Hearted Youtube comments on This House (@ThisHouse) channel.

  1. This is my grandparents house! It has truly been overwhelming to see how much everyone has appreciated it. My grandparents have lived there for the past 30 years, but all the steps finally became too much. My grandma has loved this house with her whole heart, and I hope whoever ends up with it will too <3 Thank you SO MUCH for this tour. This will mean the world to have in the future!
    2200
  2. Fascinating! I really admire how everything - even the most mundane and utilitarian of buildings - was constructed to be beautiful as well as functional. That’s something that is truly lacking today and mostly altogether post WWII. I love that they were also so well constructed that they continue to be in use! Thanks, Ken!
    2200
  3. The destruction of such buildings across America, commercial or residential, with NYC certainly leading the list, is horrid. Penn Station alone is a loss unlikely ever to be replicated in our lifetimes. And then we wonder why we visit Europe, with all it's preserved (or rebuilt) grand structures....
    1900
  4. The sheer waste and destruction of such treasures is unforgivable. The house could have been saved. McKim Meade and White built buildings to last centuries.
    1200
  5. Wow, why would they demolish that exquisite mansion?!? The way it was built, I’d bet it would still be standing today…as long as someone kept up any maintenance on it! What a shame 😔
    1200
  6. To paraphrase one historian, "New York destroyed more exquisite architecture in 50 years than the barbarian hordes did to Rome in 300 years." Perhaps its greatest loss was Pennsylvania Station, smashed into rubble and dumped into a New Jersey swamp.
    1000
  7. We are so glad that the C.J. Walker Mansion has survived and is being used for such a noble purpose. My wife and I passed it many times when we lived nearby in Westchester County and always wondered what would become of it. Madame C.J. Walker was an inspiration to many people, and we are pleased that her legacy continues.
    1000
  8. Great video. It’s interesting and a bit sad to consider that all these houses lasted less than 100 years before they were torn down.
    923
  9. We need more of this type of basic, well designed construction for first home buyers today, not the tract housing we are seeing everywhere.
    841
  10. It’s tragic that these grand old places couldn’t find someone to maintain them. So unfortunate.
    772
  11. The fact that they would sell from a very plain crackerbox home to basically a gingerbread ornate mansion was especially interesting. Thanks for another great video.
    742
  12. I lived in Portland, and we had school field trips to the Forestry Building. I went twice in Grade School, and once with my parents. The official cause of the fire was declared a short in some of the original 1905 electric wiring. There were many rumors of other causes; and of course, arson was one of the top theories - but never proved. Most of the wiring was replaced in the renovation work. But some of the old (and hard to get to) wiring remained. There were maintenance workers in the building that day, and many assumed that the faulty wiring was just an excuse to keep them off the hook for an accident caused by the workers. That was never proved either. I was a youngster back then, but I still remember with awe, the large trees that built this building. Also, the year of the fire, 1964, we had the hottest summer on record 104 degrees on the Oregon Coast (unheard of), and 105 degrees in Portland. There were four 5 alarm fires that summer. Most of them were suspected set by an arsonist. That is what made the arson theory flourish. As for my opinion? I've read most everything written about the building, but I really have no idea what the true cause was.
    613
  13. It is such a great loss that these buildings were torn down.
    600
  14. I (along with many other folks) wonder what these buildings look like inside... Is it possible to gain access (or even to fly a drone close to the windows?) :D
    573
  15. My right hand to God, I was hired in 1993 as Director of Projects, working directly for Mr. Trump. Over ten years, we converted the estate into the private club it is today. Many conditions had to be met as part of the conversion. I then supervised the addition of the spa, tennis courts and beach cabana construction. Also secured the approval for the large ballroom on the property that opened in 2005. Took care a permitting and supervised construction of Trump International Golf Club as well. This video is a very accurate, concise overview of the property. I would give hour-long tours for various groups talking about the property's history. It was an other-worldly experience for a number of reasons. Story of a lifetime. I left simply because there was nothing left for me to do there - after ten years.
