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Why-New-York’s-Most-Opulent-Mansion-Was-Demolished-(Charles-M.-Schwab-Mansion)---1080
Why New York’s Most Opulent Mansion Was Demolished (Charles M. Schwab Mansion)
Old Money Mansions
20 juil. 2023
The Charles M. Schwab Mansion was an awe-inspiring residential monument to an era when the city's elite - like its steel magnate owner - wielded their wealth with an ostentatious display of power.
Of course with all of this once standing in beautiful granite reality, one can’t help but wonder - how did such a remarkable monument to excess meet its fateful end in a cloud of dust and rubble, replaced by cheap apartments?
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Inside the Abandoned French Chateau of a Titanic First-Class Passenger:
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5 Most OPULENT Gilded Age MANSIONS in New York:
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0:00 Introduction
1:43 1. The Schwabs: A Lavish Kind of Love
4:50 2. Inside The Charles M. Schwab Mansion
9:44 3. The Downfall of The Charles M. Schwab Mansion
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Soon, Charles M. Schwab set his sights on a grand vision: a contemporary mansion, a cutting-edge sanctuary standing in defiance of the traditional grandeur of Fifth Avenue.
His eyes landed on a coveted plot on Riverside Drive - nestled between 73rd and 74th streets - the perfect canvas for his modern chateau.
Now, Eurana initially baulked at the idea of uprooting so far from her social circles.
A bona fide socialite who enjoyed the glamour of Central Park's balls, she feared isolation from her close-knit community of friends.
Charles, however, comforted her with a promise that their forthcoming home would be an irresistible lure for any guest.
Subsequently, Schwab - in his daring pursuit of architectural grandeur - appointed Maurice Hebert, an architect yet to secure a significant reputation - with the awe-inspiring task of designing his Beaux-Arts-inspired palace.
Over an intense period of four years, this awe-striking monument of pink granite began to emerge, a true testament to the ambitious vision that guided it.
The Beaux-Arts style, steeped in the robust traditions of ancient Roman and Greek aesthetics, was widely favored in the United States from the late 19th to the early 20th century.
It reflected an amalgamation of classical elements and the glamour of modernity, striking an impressive balance between the two.
These grand mansions were symmetrical in design, harkening back to the classical emphasis on harmony and balance.
A staggering 3 million dollars each was spent on the house and its furnishings, a total of 6 million dollars or a jaw-dropping 200 million dollars in today's currency.
So magnificent was this 75-room mansion that even Schwab's erstwhile boss - and, arguably the second richest man in American history - Andrew Carnegie, conceded:
”Have you seen that place of Charlie's? It makes mine look like a shack."
Indeed, nothing less than bespoke would suffice for Schwab.
Over a hundred artisans, designers, and engineers were employed to meticulously craft every detail of the mansion.
Noteworthy works of art were recreated in-house, and even Schwab's collection of tapestries took a detour to the 1904 World's Fair before adorning his residence.
The mansion boasted marble pillars, South American mahogany paneling, a custom chapel large enough to accommodate an orchestra, a bowling alley, and a glazed brick pool.
A home gym of unprecedented scale and an art gallery filled with 50 million dollars worth of art – a quarter of the mansion's overall budget – added to its splendor.
Other remarkable features included a power plant, air conditioning, and six elevators – luxuries unheard of in even the most elite homes of the era, confirming Schwab's mansion as a groundbreaking beacon of modernity.
However, despite the glory of his domicile, soon Schwab’s personal life began to unravel.
Notorious for his flamboyant lifestyle – grand parties, high-stakes gambling, and multiple extramarital affairs – his antics, including fathering a child out of wedlock, strained his relationship with Eurana.
His extravagant expenditures and risky ventures - including a memorable instance of "breaking the bank" at The Monte Carlo Casino in Monaco - led to the depletion of his fortune, once estimated between 25 million dollars and 40 million dollars equivalent to 500 million and 800 million in today’s currency.
His mansion, an incarnation of his innovative spirit and love for luxury - also served as a backdrop to his tumultuous personal life.
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