Randy Suits

Biltmore Mansion

My dearest Eve, my super inquisitive memory maker,

It was an American version of a European castle. Building Biltmore was, at the time, one of the largest undertakings in the history of American residential architecture. Over a six-year period, an entire community of craftsmen worked to build the country’s premier home. The estate boasted its own brick factory, woodworking shop, and a three-mile railway spur for transporting materials to the site. The celebrated architect Richard Morris Hunt modeled the house on three châteaux built in 16th-century France. It featured 4 acres of floor space, 250 rooms, 34 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and 65 fireplaces. The basement alone would house a swimming pool, gymnasium and changing rooms, bowling alley, servants’ quarters and kitchens. An environmental wonder, the grounds of the 125,000-acre estate were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the creator of New York’s Central Park and the father of American landscape architecture. In his efforts to protect the environment and reclaim over-farmed land, Olmsted established America’s first managed forest. George Vanderbilt officially opened the home to friends and family on Christmas Eve in 1895. He had created a country retreat where he could pursue his passion for art, literature, and horticulture. After marrying the American Edith Stuyvesant Dresser (1873–1958) in Paris during the summer of 1898, George and his new bride came to live at the estate. Their only child, Cornelia (1900–1976), was born and grew up at Biltmore. During the depression of the 1930’s the family opened the home for public viewing for a fee to maintain the estate and has since continued to entertain thousands annually to the one of a kind achievement in American architecture. My kochana Eve and myself viewed this product of great wealth accompanied by inventive ingenuity of the mind and imagination of George Vanderbuilt. This day was well spent in touring and visiting Biltmore mansion, grounds and estate. The intuition and curiosity of my Eve prevented our missing the opportunity that passing in that vicinity provided. It was a great shared experience and I love you my darling for the presence of you. Our God Most High did good when He joined us together.

You are my mansion of even greater value, Kochany