    559
  16. These houses are monumental, and finished out to perfection. For the artisans, as much for the owners ego’s , the builders , landscaping crews , and my group, one of the masses , the loss is even more monumental.
    543
  17. The people who built these houses are almost as interesting as the houses themselves
    514
  18. I am shocked and outraged about what they've done to this amazing woman's legacy! I hope that her memory will be restored to the true story.
    511
  19. Imagine having so much wealth that you would only live in a space like that for weeks out of the year. A vacation house? With the staff required, huntsmen, gardeners,mechanics, stable grooms, dairy workers, indoor staff while sitting empty for three quarters of the year. Unfathomable.
    500
  20. Great craftsmanship is never “out-dated”
    486
  21. My son bought one as a fixer-upper. The wood in the house had swelled over time to where none of the interior doors would close. He was going to remove the solid oak doors and replace them with modern doors. I said I would fix them. I pulled down each door, and removed from 1/4” to 3/4” from the hinge side of the door. Cut new mortises for the hinges. Stained the edge and re-hung the doors. You couldn’t even tell they were shaved down. These doors were massive. They’re now a feature of the house. It took a couple of days for 11 doors. Using a Bosch power planer.
    467
  22. I never knew any of this. Those people really ruined the beautiful truth by making a wonderful woman seem nuts. Those people are disgusting.
    451
  23. I kayaked the entire Mississippi in 2019. I was so excited to paddle by these towers and get footage of them in person. They are very cool structures!
    449
  24. When I see what was lost, and will never be replaced, I mourn what might have been. A culture that that lost diversity of architectural treasures. Had we reused these mansions as places to gather,art museums , clubs, think tanks, and other high minded causes , we would have built on our past as a bridge to our collective future.
    438
  25. You completely skipped over the fact that her company was headquartered in Indianapolis. She lived there before moving to NY, while the company continued to be managed in Indy. The Madame CJ Walker building still stands!
    427
  26. One of my fondest memories is visiting Beechwood when it was open for tours. The tour guides assumed characters from the era of Mrs. Astor. The "doorman" asked for our "calling cards" and took our tickets and closed the door and disappeared. He returned almost immediately, and said, "Thankfully, your corner has been turned down, which means that you'll be received." As we were waiting the start of the next tour, the "doorman" asked my friend and me how many "costumes" we brought with us. Playing the part, I said, "four," and my friend said, "five," to which he said, "Oh, you"re here only for a day - not the weekend?" He then asked the color of my ballgown, and I told him yellow. My friend said that hers was blue, to which he replied, "Oh, good. You've been informed that Mrs. Astor's color is pink and you're never to wear her color. And a "Roosevelt daughter" of some relation showed us through the home and asked, "Wherever did you ladies get those bloomers?" referring to our slacks. At the end of the tour, we were served a cup of Mrs. Astor famous strawberry tea. Those were the good old days. Memories which last a lifetime.
    417
  27. The house is nice after spending 11.5 million in 1997 to keep it from falling into the water!
    414
  28. I could never be a part of any crew demolishing such a beautiful home. I could not destroy the exemplary work of all the highly-skilled craftsmen who created the best parts.
    402
  29. You have to hand it to the engineers that designed these towers and those who built them in the early 20th century out in the middle of one of the biggest, most powerful rivers in the country, with them still standing strong against that river a century later.
    388
  30. Destruction of all these great homes is tragic. Even today wealthy people are building mansions larger and larger; that succeeding generations will not be able to maintain. Sadly the cycle continues.
    373
  31. The back story of this house is fascinating - a world class architect being challenged to design a beautiful and functional house for $5,000 - and succeeding! Glad to hear it has been carefully restored and continues to be used as a residence.
    369
  32. This was one of the best videos I’ve seen about modern houses. Even as a kid, I wondered why they were so ugly. Now I know why and why a lot of these houses from the 60s and 70s are getting gutted and rebuilt.
    357
  33. They just don't build houses with character like this anymore and haven't for close to a hundred years. Storybook style is my absolute favorite. If I could build a house from scratch, this is close to what I'd be aiming for. These homes have a personality all of their own and I hope the future owners appreciate it and don't change anything.
