I’m probably in the minority, but the Iranistan is one of my favorites. Imagine riding in your carriage in the quaint New England countryside, and seeing that building, particularly illuminated at night. I also have a bit of a soft spot for Gingerbread style homes; their interiors are almost always replete with intricately carved paneling, shelves, and fireplaces.
It is my favorite as well! I love the Royal Pavilion & Iranistan was the Pavilion on a much grander scale!! I wish there were some interior shots for comparison.
My family lived in the next town. We grew up knowing so much about Barnum. Streets named after him and Iranistan Avenue. A beautiful cemetery as you enter Bridgeport is where he’s buried and also Tom Thumb and his wife Lavinia Warren. And the museum was rebuilt.
Mostly unknown is that Waldemere was not completely bulldozed. A section of it was kept intact and floated by barge to an adjacent area in Stratford, CT called Lordship. It is believed to be the center section. It is located at 1 Pauline Street, Stratford, CT and was once owned by the noted actress Nancy Marchand of the TV series “Lou Grant” fame. It might still be owned by her daughter Katie Bowe. I grew up in Lordship and we often admired this home’s gingerbread style on the bluff overlooking Long Island sound.
I also grew up in lordship during the 50's. Mfs. Fleck owned the home and would invite us kids upstairs by the servants staircase of course and delite us with stories of African Safaris that she had been on. A small women in a beautiful 4 poster bed. We would leave out back where the "Phineas T" rowboat was tied up. What great memories!
@@gerihughes1290 Lordship was really an ideal and special place to grow up in. Even Lordship Elementary School was such a great school and I always have remembered my teachers there, MSs. Everette, Bason, Donning, Koverchek and Cannon but especially our Principal Mrs. Coles. There is a great website for Lordship history which has much information. Many great places for us too, Gerstills Drug Store later Community Pharmacy with Marty and Nina Palukis, and soda fountain, the Long Beach Skating Rink, Pansy’s later Nick’s Hideaway and later Marnick’s, Eddie Mariano’s, Malafronts Grocery actually called East End Market, our churches, Our Lady of Peace, the Congregational Church, Boys and Girl Scouts, the Lordship Fsthers Club, Aherns, later Maracis, Howies, the Cricket, and many more. Hope you check it all out down memory lane!
@@UncaDave oh yes, i've checked it out many times. Not many can say that they had a sea captain live on their street, (4th. Ave.) And summers on 5th. Ave. When Jack Palance rented and took lots of us kids to the beach, the Lighthouse and Remington skeet shoot, Skiorskis watching helicopters perched up on Birch st. What a blast. Every day was the fourth of July!
I do enjoy this quirky channel. I had no idea Barnum owned so many mansions. The first, crazy one was the most interesting, although obviously not very well fire-proofed.
It is a well put together summary video, and i appreciate all lf the photos and original sources of images/flyers/sketches. But I gotta say I laughed when it started with "He came from a humble family" and immediately talked about his family owning several inns and him owning a general store at 18. I have to say, it doesn't fit my idea of "humble beginnings" .
Is there any other city in the USA besides Bridgeport that exercised such a complete disregard for its architectural heritage? What was once considered one of the most beautiful cities in the country is now just a testament to the wreckers' ball.
Bridgeport is a dump. I never go there unless I have to. My great-grandparents are buried in the same cemetery as Barnum and Thumb, I'm too afraid to visit them. As a side note: When Paul Newman (a CT. resident) was filming The Sting, a scene was shot at the Bridgeport Train Station. He made a comment to a newspaper reporter saying "Bridgeport is the armpit of New England". It was printed in some newspaper and residents of Bridgeport were not pleased. lol.
Yes Bridgeport destroyed all its historical places. Tom Thumb house mysteriously caught fire when the city want to demolish it too. They hate putting money into these places. If they were smart they should of took care of those places to bring in people and have a tour. Bridgeport had so much history but they ruined themselves. I grew up there and it was a run down place at the time.
The house in Royal Pavillion style in my opinion is The most interesting, despite the others. The Royal Pavillion built by the architect John Nash it is an example of The Victorian Style also called Ecletism. The Barnun' s house was "up to date" With this time
rgthWhat an incredible story! I cannot believe how many different styles of mansions that PT had built! I wasn't too happy with the way that he acquired a slave and then put her on display for him to earn money which as a slave shoe received nothing as far as we know. He then made money off of her autopsy, that's disgusting, but those were different times but I should not judge him through my 21st Century eyes. I have to try to remember that because there will be those in the comments that would shred me alive (maybe not in this TH channel?)!
Agree. I'm only picking mine by exteriors this time. Marina just looks like a happy place at first impression. For the period all interiors were dark and gaudy--an obscenity of riches. ☹️
Oh dear. Barnum's history and the world he lived in was so much more complex than the narrative details. Secondary sources are not reliable tools to recount history. Nice images and editing though.
