tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post5327812464278906217..comments2024-03-28T18:01:17.304-07:00Comments on Daytonian in Manhattan: The Lost 1908 William A. Clark MansionTom Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13542224816886418433noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-609244354625385272021-03-14T15:17:37.231-07:002021-03-14T15:17:37.231-07:00I'm saddened by reading and now knowing a gran...I'm saddened by reading and now knowing a grand building had existed but in a total of 19 years had been obliterated by those who never saw the art of itself and craftsmanship. To think of losses incurred by destruction is more than<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10276472669029080756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-88515568056358651162020-01-05T09:53:55.916-08:002020-01-05T09:53:55.916-08:00It was sold because the widow and daughter didn...It was sold because the widow and daughter didn't want to live there and rattle around in this 9 story mansion that had 9 servants maintaining it all, it was Mr Clark's pet project obsession not theirs and they got a big chunk of money for it. it was demolished after Mr Clark died at age 86 because in 1927 nobody cared about stained glass windows, carved wood, marble or anything else, heck, the house had the largest chamber pipe organ in the US- larger than most churches have- it was installed in 1911 at a cost of $120,000 and it was destroyed with the house because the contractor didn't want to bother removing it. $120,000 in 1911 is equal to about $3,300,000 today. Here's the specs and some photos http://nycago.org/Organs/NYC/html/ResClarkWA.html<br /><br />The buyer who demolished the mansion built a huge luxury apartment building on the lot that earned him a lot of money every month in rents.<br />When I think of how much resources went into quarrying, cutting, transporting all the solid granite blocks to build this one house only to destroy it just 19 years later and trash most of it, I get outraged at the waste.<br />delete mehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02427124027323406531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-13414096427074604122020-01-05T09:43:57.548-08:002020-01-05T09:43:57.548-08:00That was the style back then, the style was not &q...That was the style back then, the style was not "ugly" but the overall execution of the style was not very good, and too bold, it looked very thrown together with as much decoration they could cram in and would have been better suited for the "base" of a 50 story building like the old Singer tower. Clark should have had McKim Mead and White for the architects. <br />I saw a couple of old stained glass windows in her apartment, I bet they came from the old mansion.delete mehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02427124027323406531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-78159325434224330252020-01-05T09:39:21.984-08:002020-01-05T09:39:21.984-08:00'Proof that while money buys big houses, it do...'Proof that while money buys big houses, it does not buy happiness.'<br /><br />Huguette obviously had some kind of mental disorder (s), that explains why she became a recluse, didnt remarry, and then lived for 20 years in a hospital room while she had SEVERAL mansions and could have easily afforded to have private nurses and anything else attending her in any one of them.<br />When a photo postcard was made of one of her mansions she had her attorney buy the entire stock of the postcards so that no one could see her house, a sure sign of something not right "upstairs"<br /><br />When an aerial view photo postcard was published that showed the Clark estate in Santa Barbara, Huguette decided to buy them ALL so the public could not see her private estate. The thousands of postcards were stored in the old carriage house. delete mehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02427124027323406531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-21626460650036051082016-11-05T21:39:08.799-07:002016-11-05T21:39:08.799-07:00Looks remarkably similar to the City Hall in Paris...Looks remarkably similar to the City Hall in Paris. Magnificent interior rooms and an equally museum quality art collection made this mansion a true gem. Very tragic that mansions like this and countless others became almost instant white elephants within a few years of their construction. Agree with the posts that long for these structures to still grace our city streets.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-11152769346196365242016-11-03T05:33:24.605-07:002016-11-03T05:33:24.605-07:00An exterior hideous enough to match the interior o...An exterior hideous enough to match the interior of Trump's apartment.Steve Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11427131052049077742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-80358397342676046832016-09-01T07:52:17.550-07:002016-09-01T07:52:17.550-07:00Ahh a tragic loss indeed. The last post sums it up...Ahh a tragic loss indeed. The last post sums it up perfectly. That list of incredible mansions, now long gone would be amazing to see today. Changing times and life styles doomed these mega-mansions almost as soon as they were completed. NYC truly was the center of residential architectural excess during the Gilded Age and the early 20th century. Too little remains, but the Frick Collection, the Morgan Library, The Cooper-Hewitt, The Jewish Museum, Cartier's and countless consulates and private townhouses on the upper East side still give a hint at this glorious age. Great post and blog. NYarchAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-74134380556039913522015-03-30T06:48:08.203-07:002015-03-30T06:48:08.203-07:00A magnificent mansion indeed with one of the more ...A magnificent mansion indeed with one of the more eccentric owners ever, but the daughters story is equally compelling, if only as an example that great wealth doesn't always make ones life care free. Hugette used her wealth to insulate herself from the prying eyes and wagging tongues of her contemporaries and while she was happy collecting dolls and artwork and also donating generously, it had to be disappointing that she could not lead what we all take for granted, a normal life. These gilded age palaces unfortunately became white elephants within years of their construction. Rising real estate values, encroaching commercialism, high costs to maintain, requiring armies of servants and changing lifestyles meant the wealthy did not need a burdensome mansion in NYC and instead migrated to luxury apartments. However, what a fantasy it would be to see this beauty on Fifth Ave along with the JJ Astor, Cornelius Vanderbilt II mega-mansion, the William Vanderbilt twin, the Schwab mansion on Riverside Drive, to name but a few. Wonderful post and one I read everyday to discover what treasures are awaiting me today. