So, I have come to the conclusion that the reason these are called death marches isn’t just because we hike for miles and miles, but because our esteemed Professor Richard Guy Wilson, heads straight out without a care in the world. There are thirty of us, and watching him step off the sidewalk into … Read more
Today was a day of only 3 houses, but what houses they were. All three houses were designed by Richard Morris Hunt. Our first stop was Ochre Court. Built between 1888 and 1893 for Ogden Goelet. These houses are well documented as to the craftspeople. The Ochre House sculptor was Karl Bitter, however, much of … Read more
After a morning of lectures we headed out to Belcourt Castle. Belcourt is a R. M. Hunt building( 1891-94). The house was built for Oliver Hazzard Perry Belmont, with changes done when he married Alva Vanderbilt once she divorced William. The house has been purchased by Carolyn Rafaelian, founder of Alex and Ani. She is restoring … Read more
We began this morning in my favorite genre, Japanese revival. The house is just lovely, as are the couple that own it. They still have a lot of restoration to go, but what they have done is just perfect. The house is called the Knapp house and was designed by Ralph Adams Cram in 1894. Cram … Read more