish I had a cottage that size! Better yet, I wish I had a house that size.😅

  • @hectorgarcia8691
    @hectorgarcia8691 Před 8 měsíci +2

    Undoubtedly the cottage was the most beautiful, and it’s village.

  • @Porsche996driver
    @Porsche996driver Před 8 měsíci +4

    The largest real estate holders in the country are still the railroads. 🚂

  • @BlueKnightErrant
    @BlueKnightErrant Před 6 měsíci

    Ken, your coverage of the Gilded and Victorian ages are never remissed in detail and interest-thank you for your research and dedication! 🕵️🏠

  • @shawnathon60
    @shawnathon60 Před 8 měsíci +3

    If he built that "cottage" for her in Newport,, I'll bet his automobiles were magnificent !

  • @adammiller2246
    @adammiller2246 Před 5 měsíci +1

    Love the work that you do on old mansions. Have you by any chance made one on Louis Untermeyer or a man named Phelps? Phelps had a mansion in North Tarrytown New York. Some of his property was donated to a hospital named after him.
    Louis Untermeyer had an estate in North Yonkers on Broadway (Route 9 ) His formal gardens have been restored thanks to those who are related in some way. Not sure what happened to both mansions. In this area there is still the Boyce thompson mansion, Lanoir mansion and another just north. I would love to get info on these sites

  • @lauriekeikkala9937
    @lauriekeikkala9937 Před 8 měsíci +1

    That was really interesting. Thank you.

  • @jennymauger
    @jennymauger Před 8 měsíci +3

    Scintillating grandeur in the each of the various mansions. The enormously vaulted ceiling in the first house w the minstrel gallery & other features too numerous is rather remarkable. Kudos to you sharing your unquenchable passion throughout the ages, in appreciation 🙏🏼⚒️🌹

  • @popwolfe
    @popwolfe Před 4 měsíci

    Glad to see you included ACJ, expand to his boats. Coronet is now at Mystic Seaport. He had no children. And he left nothing to a niece who lived on the grounds because she felt he was a womanizer. His Tarrytown home became a hospital. The Swiss farm still stands.

  • @user-ux9dk3mc2o
    @user-ux9dk3mc2o Před měsícem

    I love the history on houses thanks Ken .

  • @rosepelzel4244
    @rosepelzel4244 Před 8 měsíci +4

    That's a cottage??? 😊

  • @bigredc222
    @bigredc222 Před 7 měsíci +1

    Thank you.

  • @mr.x8259
    @mr.x8259 Před 8 měsíci +5

  • @janedee6488
    @janedee6488 Před 8 měsíci +4

    Please build me a cottage for my birthday. Thanks

  • @wdgbirmingham2
    @wdgbirmingham2 Před 8 měsíci +1

    At 2:04, where is the kitchen? It just says "pantry" off of the Dining Room. On a different note, I love the European tapestries in the Great Hall 😍

    • @danielulz1640
      @danielulz1640 Před 8 měsíci

      Kitchens were typically in the basement.

    • @wdgbirmingham2
      @wdgbirmingham2 Před 8 měsíci

      @@danielulz1640 Definitely true. Biltmore in Asheville has their kitchen below the main floor. And Downton Abbey, even though it's a pretend upstairs/downstairs situation for filming, has their kitchen downstairs too.

  • @jmartin0422
    @jmartin0422 Před 2 měsíci

    Sorry for the late view but love going to rockwood hall park it’s right next door to the James house that I saw a picture of in this post did you ever do a video on it? I’ve been there when my uncle was the caretaker it’s entry way is beautiful with staircase and use of marble.

  • @albertmyers7176
    @albertmyers7176 Před 8 měsíci +3

    😎😎😎😎

  • @francispower1418
    @francispower1418 Před 7 měsíci +1

    Can I have that secret top floor on Park and 61st as a music production studio please?

  • @QueenBee-gx4rp
    @QueenBee-gx4rp Před 8 měsíci +3

    Just a minor note: you spelled “boudoir” incorrectly.

    • @ThisHouse
      @ThisHouse  Před 8 měsíci +1

      Thank you for bringing that to my attention! I'll double-check the subtitles, cheers!

  • @jimwiskus8862
    @jimwiskus8862 Před 8 měsíci

    How heartbreaking!

  • @reklin
    @reklin Před 7 měsíci

    I love his New York mansion, but it's impossible to find complete floor plans for the thing.

  • @darwynmead2597
    @darwynmead2597 Před 2 měsíci

    Are there?
    Tours for this mansion.

  • @EleanorSloane-fs9rq
    @EleanorSloane-fs9rq Před 8 měsíci

    Was his grandfather's house on the Hudson River torn down? Where was it?

  • @jackjohnson9449
    @jackjohnson9449 Před měsícem

    What a shame they demolished those houses.

  • @lumarinhocas
    @lumarinhocas Před 8 měsíci +2

    ❤🎉❤🎉

  • @thomasallen3818
    @thomasallen3818 Před 7 měsíci

    Definitely Beacon Hill and its “village”.

  • @riot4jem
    @riot4jem Před 8 měsíci +1

    Beacon Hill 😮

  • @user-xd8pj2mm4t
    @user-xd8pj2mm4t Před 8 měsíci

    Cant hear you

  • @bernadetteflynn5005
    @bernadetteflynn5005 Před 8 měsíci +1

    Not exactly homely 🤪

  • @warningsigns4526
    @warningsigns4526 Před 7 měsíci

    not homes - houses - no life or memories - dead

  • @sharksport01
    @sharksport01 Před 8 měsíci

    Why are we whispering?

  • @warningsigns4526
    @warningsigns4526 Před 7 měsíci

    cursed

  • @creepycrespi8180
    @creepycrespi8180 Před 7 měsíci

    His children were useless.