Clark's Folly: The Mansion That Was Too Much of Everything
So, let's talk about William A. Clark, the man who decided that a normal house just wasn't cutting it. We're talking about a guy who said, "Screw a house, I want a palace!" And boy, did he deliver. His New York City mansion, affectionately (or maybe not so affectionately) nicknamed "Clark's Folly," was the epitome of Gilded Age excess.
A House... or a Small Country?
I mean, this place was ridiculous. 121 rooms! Thirty-one bathrooms! Four art galleries! A swimming pool! And get this, an underground rail line to bring in coal for heating. Coal! Like, someone actually sat down and thought, "You know what this mansion needs? A private railway for coal." I'm pretty sure the coal delivery guy had a better commute than most New Yorkers today.
It took 14 years to build this behemoth. Fourteen years! That’s longer than some people's marriages. And all for a house that, let's be honest, probably had more rooms than the average person needs in a lifetime. I'm imagining a scene where Clark is giving a tour and casually mentions, "Oh, and this is the 'never-used-because-why-would-you' room."
The Price Tag: More Than Your Annual Salary (Probably)
Building this palace of excess cost a cool $7 million in 1911. In today's money, that's more than you'll ever make. And yet, just 19 years later, they tore it down. Talk about a quick return on investment! I guess even the ultra-wealthy can't escape the volatile real estate market.
A Lesson in Excess
So, what can we learn from Clark's Folly? Well, for one, bigger isn't always better. Sometimes, a cozy apartment is all you need. And two, maybe don't spend 14 years building a house that you'll only live in for a couple of decades. Just a thought.
How to Appreciate the Absurdity of It All
- How to imagine life with 31 bathrooms: It's simple. You'll never run out of hot water, but you'll spend your life wandering around looking for the right one.
- How to envision an underground rail line for coal: Picture a tiny train chugging through the bowels of your house, delivering the fuel for your extravagant lifestyle.
- How to understand the concept of Gilded Age excess: Look around at the world today. Still confused? Good.
- How to feel grateful for your humble abode: Compare your living situation to a 121-room mansion. Perspective is everything.
- How to appreciate the irony of it all: A house built to show off wealth ultimately becomes a symbol of fleeting extravagance.