What Happened to the Mansion of the 2nd Richest Man in America? (Mellody Farm)
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- Опубликовано: 9 фев 2025
- Dive deep into the captivating story of J. Ogden Armour, America's once second richest man, and the enigmatic fate of his extravagant Mellody Farm mansion in Lake Forest, Illinois.
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Location: Lake Forest, IL
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Public Domain Photos from: Library of Congress
CC BY-SA 4.0 Photos from: Wikipedia User: Nick Number
Assets from: Envato Elements
Music from Epidemic Sound
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OMG, my late husband worked as a ranch manager for several decades for a branch of the Armour family, the Schalings. What a pleasant surprise today's video was. Thanks
My favorite part of this video is learning that it still stands today! ❤
I loved it all, especially the ending. Still standing! ❤
Agreed.
It's gratifying that the house still stands. I really like the symmetrical entrance with the fountain.
Fantastic job Ken, thank you! The Armour family built several video-worthy Estates in Lake Forest and Lake Bluff, most of which are still in use today. I'd love to see more of them.
I think the winter garden was the nicest room! So glad it was saved!
Still standing and now useful….that is a good ending always!!!❤
The library! love a dark and moody room with just fire light. And I've have read some of the books as well.
Staggering! It makes one wonder what his history would have been had he lived a more humble life. Still, she's standing and thats better than most of the houses of this scale can say.
Very interesting story Ken, thanks and once again, a Great Job!
My favorite: that the building was not torn down. It is a lovely place.
So glad this splendid mansion has been preserved. So many of them have been demolished for tacky suburbs or shopping malls - even parking lots.
Wow Ken, fantastic video. It may seem odd but I liked the main hall of the house. It was so grand. Thanks for sharing this video.
Looks like the family had taste, but no sense of scale at all. The faux marbre dining room looks gorgeous, and the entry hallway too. Imagine having forgotten something at the other end of the house - it would have taken 15 minutes to walk there and back (or having a servant go). Beautiful grounds and entry court, but the exterior of the house is, well, dull. I'm guessing they had a primitive intercom system installed to save steps. Thanks, Ken - excellent video.
I was born in Chicago but I call Fox Lake my home town. I rode the Milwaukee Road ( then turned Metra ) for years. I knew of the driveway bridge over the railroad. A portion of this entrance to the bridge remained on the east side of the tracks. On the west side was this amazing brick wall which ran along the tracks. The wall was capped at the top which looked like terra cotta. The wall was in disrepair. I knew some of the conductors on the train and they would share what they knew about this estate. I knew that the train would be going at a rate of 79 mph when we would be passing by this place. Once I timed how long it took from the north end of the estate wall until we got to Rt 60 ( I think ) at the south end. It was about a minute which meant the wall was about a mile long. Somewhere in between, the wall had an entrance where Mr Armour had his own private rail car where the train would back up and hook up his car and pull it into Chicago. Over the years the Lake Forest Academy sold off portions on the estate and high end homes were built just inside the wall. The wall was kept and in some spots, the wall was rebuilt, capped with concrete on top. I could be wrong on some of this regarding the railroad gate and private railroad car. I always found this old place very interesting and I would always look out the window every time I passed by this place
There is a record of everything you mentioned! He really did live lavishly. I’ll add that the purpose of the wall was to dampen the sound of trains passing by.
Very interesting, I was born and raised in Lake Forest. What a great experience the town was. I miss it!
Where'd you move to?
@@TheLordOfNothing Florida, for college after Lake Forest High School. Still here.
Whew!!! I was afraid it had been torn down. So glad it still exists today
The entryway by far. Gorgeous. I worked with the Armour Hammer for years in Houston. Wonderful people. Great retirement benefits.
So they kind of executed an idea of richness but had no idea of how to live it. Not sure if i
Love it or loath it, another great video thank you.
I enjoyed the hallway , staircase , office and library
It's great that Lake Forest Academy was able to save this property from the wrecking ball, but it would have been greater if the concept of "boutique hotel" had existed back in the 1940s, so that even today people could have the chance to stay at Melody Farms; perhaps a lot of the original furniture could have been preserved as well.
Very interessting. Many thanks for your Work 👍👍👍👍👍.
So much money he didn’t know what to do with it. Horses not ridden? Books not read? What a waste. I am pleased the home is still standing and functional. I doubt he ever shared his wealth with the less fortunate or gave to good causes. Sad.
There are no less fortunate, only lazy people.
