Kleiner’s Korner: Part 3: The Vanderbilt (George) Connection and the Rise of the Automobile in my New Home State - North Carolina
Part 3 of this 5 part series explores the acquisition of land in western North Carolina by Willie K's. uncle, George Washington Vanderbilt II, and the building of Biltmore, the largest private residence in the United States.
Beyond it being a home, the building of Biltmore impacted North Carolina as roads and labor were necessary and forest areas were preserved. Even a town was renamed by Vanderbilt. The estate is still privately owned today by the heirs of George Vanderbilt and operates as a tourist attraction upon acres and acres of natural beauty.
As you'll see by the length of this post there's much to learn about the history of Biltmore if you are interested. I've only skimmed the surface but it makes for interesting reading on the cold winter days many of you may be experiencing now.
Art Kleiner
Purchasing the Land for Biltmore
After visiting the Asheville area of North Carolina in the mid-1880s, George Vanderbilt began purchasing land, however this article mistakenly identifies the real purchaser. (The Wilmington Messenger Jul. 4, 1888)
George Washington Vanderbilt II was the actual purchaser and made various purchases of small private farms and homesites amassing a large amount of property. (biltmore.com)
However, to minimize attention the purchases were made by an individual representing Vanderbilt, thereby reducing the chances of land values being artificially inflated. (The Charlotte News Jan. 4, 1889)
Eventually the real purchaser was made known and prices escalated. (Asheville Daily Citizen Jul. 28, 1891)
What to do With all that Land!
Various uses of the land purchases were suggested. (The Charlotte News Jan. 4, 1889)
A women's college? (The Progressive Farmer Jan., 15, 1889)
Land near the French Broad River would eventually become the Biltmore Estate. (Biltmore Estate, Rickman 2005)
Fisherman and Farmer Jul 12, 1889
Wonder what else George did with his $7,000,000. (Roanoke News Nov. 14, 1889)
The east elevation, covered with sheds and building materials on July 26, 1893. Here the first floor is completed with work on the second floor commencing. The railroad at the bottom left carried the stonemasons (the most elite group of construction workers) to and from work so they wouldn't have to worry about weather conditions. (Biltmore Estate, Rickman 2005)
George's First Marriage?
Vanderbilt reportedly married Miss Mary Johnstone of South Carolina in 1890! (Watauga Democrat Jan. 23, 1890)
Other than these two articles nothing more has been found about this supposed marriage. Much more is known about George's celebrated marriage on June 1, 1898 to Edith Stuyvesant Dresser. More research is needed concerning this reported first marriage. (The Standard Feb. 4, 1890)
Beautification of the Land
Apart from building Biltmore, Vanderbilt purchased land for the planting of various types of trees to benefit "not only his own immediate purchase, but the town of Asheville, the State of North Carolina and the entire South". (The Progressive Farmer Jan. 28, 1890)
Frederick Law Olsmstead converted 10,000 acres of Vanderbilt property "into a magnificent park" which was open to the public on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons. (Biltmore Estate, Rickman 2005)
Bilton Forest - an early name proposed? Interestingly, as this article points out the Vanderbilt family was not well versed in rural pursuits. Well, why would they when eventually they could hire multitudes of workers anyway? (Carolina Watchman Feb. 27, 1890)
West elevation, circa 1900. (Biltmore Estate, Rickman 2005)
From "Best" to "Biltmore"
Along with purchasing land, Vanderbilt was able to change the name of the town, "Best" to "Biltmore". Maybe that's what $7,000,000 can do! (The Charlotte News Mar. 12, 1890)
Asheville Daily Citizen Jul. 28, 1891
Additional Land Purchases in 1890
The State Chronicle Jun. 6, 1890
The State Chronicle Jun. 19, 1890
The Charlotte Democrat Jun. 27, 1890
The Grand Opening
Chrismas Eve, 1895 saw the opening of Biltmore to friends and family. (Biltmore Estate, Rickman 2005)
Look Familiar?
This Lodge Gate was considered the main entrance to Biltmore and provided round the clock security by means of a resident gatekeeper. (Biltmore Estate, Rickman 2005)
Macadamized Roads
Biltmore required a network of roads in order to travel throughout the grounds. (The Early Automobile in NC, Ireland)
Macadamize roads were used and became a model for road builders. In the next part of this series, I'll show how the roads at Biltmore ecnouraged George Vanderbilt and his wife's use of the automobile. (The Early Automobile in NC, Ireland)
Up for Sale - Sold, But Not All!