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-81181868711403500132014-12-25T23:08:09.712-08:002014-12-25T23:08:09.712-08:00I cannot believe this glorious house, the quintes...I cannot believe this glorious house, the quintessential museum house, couldn't be spared of vandalic destruccion like a time capsule: -The NY Gilded Age Era Museum-; would it have be a big success. Too bad in those times the art's sense from a bygone era and the new century couldn't be compatible anymore. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-84590338483474015662014-07-21T06:34:33.926-07:002014-07-21T06:34:33.926-07:00nice..nice..aldexhttp://www.google.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-15949242597300012402014-07-05T12:38:03.258-07:002014-07-05T12:38:03.258-07:00There is a photograph of this building taken from ...There is a photograph of this building taken from the park to its front,does anyone know the name of the photographerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-82337813064398271602014-07-03T19:58:13.076-07:002014-07-03T19:58:13.076-07:00I believe you are correct , Eric. And I've rea...I believe you are correct , Eric. And I've read he promised his his childern by his first wife not to leave the New York Mansion to his second wife, which is why it was broken up, and demolished. Badcatkinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10116209189334142969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-41298421492101745442014-06-25T21:20:04.296-07:002014-06-25T21:20:04.296-07:00Huguette, ( pronounced Ooh-get, was far from miser...Huguette, ( pronounced Ooh-get, was far from miserable. I suggest you read the book EMPTY MANSIONS and learn the true facts. She was very generous with her money and giving gifts to friends, charities, some family members and to others, gave her great pleasure......so, yes her money did buy her happiness.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-84273194646457107082014-06-17T12:49:38.543-07:002014-06-17T12:49:38.543-07:00If this structure were a court house or a hotel, o...If this structure were a court house or a hotel, or a train station there might have been an excuse for the massiveness- but in my opinion the exterior was ugly primarily because there is just too much of it crammed onto a city lot. The interiors are better, and it seems that some of the paneling and other elements found their way into Hugette's "Beau Chateau". Eric Stotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02230291249030014518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-91961538511679838432014-06-12T07:00:12.660-07:002014-06-12T07:00:12.660-07:00It was sold for 2 reasons. It was too big to be li...It was sold for 2 reasons. It was too big to be livable. It also cost a small fortune to run, for example a ton of coal a DAY. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-10422133218422314482014-05-18T04:29:55.108-07:002014-05-18T04:29:55.108-07:00Read "Empty Mansions"....bio of the Clar...Read "Empty Mansions"....bio of the Clark family. Interesting story, very eccentric family....downloaded from Amazon books.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-4388632464753252822014-04-18T05:53:13.633-07:002014-04-18T05:53:13.633-07:00Yes, I read a bit about his history. Very corrupt...Yes, I read a bit about his history. Very corrupt man. He just may be burning in the pits of hell right now for all his corruption and greed. Sad.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-39181688516525215542013-11-18T13:56:53.631-08:002013-11-18T13:56:53.631-08:00Poor Hughetts (pronounced Hugh-get), the daughter ...Poor Hughetts (pronounced Hugh-get), the daughter of the questionable marriage. Inherited vast piles of money, lived until over 100, and spent the vast majority of that time as a miserable hermit. Proof that while money buys big houses, it does not buy happiness.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-60446901302480525502013-11-18T13:55:24.444-08:002013-11-18T13:55:24.444-08:00His daughter from his second, questionable marriag...His daughter from his second, questionable marriage died recently at over 100 years old Hughette (pronounced Hugh-get) Clark. Sad woman, spent most of her life as a hermit even though she had millions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-80298650807911532642013-09-24T16:15:35.029-07:002013-09-24T16:15:35.029-07:00Because it was the home of one of the most despica...Because it was the home of one of the most despicable greed merchants in American history. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-73481538094519663212013-09-19T21:54:14.313-07:002013-09-19T21:54:14.313-07:00What on earth were they thinking to tear this beau...What on earth were they thinking to tear this beauty down. No, there was nothing ugly about it. A historic loss! -Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-2819656403986325832013-09-15T18:11:59.515-07:002013-09-15T18:11:59.515-07:00Thank you! Brilliant work. Really enjoyed it.Thank you! Brilliant work. Really enjoyed it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-13961122572893934952013-09-15T17:21:13.870-07:002013-09-15T17:21:13.870-07:00Same deal as daveybaby. Loved digging into your b...Same deal as daveybaby. Loved digging into your blog!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-54672321033230428952013-09-15T06:15:27.360-07:002013-09-15T06:15:27.360-07:00Found your blog by accident resulting from article...Found your blog by accident resulting from article in today's NYT re Wm. Clark's daughter's two wills, the great fortune, etc., etc., and they linked to your even more fascinating blog regarding "lost" NYC. Your work is incredibly researched. Thanks, and what fun.daveybabyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12417270475731293764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-41846211064579867342012-11-11T06:26:10.148-08:002012-11-11T06:26:10.148-08:00There is, was, nothing of uggly in this superb man...There is, was, nothing of uggly in this superb mansion, except its cost for contemporary peoples, or its too french style as was the great post office... From a french admirer in Paris... Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com