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

  1. I hope the developer who bought this mansion is successful in restoring her. It is ashamed to see all of that beautiful craftsmanship crumble with time.
    269
  2. What a story, and what an inspiration to anyone who feels their cards are stacked against them. And the generosity of Madam Walker should be an example to every successful person on how to remember your roots, and how to return something to the community.
    268
  3. What a unique home! I hate that it was torn down, it seems progress has no future sense in preserving something unique.
    263
  4. How sad that this magnificent house and beautiful grounds are no longer in existence.
    252
  5. I wish we could’ve kept all these castles and palaces and manor homes today
    244
  6. Wow, this house has so much CHARM. You can tell the architect poured his soul into it, it's so sad that he never got to enjoy it. He would've lived such a magical life. Thank you so much for sharing it with us! <3
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  7. Here in the UK we have a Trust which finances and keeps our ancient mansions, castles and buildings alive. If you buy a house which in Trust, you cannot make certain alterations to it in perpetuity, so as to keep its original form. Money is raised for the larger mansions/castles etc., by charging viewers, holding concerts or weddings etc., Also our government invests in keeping old buildings alive. Its a crying shame that the US, who doesnt have that many historical buildings, have been so swift to just demolish them. History is important and should be kept alive for future generations.
    237
  8. It's so sad how all those beautiful buildings were torn down instead of reperposed. They replaced them with the UGLIEST buildings possible.😒
    237
  9. I grew up near San Francisco, and I clearly remember eating at the Cliff House restaurant. I knew, even as a young girl, that that was something special. I hope it comes back.
    236
  10. In 1962 I crossed that bridge with my mother when we drove from Chicago to Los Angeles using Route 66. My mom made a big deal over the river, the biggest river in the US, and taught me how to spell Mississippi. For some reason that memory always stuck with me.
    235
  11. Excellent piece today, Ken. Now you are putting some creativity into This House. Fun Fact: President Truman was prompted to rebuild after the leg of his daughter's piano fell through the floor.
    232
  12. The demolition of this wondrous structure was a gross act of vandalism.
    230
  13. This is so heartbreaking. Thank you for showcasing this beautiful forgotten neighborhood. Our cities would be so much richer if people of the past weren't so quick to demolish things.
    228
  14. Some of the houses off of fifth avenue are still there as Chatham University's dorm rooms and offices. Andrew Mellon's house that is now offices and connected to the dining hall, was connected to them by tunnels that are now caved in.
    219
  15. Ken, this "50 year" lifespan of new houses comes out of the building code... That's actually only the assumed lifespan of a new house, the actual lifespan would depend entirely on whether the house is properly maintained; and if is maintained, the lifespan would be much longer. The code uses the 50-year assumption as a way to determine what loads the house should be designed to resist... So houses are now designed to resist the windstorms and earthquakes, etc. that would be likely to occur within this assumed 50-year life span... Also, in most ways, the cookie-cutter houses of today, built by reputable builders, are much better built and much more comfortable to live in than houses were fifty years ago, and even 150 years ago... This being a function of how refined the building code has now become. PS: thanks for all the good work you do...
    212
  16. The demise of some of these one of a kind mansions brings me to tears. I love the history of the people who made them possible.
    210
  17. I screamed WHAT when I heard someone threw out a Tiffany & Co. art glass chandelier.
    208
  18. For many years I've enjoyed stories, both fact and fiction, about New York high society but, somehow, have never heard of the story of Emilie Grigsby. Thank you for introducing me to a new---and real life!---story!
    197
  19. I grew up in Chirown and I'm old. You did an amazing job on this video. Back when I was a kid, Chicago was a grand city. Going to Fields downtown was such an awesome memory. Thanks for the video. You do great work
    197
  20. It is a shame that 56 claims were filed against the estate, yet not one person thought enough of the brothers to check up on them at any time during the years they were isolating themselves. If there were doctors saying the one brother should be seen by "specialists," why didn't any of these claimants try to intervene and help these men? What a tragedy from the very extreme beginning!
    196
  21. Wright's life story would make a pretty good movie. I'm surprised no one has done so. Taliesin is worth a visit if you are ever in the Spring Green area of Wisconsin. "Taliesin" is a Welsh word meaning "Shining Brow", or "Radiant Brow". Wright said the house was not "on the hill", but "of the hill".
    192
  22. As a lifelong Pittsburgher, this is the episode I’ve been waiting for! Thanks! I went to middle school a block from Clayton and visited it growing up. I’m also partial to the Mellon mansion, since the area is a popular park now, and love the mansions that have become university buildings at Chatham University. I’ve always wanted to see where Andrew Carnegie lived in Pittsburgh. If you can find info, I’d love to see it.
    189
  23. I've always been fascinated by the Victorian version of Cliff House and how it seemed to defy gravity by perching on the edge of that rock cliff. I'm amazed it survived the earthquake!
    181
  24. I love that she tried to preserve as much of the mansion as she could and that some of it still exists today.
    178
  25. What an incredible estate. Such a shame to needlessly lose such a grand structure 😮
    177
  26. I actually met Marjorie’s daughter Eleanor in the late 1990’s. I remember her stories, the best one was how when she was a child, the Post’s yacht Sea Cloud was fitted with one of the world’s first refrigeration systems in order to have Thanksgiving dinner while half way around the world. Refrigeration system provided by Clarence Birdseye himself. Also worked for General Foods and your research is spot on.
