Forum Title: LIZZIE BORDEN SOCIETY Topic Area: Life in Victorian America Topic Name: Newport mansions  

1. "Newport mansions"
Posted by Harry on Mar-5th-04 at 11:56 PM

This site has some information on the mansions in Newport at the height of the Gilded Age.  I love what these people called summer homes. 

http://www.yankeemagazine.com/travel/search/linkout.php?masternumber=4429&listingnumber=12850


2. "Re: Newport mansions"
Posted by Susan on Mar-8th-04 at 12:30 PM
In response to Message #1.

Thanks, Harry, those homes are simply breathtaking!  I can just imagine the lavish parties that were given at these homes, the women in beautiful gowns of the period, the live bands playing waltzes, etc.  It must have been something to see and experience! 


3. "Re: Newport mansions"
Posted by Raymond on Mar-8th-04 at 3:36 PM
In response to Message #2.

Aren't these all just arguments for the Corporate and Personal Income Taxes that were passed in the next decade? The coal millionaires, like the oil millionaires today, really lived it up. I was once told you can find some magnificent mansions in the Scranton area.
Investors in coal mines could receive a 40% return each year!!!


4. "Re: Newport mansions"
Posted by Kat on Mar-8th-04 at 3:37 PM
In response to Message #1.


They are gorgeous!
I've always wanted to see them since The Great Gatsby, and it was a suggestion we had to go there on our little 1/2 day- but Stef popped out with "New Bedford!" and we knew that was right for the weather.

Thanks Har!

Hey, y'all:
Here is the Borden Summer House compared to someone with MONEY's Summer House!  Put's Andrew's fortune in perspective- which is probably what Harry is showing us!



(Message last edited Mar-8th-04  3:40 PM.)


5. "Re: Newport mansions"
Posted by Susan on Mar-8th-04 at 8:40 PM
In response to Message #4.

Boy, that sure puts it into perspective for me!  Makes Andrew's wealthy status look like more like he was in the middle class, amazing.  I have to wonder if Andrew did spend more lavishly like Lizzie and Emma wished him to, would his fortune still be intact, would he have compensated for the spending?   


6. "Re: Newport mansions"
Posted by Raymond on Mar-9th-04 at 3:55 PM
In response to Message #4.

It suggests that Andy kept to the habits of his youth, and republican virtues of frugality and simplicity.
More importantly, he kept his money working, not spending lavishly as if there were no tomorrow.


7. "Re: Newport mansions"
Posted by gt-master on Mar-9th-04 at 4:31 PM
In response to Message #6.

Well Ray, theres an old saying up here in Fall River. " I have yet to see a Brink's truck following a funeral". Maybe if old Andy would have lavished a mite of the hard earned yankee cash on his daughters or Billy Borden, he might have been alive a little longer to enjoy it.


8. "Re: Newport mansions"
Posted by Gramma on Mar-9th-04 at 7:54 PM
In response to Message #1.

Harry,
You have brought on another bout of nostalgia! When my mother was growing up they would go for picnics on the beach at Newport and then walk the ocean path that winds the shore behind the mansions. It was one of her favorite places o this earth. Then when I was a teenager my church youth group used to rent Miramar for the annual Youth Banquet.
We used to wear gowns and dance in this beautiful mansion and for a night it was ours! The marble, the sprawling lawn and the ocean breeze...ahhh, those weree the days!

Gramma


9. "Re: Newport mansions"
Posted by Kat on Mar-9th-04 at 8:43 PM
In response to Message #8.

Hi!  Thanks for the pic!
What a fond memory!  Sounds wonderful...

I see your scanner is working-anything else you have that's interesting?

(Message last edited Mar-9th-04  8:54 PM.)


10. "Re: Newport mansions"
Posted by Susan on Mar-9th-04 at 9:04 PM
In response to Message #8.

Thanks, Gramma.  It looks and sounds like it was a lovely time.  I think I was just born in the wrong era, the only glamorous place we got to dance in like that was for our senior prom. 


11. "Re: Newport mansions"
Posted by Gramma on Mar-9th-04 at 10:15 PM
In response to Message #9.

Hi Kat,
That was not a scan but when I added the site for reference it didn't "take". Don't know why but here it is. The architect also built the free Public Library in Philadelphia, the Duke mansion on Fifth Avenue, NY which is now the New York Institute of Art and the Widener Library at Harvard where I have done research on occasion.
www.library.phila.gov/75th/residential.htm" target="_blank">http://libwww.library.phila.gov/75th/residential.htm-->

Here is a bit of baby fashion - fall 1889

Gramma


12. "Re: Newport mansions"
Posted by Kat on Mar-9th-04 at 11:24 PM
In response to Message #11.

Is that for a Christening?

The link you gave is broken...uhoh


13. "Re: Newport mansions"
Posted by Gramma on Mar-10th-04 at 9:13 PM
In response to Message #12.

They were Methodist and I believe it was called dedication but they used a christening gown for the occasion.

As for the link.......I think I broke it!!!!
Nope, the page is still there. Maybe they don't want to be linked to?
Let's try again.
www.library.phila.gov/75th/residential.htm" target="_blank">http://libwww.library.phila.gov/75th/residential.htm-->

Gramma


14. "Re: Newport mansions"
Posted by Gramma on Mar-10th-04 at 9:16 PM
In response to Message #13.

Well, now! It just doesn't want to work.
Just copy and paste it to get there! It is avery interesting page and he also designed The Elms in Newport. That is one you can tour.

Gramma