From Feuds to Facades

By Stephanie Reed Springer, February 19, 2015

Gilded Age mansions were meant to be showy, opulent, and over-the-top. Millionaires competed with each other to build bigger, more expensive homes as ways of showcasing their wealth. Henry Clay Frick allegedly said that he was building his New York mansion “to make Carnegie’s place look like a miner’s shack.” In my opinion, neither one is too shabby.

Carnegie Mansion

Carnegie built his New York City home, Highlands, in 1900 and used the residence while he was stateside (he spent much of his time at his castle in Scotland, Skibo). He had made his fortune in the Pittsburgh steel industry, but the nation’s elite generally chose New York as their primary residence and Carnegie’s involvement in the industry was lessening, as he sold his company in 1901. The mansion reflects Carnegie’s drive to constantly improve and use the newest technology in his mills. Applying this idea, his home was the first in the U.S. to have a structural steel frame, air conditioning, central heating, and an elevator. According to PBS, Carnegie’s home also had a miner’s cart on a railway to move coal to three boilers in the basement.

Not only was the mansion technologically advanced, but its architectural style is also appealing. Carnegie was known as an avid art collector and his good taste is evident in the home’s exterior. In fact, Alexandra Lange of The New Yorker called it a “glorious mansion.”The mansion is red brick with stone detailing in the Beaux-Arts style. The building now houses the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum and is certainly fit to serve as a showcase of architecture.

Frick Mansion

The Frick family moved to New York in 1905 from Pittsburgh. They temporarily lived in one of the Vanderbilt mansions but soon built their own palace on millionares’ row. At this point (as you may have already gathered), Carnegie and Frick were no longer partners. In fact, they were bitter enemies. Frick had been in charge of dealing with the Homestead Strike of 1892 (while Carnegie was conveniently in Europe). Although the two had been corresponding throughout the incident, Carnegie quickly placed all blame on Frick when the situation got out of hand, resulting in the deaths of about ten strikers. Tensions increased even further when, in 1899, Frick resigned from the board of Carnegie Steel, and Carnegie tried to coerce him into selling his shares of the company for well below their worth. The dispute was resolved in court, with Frick winning and making a large profit. Yet, thereafter he despised Carnegie. His statement about wanting to out-do Carnegie’s house reflects his general drive to defeat his rival.

The house itself is just as interesting as the story of how and why it was built. The residence was built with the intention of being made into a museum upon Frick’s death. Henry Clay Frick had at this point acquired a large and impressive art collection, which he wanted to donate for the public to view in his home. His wish came true, and the Frick Collection was opened in 1935 after both Mr. Frick and his wife, Adelaide, had passed away. The museum now houses “an exceptional collection of works from the Renaissance to the late 19th century,” according to Fodor’s Travel.

 

 

 

3 Responses to “From Feuds to Facades”

1. Corey Capooci February 25, 2015

   The history lesson behind all of these estates is really fascinating. I am also surprised by how many mansions and estates these millionaires owned. I mean a castle in Scotland along with a technologically advanced mansion in New York is absurd. I’m also intrigued by the amenities within the Carnegie household. Most of these luxuries I did not know even existed at the time. I guess that is why some of these men are considered the richest in American history.

2. Brenna Fisher February 25, 2015

   Oh my gosh, when I saw those pictures I was in awe. I can’t believe how massive Carnegie’s mansion is. Like Apoorva said, it really is crazy what lengths people go to, just to prove they are rich. However, even if it is pretty superficial, we now have some awesome architecture to look back on.

3. Apoorva Mathur February 21, 2015

   It’s amazing to what lengths people would go to, to prove their greatness and power. If you think about it not much has changed in that manner. However, the houses that Carnegie and Frick have provided to the city of New York are beautiful. I have heard of the Cooper Hewitt Museum, I had no clue it was Carnegie’s old house though. I will have to make it a point to visit both museums the next time I’m in New York City. I would love to see the art collections both men gathered over the years.