Monday, September 9, 2013

Lives of the Rich and Famous -- My World Tuesday

      One day when I was moseying around the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, I came upon a huge pair of gas torchieres, beautiful ladies decorated in gold holding them aloft.




 
 
   The description said that they were a little housewarming gift, purchased in France by railroad tycoon James J. Hill for his son's new home in St. Paul, where they stood in the foyer outside the ballroom from 1905 to 1974.  They are quite tall and ornate and I got to wondering about the ballroom and the house they had occupied.  
 
   Last weekend I was in St. Paul so I decided to look for the house.  I was kind of surprised when I saw it.  It was one of the smaller and less impressive mansions in the neighborhood.
 
   If I could afford to live here, I would not have yellow plastic Adirondack chairs on my front porch, and I would hire someone to pick up the blue newspaper packages when I was away.  But hey, that's just me!
 
   The mansion next door is much more to my liking.
 
Joining Our World Tuesday
 
 
Thanks for visiting my blog.  I love reading your comments.

17 comments:

  1. I went to high school with a gal who lived in one of those mansions, with a ballroom on the third floor. When her younger brother became a freshman her family turned the ballroom into a basketball court for Joe to practice. Changing times!!!

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  2. I like the one next door better too. Nice post.

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  3. I like your sense of humor! (Wouldn't wicker have been better?)

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  4. Fun post and photos ~ I like the 'simple pleasures' of life ~ carol, xo

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  5. I love the "Hill Mansion" with it's beautiful portico and yellow chairs ..... I think the present occupants have put their own stamp on it and I like that.

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  6. Very grand! But, could you imagine having to clean them!

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  7. Lol … disconcerting, indeed, to see this mismatch of ornate and country. The house is lovely, though, and probably impressive for its day … almost resembling a church with a steeple.

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  8. I could go for a gas torchieres or two. They are impressive.

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  9. Hey, it's not only you. I'd do the same! Lovely pictures!

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  10. Beautiful looking house and yellow chairs, Indeed. and also i like the sculptures...
    Nice post written well. or yes, I just found a glorious place which is very interested and famous for their history and culture. I hope that you will know about it through my new post. and I hope you'll join us to the next installment of my blog.

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  11. Ah, the rich and famous may be rich and famous, but do they have possums to watch!!!

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  12. beautiful homes but I wouldn't want to clean them:) Thanks for stopping by my blog! :)

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  13. Beautiful architecture of the Home...like it..

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  14. I used to look at mansions and wish I could live there. Now that I'm older I think to myself...More area I have to keep clean. LOL

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  15. That is too funny! But then I live in an RV, so I'm hardly the one to tell people how to live in their mansion. But come on, even I get somebody to pick up the newspapers when we leave for awhile. LOL, I'm glad they rescued those "little housewarming gifts" for the museum. I don't think the present owners with their yellow chairs and all would appreciate them.

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  16. I agree about the chairs and newspaper pack.

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