    176
  27. I've been watching Kaleb and Kim's channel every week, as they focused on specific aspects of the house. It's good to pull back and see the entire house. Enormous amount of work, but incredible beauty and satisfaction.
    176
  28. Not many factory managers could "ketchup " to the great things Henry Heinz was doing for his employees 😁
    175
  29. Have you ever lived in a a Sears Kit Home? Let us know below!😀
    174
  30. My mother was actually a lifeguard at the Sutro baths back in the day. She was a first generation San Franciscan 👍
    167
  31. An old church in Seattle was converted into three unique condos, so it is possible the Gilded Age mansions could have too. If they only hung on a bit longer.
    167
  32. My grandmother used to tell my mother and aunts that they’d have the house looking “like the Collyer Brothers house” if she didn’t yell at them to clean up. I ran across this story 30 years ago and was telling my aunt about it and she said, “THAT’s what my mother was talking about! Yuck!” 🤣🤣🤣
    165
  33. It may have been the last of the Vanderbilt mega-mansions. 647 5th Avenue was built for George Vanderbilt (sold to Willie K in 1905) , and it is still standing. It currently houses the Versace store.
    162
  34. Wow!! Excellent work on telling the story of millionaires row in Manhattan. I find it extremely interesting but sad that a lot of these magnificent buildings no longer exist. Thank you Ken for your extraordinary and fascinating work😊
    161
  35. Now this is rare-- a video that actually tells you what something is without taking half an hour, and isn't frickin' boring. 😀
    160
  36. Such a beautiful and elegant house for 1817 when 80 percent of people lived in log cabins. You can really see the Middle Tennessee architecture in this Missouri house including the mantels, woodwork, Federal Style so popular in KY and TN during that time. Thank you very much for showing it to us. I have never heard of it before. Not only is it beautiful, it has a remarkably warm feeling to it that exudes through the screen. Amazing.
    159
  37. First: Be born into a lot of money.
    159
  38. For those wondering, it is still there but has been divided into six units when the building became a co-op. Ralph Lauren paid $20 million for one of them!
    159
  39. My Swedish grandmother worked as the 2nd cook there, and told me she saw the mistress of the house only twice - her back entering a carriage. She cooked for all the servants while the first cook cooked for the mistress. And she learnt to drive by the German drivers inside the private park at the summer home.. It all sounded so exotic!
    159
  40. I live only a few blocks from the present “Schwab House”. I had no idea that such a magnificent home had been on the site. As one who deeply appreciates the craftsmanship that goes into magnificent buildings of that era, I am sickened to learn of the sad demise of yet another treasured building in NY.
    158
  41. The house is still very "modern" looking. The open room concept is a feature of today's houses. Frank Lloyd Wright was ahead of his time. ❤
    158
  42. What a street to have in a city and state, but it's all gone. Americans go to Italy, Rome and love looking at all the old old buildings, same with England...but then back home they tear everything down. Having that street intact as a museum tour street would have been totally great. Those mansions can never be reproduced and they have ALWAYS been replaced by some bland building that could have been built elsewhere. Same with a freeway.
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  43. How exciting it must have been to live in this gilded age & stroll through the streets of New York. It's also sad that so many of these gorgeous mansions are gone!!! ☹️
    153
  44. That’s our lighthouse in Connecticut! I’ve been fascinated by it since I was a kid—it’s beautiful and unique.
    152
  45. How did the US went from having a beautiful architecture to what it is today?! Could you imagine if those buildings had been preserved?
    152
  46. How kind of her to allow a tour! To see a building such as this with SO many original features was truly a gift. The owner’s efforts through her love of this home has most certainly become important to everyone who cares about historic preservation. Please thank her for us all.
    149
  47. First, let me thank you for your excellent video on th Paseo de la Reforma. I was born in a his amazing city in 1956 so I have gotten to witness a lot of the City’s modernization. I still think Reforma is a beautiful avenue leading from the Lions Gate, official entrance to the Chapultepec Castle and the City’s center. It’s a pity that such lavish mansions were lost but you have to understand that they were like a slap in the face of the poor. If you go further North up Reforma, you’ll find many a mansion, maybe not as grand, but definitely elegant. Thank you for writing this and all the other pieces on my beautiful City and Country.
    142
  48. Mr. Sam was a fine man. His greedy kids grew the company and intentionally shut down local competition in small towns to establish a monopoly. Then by reputation they moved into suburban America. They sell with the clams of being patriotic and buy products from China for consumers. Don't even get me started on how they treat employees. I have not shopped there in years. I would rather pay a dollar more and support local retail. Sorry Ken. You gave a good report, but I am prejudiced by knowing behind the scenes corporate greed involved here.
    140
  49. St louis is truly an architectural gem.
    140
  50. I grew up on Saint Louis Ave ( before it got too bad). It use to be one of the most beautiful streets in the city. Our house was huge. I lived next door to the blue house they featured. The people that lived in that house were the kindest people I've ever met. They always bought me beautiful porcelain dolls. They were very old when I was a child so I imagine they have passed by now. I loved living here. Now the whole area is destroyed by drugs and violence. The house that I lived in was not featured because it exploded sometime around 1992-1993..luckily we moved out about 2 weeks before that happened.
    139