@@Manigo1743tell that to anyone, that through no fault of their own, does not have their health!!!! Your kind of heartless Blastboy or not thinking .
I think they did
@@TheCatholicGirl Really?
@@dalehoward5416 yes I believe so. He provided workers with low cost housing.
Eloquently described. Great video.
I LOVE adding to my architectural vocabulary when watching your videos!
A great house and video. Lucky it's still standing. It seems some people when they get THAT kind of money they lose their minds and go nuts, not thinking of the future at all. Almost thinking they'll live forever. This is a great house, but way too big for anybody at any time.
Enjoyed the video. I have been in there once a few years ago as there was someone there who left me look around the entrance area of the mansion a little up to the staircase. Still looks like it is from that time, but well maintained. The water gardens have been filled din (safety?) and most of the original gardens have disappeared.
It was quite nice! Loved the gardens ... however, it seems that they treated it in a manner equivalent to today's 'selfies'.
I live 1/2 a mile from it. While it’s now a boogie private boarding school, the gardens are really run down. The Chicago bears practice facility is right next door.
I love the hallway with beautiful stairway. Lovely entry and greeting place for guests.
Makes me think, with all the wealth and lavish lifestyle he had....was he happy?
DAMN RIGHT he was...the only people that money doesn’t make happy.
Are those that don’t have it.
@@danielkoher1944 Not necessarily.
No correlation between money and happiness. Money makes you not think about bills. That's it. I guess he had a fulfilled life.
@@voight-kampff3611 Money can get you to be happy (eg. big house with pool) but money itself cannot make you happy.
Outdated?? Mellody Farm's Mediterranean Revival architecture is timeless, whoever says that deserve to wear a hat with donkey ears for one year!
🙄
I really liked the family’s garden room.
Why on earth would Anyone build a “house” that big?! It looked like you’d never have time to enjoy it…you’d be exhausted going from one room to another, and heaven forbid if you forgot to take something with you! If you lost anything, you’d be better off just going and buying a new one than trying to find it. I know they do it to show off how successful they are, but that’s just wasteful and stupid!
Well, being a child riding your tricycle up and down the 112 ft hall would have been fun.
I don't know about the most beautiful house between New York and San Francisco." There are 3 that I've toured that I would consider to be more beautiful (Stan Hywet Hall in Akron, OH; Meadow Brook Hall in Rochester, MI; and the Edsel Ford estate in Grosse Pointe Shores, MI Unfortunately, it was almost Christmas when I toured the Cuneo mansion in Vernon Hills, IL so there wasn't much to see to judge the outside). Excellent video.
A beautiful house even though it’s huge. I think it has great bones and the grounds are beautiful too. He had good taste.
The days before the Federal Reserve and the income tax .
I love the music room.
I read The Jungle. It horrified me. If the family could live at that level, private train included, it certainly cements the need of labor unions except they abused their power for political graft
Totally agree.
Awfulway to make money.. exploiting animal's and human's deffin evil person. Prove me wrong.
I passed by it when I worked in Lake Forest.
I like the painted decor on the outside by the college.
My favorite part of the video is the fact that the Lake Forest Academy saved part of the history of this property . So many are just demolished . It is history 😅😅
I liked the library and the grounds was all the flowers and fountains insect
Ken, I've always been amazed how many fancy words you know. Ha, ha, ha. Just messing with you buddy. However, how about some features on rural homes of industrial employers. One suggestion would be the home of Frank Phillips outside Bartlesville, Okla. It is an impressive home in a wooded area. There are others as well.
I'll look into it, thanks for the suggestion!
Great
I know it’s cliché, but clichés exist for a reason: ‘easy come, easy go’. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying life’s rewards but remember that life can also take it away and kick you in groin. Keep a reserve and diversify!
Could you imagine how expensive it would be to build something of this magnitude in todays world
As much as I like when the home survives, when it loses so much acreage and the grounds are pretty much destroyed with other buildings....I feel like it becomes nothing of what it once was. Worse yet, looks like Interstate 94 was plowed through less than half a mile away. Gotta love road noise! 🤦♂🤣🤷♂
Thank goodness it was saved!
2:12 What's the difference between a casino and a gazebo?
A casino is for gambling and a gazebo is like a detached covered porch.
“Originally meaning a defence-post, it was more generally employed to describe a small country house or lodge in a park. In the 18th century it could also describe a dancing salon. In modern usage it is normally used to designate a room or building in which gambling takes place.”
Casino -Oxford Reference
@@TheCatholicGirl I knew this answer would eventually be here.