In 1912 the federal government was reported to be interested in purchasing Biltmore in order to incorporate a large tract of Vanderbilt's forest land into the Appalachian and White Forest Mountain Reserve. (Waynesville Courier Sept. 27, 1912)
Vanderbilt was okay with the sale of the forest acreage but not the mansion. (French Broad Hustler Jun. 5, 1913)
George Vanderbilt II died on March 6, 1914 and later that year approval was given for the purchase by the US Govt. of 86,700 acres of forest land, named Pisgah Forest. Excluded from the sale was the actual estate and the Buck Spring Lodge which was a Vanderbilt mountain retreat within Biltmore. Purchase price was $5 an acre, (The Roanoke Beacon and Washington County News May 29, 1914)
The Buck Spring Lodge
Then . . .
And now
From Private to Public
In 1930, Biltmore was opened to the public and in 1963 it was designated a National Historic Landmark.
For the Movie Buffs Out There
Astute movie goers might be able to spot Biltmore in movies including: The Swan (1953), Hannibal (shown here, 1991), Last of the Mohicans (1992), Forrest Gump (1993) and Richie Rich (1994). (biltmore.com)
A Monument to Biltmore's Creator
In July, 1924, ten years after his death, the George Vanderbilt Hotel opened in Asheville, honoring the creator of Biltmore. Converted to apartments for the elderly in 1969 the building was stripped of it ornamental designs but recently has been looked at for renovation purposes.
Much information can be found on the internet about Biltmore, its history and its current activities. Its definitely worth a visit, one I'll be making soon.
In the next part of this series (#4) I'll provide a snapshot of the rise of the automobile in and around Wilmington. And part #5 will detail several auto races in the area including a 1907 race on the main beach of Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach. I find it interesting that 1907 was the only year without a Vanderbilt Cup Race on LI, but that a race did occur that year close to my current home in North Carolina!
Comments
Another great post Art! Biltmore has been on my bucket list for a while now, and since I’m a huge admirer of Frank Lloyd Wright, Fallingwater is another home on that list.
We visited Biltmore in 2018 (and Fallingwater last summer). The estate, and the nearby city of Asheville, are fascinating. Asheville is loaded with art and art galleries.
It’s interesting to note that while George was not involved in running any of the Vanderbilt railroads, he had a rail line built so that materials could be brought to the Biltmore site while it was under construction. The rail line was dismantled after construction was completed.
One of the articles mentions “colored people” disposing of “small tracts” of land. The African-American neighborhood of Shiloh was located north of Biltmore. When George bought the land, he moved the entire community to south Asheville, where it remains today.
Thanks Greg.
Al - here’s a link about Shiloh and George Vanderbilt purchasing and moving it to accommodate his building of Biltmore. Thanks for bringing that to our attention.
https://thelaurelofasheville.com/lifestyle/heritage/historic-shiloh-communitys-roots-run-deep/
And some pics from mountainx.com.
Additional article (“Southern Good Roads”, 1914) and information about George and Edith Vanderbilt’s contribution to the forestry movement in the US.
From foresthistory.org
“The Pisgah is a gift from many people—some whose names are familiar but many whose names are not. Most have heard of George Vanderbilt, or his Biltmore Estate. His greatest gift, however, was not to himself but to the nation. He hired renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted to design Biltmore’s grounds. Creator of New York’s Central Park and other urban green spaces, Olmsted saw in this project opportunity to give back to the nation, and through Vanderbilt a way to do so. In 1890, Vanderbilt needed a forester. America needed forestry. Olmsted advised hiring a professional forester who would demonstrate to America that one could cut trees and preserve the forest at the same time.
Vanderbilt hired Gifford Pinchot, who then crafted the first-ever sustainable forest management plan in the United States. Pinchot later gave back to the country in his own way: in 1905, he established the U.S. Forest Service, providing the nation with an institution to manage its national forests and grasslands. But before leaving Vanderbilt’s employ in 1895, Pinchot did two things: he facilitated Vanderbilt’s purchase of an additional 100,000 acres, which Vanderbilt named Pisgah Forest, and he recommended hiring German forester Carl Schenck to implement his management plan.
In 1914 George Vanderbilt’s widow, Edith, sold Pisgah Forest for a fraction of its value in part to “perpetuate” the conservation legacy of her husband, and as a “contribution” to the American people. Pisgah Forest became the nucleus of the Pisgah National Forest, the first established under the Weeks Act, and Biltmore Forest School graduate Verne Rhoades became its first supervisor, in 1916.
And if you are wondering what Pisgah means:
“1808 - First surviving reference to “Mt. Pisgah,” which derives from the Hebrew word for summit and which was the biblical mountain from which Moses first saw the promised land.” (From pisgahconservancy.org)
Always fascinating to me is having the “Second” largest private residents in the United States right here on Long Island. It’s Oheka Castle in Woodbury, built by Otto Kahn and finished in 1919. A few things I remember hearing: it had a tunnel built to give Guests arriving at the Woodbury train station, a covered passage from the station all the way to the house. And the property was dug away at the rear of the original foundation, and huge doors were put in to allow animals as large as elephants and giraffes to enter the basement Menagerie.