Mom and I had a special treat from a good friend who volunteers at Mt St Macrina. The original home of coalbaron tycoon JV Thompson. Early 1900’s bizillionaire. Keep in mind this is now the property of e Byzantine Catholic Church and they still use the building for various retreats and pilgrimage so there is some updates and a lot of junk around, but much of the building is the same. Here’s just a few pics.
There is a grand staircase and foyer…at one time there was a big tiger skin rug in front of the fireplace which is now walled in. They even had an old water closet type toilet! No longer plumbed in of course!
Some of the woodwork was from India; Silkwood!
In the butler’s quarters was a buzzer machine that would indicate where he was being called to.
The dining room ceiling is inlaid with 18 k gold.
I am told their dining room table had actual water fountains in it.
Enjoy

If you ever get a chance to go, the Biltmore Houses and Hertz Castle are really good to tour too.

Keith

I’ve heard about the Biltmore!

Biltmore House is in Asheville NC, my town. It is the largest private home in America built by George Vanderbilt before he was even married.

The Asheville community suffered major storm damage from Hurricane Helene. The Biltmore estate had some damage. They placed 1000 employees on furlough. The revenue is down substantially in all tourism categories in Asheville and our city and county are having to cut services at a time when citizens need them the most. Over 1000 students are now homeless as a result of the hurricane.

Please consider a trip to Asheville. We welcome you and need you.

I've been to the Biltmore in Asheville, twice and it's definitely worth a trip.

Back when I was in college, I went to a Biltmore owned house near Lake Canandaigua, with my girlfriend. It's a smaller mansion, but was nice too. I especially liked a stone worked creek, that ran through the woods. Afterwards, I caught the third largest bass I have ever caught at Lake Canandaigua. It was 23.75 inches and weighed 7 pounds, 8 ounces.

Keith

I believe Keith is referring to the Hearst Castle along the central California coast…I have been there and it is unbelievable and the story behind it is even more amazing….passage from Wikipedia:

Hearst Castle, known formally as La Cuesta Encantada (Spanish for "The Enchanted Hill"), is a historic estate in San Simeon, located on the Central Coast of California. Conceived by William Randolph Hearst, the publishing tycoon, and his architect Julia Morgan, the castle was built between 1919 and 1947. Today, Hearst Castle is a museum open to the public as a California State Park and registered as a National Historic Landmark and California Historical Landmark.

I’m not trying to be a jerk but I wish a historical society or guru had purchased the place and left it as it was. They turned the billiard room into a cathedral of some sort.

You're right, I was referring to Hearst Castle. The stupid spell check changed it to Hertz.

Keith

My daughter was married in a biltmore in Colorado. Very impressive.

This proves that same as today, all it takes is money. And lots of it.

Early 70s.....daughter or granddaughter of hearst tycoon......patty hearst....was kidnapped by black activists group ........popular that time period.........symbionese liberation army....... S L A....she made news as becoming a victim of ....the Stockholm syndrome .....with photo of her helping S L A robbing bank holding a machine gun......can't remember if police freed her or if Hearst's paid ransom.....

Great visual tour for us!
Thanks

How come your mother looks so professional and distinguished and you look ...............like a trapper?

I can smell the cigars that were smoked there…..