    346
  34. My father was a N.Y.C. kid. Rockefeller was known to carry a pocket full of dimes he would hand out to every kid he saw. My dad also shook Thomas Edisons hand after winning a footrace in grammar school in Manhattan.
    342
  35. Finally!!! A home where some misguided person didn't paint all the woodwork, knock down walls, paint or remove the fireplace, and tear out original features! I am so tired of idiots ruining historic homes! Go build new ones, or buy a featureless ranch house to play with! This delighted my restoration soul!
    342
  36. I'm an STL native, and I learned a little about those water intakes during a grade-school field trip to the water treatment plant. This video confirmed what I remembered about the towers, then provided me with more information than I remembered from that field trip - which I took over 50 years ago. Thanks for that!
    328
  37. What happened to this house, is one of the most disgusting things I've ever heard. Shame on the human beings of the time, for not recognising just how beautiful, majestic and special this building was. The benevolence of the daughters intentions were truly wasted on the naive future generations.
    325
  38. I actually saw one of these houses in Northern California, the owner had a binder with all the paperwork, directions etc., it was really interesting to see this Sears kit home.
    321
  39. When my great-grandma, Adolphine Mathilde, from Denmark, came to Manhattan, via Castle Garden in 1888, at age 18, maybe she and my great-grandpa, Harry, came around this area and saw Millionaire's Row for themselves. So cool! Thanks, Ken!
    319
  40. Just heartbreaking. It's almost impossible to see trees that big anymore.
    319
  41. Thank you for including Fallingwater in your series. I've studied this structure as part of my formal training as an Architect, and have visited it many times. It never fails to take my breath away every time I see it. Most buildings and homes in America are just variations on classical and traditional European design. Mr. Wright sought to build a new Architecture for America. Fallingwater is the culmination of his life's work and a true masterpiece that is revered throughout the world. It is well worth the trip if you are ever in the southwestern part of PA or the northwestern part of MD since it is pretty close to the state line. The whitewater rafting on the Youghiogheny River nearby is excellent.
    311
  42. As a young girl I remember skating at the Ice Rink and dining well into the 60s at the Restaurant. At one time there was an amazing array of Kaliopies, automated musical instruments and Harmoniums.
    309
  43. Kudos to you for putting the truth out there. The injustice of the Browns destroying such a good person's reputation and legacy is hard to take.
    298
  44. Wonderful video. It's tragic the way our forebearers had a complete disregard for our architectural heritage.
    292
  45. I lived in Wisconsin for most of my life and have been to both Taliesin locations for tours and have been to many other Wright homes and buildings. I am fascinated by his work, he was a pioneer in his field when many thought his ideas were outrageous. The Wisconsin Taliesin is in a sad state of condition and needs many repairs. As a child, one of my school field trips was to the Johnson Wax Company in Racine Wisconsin. It's open concept was way ahead of it's time. He also built a home for the company's owner, Herbert F Johnson called Wingspread that is open for tours. I've also been to Oak Park Illinois for the Wright Plus Walk home tours which include his home, studio and several of the homes that Wright either built or remodeled. It's takes place every May, the homes to tour change each year and is well worth it. There are many other Wright homes that I want to visit yet, especially The Darwin D. Martin House in Buffalo, but I am saving Fallingwater for last because it surely is magnificent and is his crowning jewel of achievement. Thank you for highlighting his work in your videos.
    288
  46. These homes were beautiful and built to last, unlike today's cheap construction.
    288
  47. My brother has a sears kit home in Vermillion Alberta. So there you go! You found another one. It is two storey with two side solariums, a huge attic, stained glass and huge wooden doors and staris and trim.......it really is something special. I love it with all my heart.
    282
  48. So sad that the structure completely burned twice! It was so beautiful.
    282
  49. How in the world, netflix didn't make a series about this girls, it's so amazing and good. 4 seasons at least 🤣
    279
  50. We need someone to start making these again. Some of the Sears kit homes are really nice.
    277