What was the draw to build the biggest house in America by so many of these titans of industry? Their heirs couldn't afford to maintain the huge estates and large staff, ultimately leading to the demolition of these American palaces. Thankfully, this one hasn't been put to the wrecking ball.
It's what rich people do, always have done, and still do today. They need a way to prop up their egos and feed their narcissism, enormous estates are a reflection of their delusional self-importance. From ancient emperors to popes to Trump's gold toilet, the robber barons of the world feel compelled to house themselves in unnecessarily large and ornate abodes.
No way! No way! I was married there!
Well - at Armor
What a surprise!
We were married on that staircase. The stairway, hall and library and gardens are almost exactly the same, and redone beautifully.
Melody Farm/Reid Hall must be the same as what they also call Armor House.
It splits from the manor on the south end, and walking wet inside takes you to Academy use.
Am I mistaken?
I wish I could post photos!
That must have been a beautiful wedding! It has had several different names over the years, but this is the same house!
@@ThisHouse it was gorgeous! Those ceilings must be 3 stories high. So beautiful. ❤️
We often think that the saying, "the rich get richer while the poor get poorer" only applies to today😢😢.
A wonderful tour - Thank you - Apparently, many of us possess a true Soft Spot for White Elephants - Imagine the hushed polite conversations of Mixed Company in the Winter Garden; then one by one, the Men quietly slip away for a Cigar in the dark elegance of the Library, and then move on toward the Office, to analyze the Action of their Stocks - One wishes for Immortality, pleading that Time would stand still just for a moment - or do we dare wish - if just for a day ...
I wonder what happened to all the furniture in that place,I hope it was not destroyed
Those were the days......when the loss of wealth was the reality of those whose foolish mistakes were protected by tax subsidies borne by "the little people."
How many rooms can you be in at once . How many room did they walk through and admire. What a waste
The one thing worse than not sharing is judging. 😢
I’m greatful people who know historical history and value saw this home still exist today praise god for intelligent people who have saved this home of melody farm what beautiful amazing American 🇺🇸 history 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
Mr. Armour may not have been good to his workers, but give him credit for putting his affairs in order and paying off his debts. Too I'm glad his wife and daughter were provided for.
Ken, you menioned Jane Addams's involvement in the strike situation. She operated Hull House, what might be considered a community center that started out in a 19th century home originally owned by a man named Hull. The original part of Hull House still stands in Chicago as a museum along with some office and conference space. Jane Addams and her work and Hull House might be an interesting topic for a future video.
Hull House was the first Community Center in Chicago. Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr provided social services, housing information, classes in health and hygiene, a library, and so much more.
An entire family could live in your house for months, and you wouldn’t even know it.
I usually LOVE gigantic old houses.. but not this time.. I found this one to be ugly and not at all suitable to my taste.
Looks like Daddy Warbucks house in Annie.
❤
What vanity!
Not gonna lie, I thought that was Maralargo
Twenty years from now Mara lardo will be gone. Replaced with a parking lot.
Looks like Huen either worked with, or swiped a bunch of ideas from, Frank Lloyd Wright for architectural details.
Definitely in the middle of FLW’s primary stomping grounds.
🤔
A beautiful place, perfect for a Hospital.
And how did his employees live? What did their homes look like?
Better than they would have and better than they did.
As much as I enjoy these informative videos of how the wealthiest lives I find these black and white photos of the interiors dreary. Maybe an app out there somewhere can do justice to what we are looking at and colorize them as close as possible to the origin vision.
Well seeing as he was the 2nd riches man in the world he no doubt had residences
scattered all around the world. Maybe he just forgot he owned this one. Its so
easy to misplace your stuff when you have so so so so much stuff.
!
The rich are different. War is a business/economy all its own and quite lucrative to a select few. At least the home was saved and repurposed to a beneficial use.
Somehow when I see black and white or sepia Architectural photos, I know the house has been demolished.
He didn’t take anything with him when he died
Losing a million dollars a day?!…..whew, im surprised he didnt lose his wits…..losing that kinda money back then was unheard of…..
it would have been more interesting if the pictures had been color pictures. not exactly the most beautiful house, if you ask me.
A happy ending
Let’s eat the rich!
Anyone got an early life check on this guy, acts like a tribesman
Huron mountain club member
He was rich, but nowhere near the second richest in America.
Anyone care?
You clearly cared enough to not only click on the video but also comment. If you don't care don't click on the video.
@@TheLordOfNothing hey buddy...I didn't watch the whole boring thing and I also have a right to comment
Cool