1009 Fifth Ave, James Remembers

James Semans, son of Mary Biddle Duke, the daughter of Benjamin Newton Duke, co-founder of the American Tobacco Company and the original buyer of the house at 1009 5th Ave in New York City, remembers restoring the Duke Semans Mansion, a 20,000-square-foot Beaux-Arts residence across from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. On a Fifth Avenue block where all the other single-family residences have long since been torn down and replaced by apartment buildings, the Duke Semans Mansion, for which the family fought to get landmark designation, stands as a bulwark against modern development. With its high ceilings, gold-leaf trimmed fixtures and intricate plaster friezes, the property is a living piece of architectural history.

[@Danuta628]

Thank goodness for maintaining its integrity as well it’s existence. All the beauty that was nyc has diminished over the centuries. It is imperative to keep and maintain what remains out of such ornate architecture from old New York ❤

[@DaveOlive]

Well said!

[@samghayogashala4043]

I live a few blocks away and I am always in sheer delight to see this landmark home.

[@lizvardon5357]

Wonderful to see how a family can unite and work to restore the integrity of this building. Deeply appreciated. I'm certainly enriched

[@johnhaxby306]

every once in awhile people do the right thing. great job!

[@ronm8948]

Great work,James.

[@colinbateman8233]

Thankfully you saved the building and preserved its heritage

[@denap1954]

So glad that James saved his ancestral home. It truly is a Beauty.

[@forward_ever_ever2595]

My goodness, thank God one of the family took up the responsibility..well done lad....its so easy for younger generations to not appreciate simply because they are well provided for and somewhat spoilt.

[@SoCalFreelance]

An informative mini-doc as this property goes on sale once again.

[@allarchitect]

Thanks!

[@brucemarsico6]

It's a good thing the manse wasn't pulled down. It's a testament to a bygone era when the very wealthy DID live lavishly with no income taxes and a constant stream of immigrant labour that made their lives so very comfortable and effortless. It's a bit like this today, 2020s, but the cache is missing.....the wealth today seems tarted up and hollow in class compared to those year...1900s.

[@powerWithinUs4055]

His place in heaven is assured because of this.

[@iheartcorgis1]

He was such a sweet man--a dear human being. So I'm sure he's there.

[@joevecchio4687]

FW Woolworth built 2 mansions 2 blocks over on 80 street for his daughters
One was for sale about 10 years ago for 90 million
Unbelievable works of art
I used to be on 81 street
Now Sutton place
I miss that neighborhood 😢

[@panamasrose]

So much of the beautiful architecture of New York has vanished. So glad they saved this one.

[@kaspar_1982]

this is now listed for 80 million, i believe Carlos Sims is the current owner since 2010 and paid 44 million. i would like to see the interior taken to the next level, a marble and art palace.

[@alexandrinacoffiel7737]

I love this channel!

[@bluekitty3731]

Last of the grande dame's from the gilded age

[@nccellist]

A couple of corrections...James's mother's name was Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans, and she was the granddaughter, not daughter, of Benjamin Duke.

[@DaveOlive]

thanks for the clarification...

[@dianemunson9698]

What is the style of this architecture? It’s so fabulous

[@chrislastnam6822]

Robert Moses and many others after him were responsible for the demolition of beautiful NYC properties. My great grandparents lived on 5th ave and their townhouse unfortunately is gone.
I live in Los Angeles and many neighborhoods are designated historic preservation zones

[@Anonymous-c4p]

🎶a mother's son💞

[@matthewread1545]

So cool