Edith Stuyvesant Vanderbilt: a very charming and accomplished girl

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In honor of Edith Vanderbilt’s birthday on January 17, we’d like to share a glimpse into her childhood and young adult years before she married “the most eligible bachelor in the world.”

In April 1898, an article appeared in the New York Herald announcing the engagement of George Washington Vanderbilt to Edith Stuyvesant Dresser. Much attention was given at the time to George Vanderbilt’s family connections and the fact that he had long been considered one of the most eligible bachelors in American society. But what of his fiancée, Edith?

Other than basic facts about the identity of her parents and the marital status of her siblings, little more was said about Edith other than that she was “a very charming and accomplished girl.”

Childhood adventures

Edith was born in Newport, Rhode Island in 1873. She was the fourth child of Colonel and Mrs. George Warren Dresser, who was a descendant of the last Dutch governor of New York. The Dressers divided their time between Newport and their New York residence, and much of what we know about Edith’s childhood comes from an unpublished narrative written in 1943 by her younger sister Pauline.

According to Pauline, the Dresser children enjoyed a wide variety of pets—including Edith’s 19 turtles that lived in the backyard—and a wide variety of adventures such as roller skating in their dining room while it was being repaired for water damage.

Growing up in Newport

Both of Edith’s parents both passed away in 1883, but the children’s elderly maternal grandparents stepped in to raise the five siblings who ranged in age from six to nineteen. The young Dressers moved to their grandparents’ home in Newport, and a governess named Mademoiselle Marie Rambaud was added for the girls. Pauline’s memoirs mention how Mademoiselle Rambaud had the Dresser girls adhere to the following regime:

“Two hours’ exercise, rain or shine, and early bed hours… We were not allowed to get up until seven… half an hour for dressing, then, if we hurried sufficiently, a chance to run outdoors for a few minutes … before a hasty glass of milk and a roll, which preceded the hour of piano practice from 7:45 to 8:45. A quarter of an hour for family prayers in my grandmother’s room…then breakfast at nine in the dark dining room…, and lessons from 9:30 to 1:30 in winter, and 9:30 to 11:30 in summer. Lunch at 1:30, then another hours’ practice from 2 to 3 – walking every day from 3 to 5. Supper at 5:15 –… and bed at 6:15 in winter and summer, until I was fourteen years old: then only, was I allowed to dine with the family and go to bed at 8:00 P.M….

But life in Newport wasn’t all hard work, and Edith and her sisters were encouraged to enjoy outdoor pursuits such as horseback riding, carriage driving, and swimming. Summers were particularly lighthearted as the Dresser girls, accompanied by their governess and their pet collie Paddy, walked to the beach three times a week, returning in a public horse-driven bus. Apparently Paddy loved to swim so much that he would visit the beach on his own, jumping into a cab for the return trip home. The girls would look out to see what appeared to be an empty cab pull up to their house, and out would jump Paddy, leaving a laughing cab driver behind.

The Paris years

Following the death of their grandmother in 1892, Edith and her sisters spent some time traveling, returning to Newport for a few months before taking an apartment in Paris for the next several years.

In 1896 and 1897, the Dresser girls vacationed for the summer in the French town of Dinard. Still pet lovers as they had been from childhood, they acquired two dogs in France – “Mlle Follette,” who would “die for France,” standing on her hind legs then falling over as though felled by an enemy’s bullet, and Bluette, a bulldog. Time in Dinard was light-hearted and fun, with most of their friends in attendance. They “picnicked and swam and danced and enjoyed themselves hugely.”

After their last summer together in Dinard, Edith and her oldest sister Susan stayed in Paris while Natalie and Pauline Dresser returned to Newport for the first time in four years. It was a time of new beginnings for each of them as the Dresser sisters began to meet and fall in love with the gentlemen they would one day marry.

Edith Vanderbilt’s legacy

Without a doubt, Edith Vanderbilt’s childhood and young adulthood certainly molded her into much more than “a very charming and accomplished girl.” The development of her striking personality traits such as intelligence, sophistication, an outgoing nature, a love of adventure, the ability to relate to people of all backgrounds and cultures, resilience in the face of difficulty, and strong commitment to family make her a woman we continue to admire.

Pictured above, right: the Dresser girls with their grandmother (L-R: Natalie, Edith, Grandmother Susan Fish Le Roy, Pauline, Susan)

Pictured above, left: Dresser girls in Dinard, 1896 or 1897 (L-R: two servants, Edith, Mlle. Rambaud, Pauline, Susan, Natalie; Bluette the bulldog in  foreground & Mlle. Follette to the left of the bicycle)

George Vanderbilt and His Automobiles

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Although Biltmore House was equipped with superb stables, the Vanderbilts did not rely solely on horses and carriages for transportation. Although horse-drawn carriages, ships, and trains were popular when George Vanderbilt was born in 1862, engineers and inventors were already experimenting with “horseless carriages” or automobiles.

It wasn’t until the early 1900s that the Vanderbilts and their friends began to experience the convenience and speed of driving. George Vanderbilt was particularly fond of automobiles and collected them over the years.

George (third from left) and Edith Vanderbilt (far left), friends, and chauffeur in Godesberg am Rhein, Germany, 1906.
George (third from left) and Edith Vanderbilt (far left), friends, and chauffeur in Godesberg am Rhein, Germany, 1906.

Road trips

Biltmore archives show that George Vanderbilt became an avid fan of automobiles during a visit to Europe in 1903 when his good friend William (“Willie”) Bradhurst Osgood Field offered George and Edith Vanderbilt the use of his car and driver. Vanderbilt wrote Field:

“I am so in love with this mode of travel that I mean to order an auto like yours when I get back to Paris, with the few improvements that have been made since. It makes travelling a different thing and simply a natural transition instead of an effort.

We have decided to remain over here all winter and hope to do some more automobiling next summer…”

(George Vanderbilt to William B. Osgood Field, William B. Osgood Field Papers, Manuscripts and Archives Division, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations, New York Public Library, New York, New York.)

In a subsequent letter, Vanderbilt again comments on his affection toward automobiles, saying, “We are still enchanted with auto and indebted to you.” 

North Carolina driver's license for George W. Vanderbilt from 1913.
North Carolina driver’s license for George W. Vanderbilt from 1913.

His first car

We aren’t certain what kind of vehicle Mr. Vanderbilt purchased in Paris during this time, but photographs suggest the vehicle may have been made by Panhard et Levassor–the most popular maker of automobiles in France in the early 1900s.

As planned, the Vanderbilts remained in Europe for several more months. In 1904, George mentions a “delightful” three-week trip along the Spanish coast (notwithstanding a mechanical problem that delayed them for several days), several 2–3 day trips from their initial home base in Paris, a planned move to London allowing shorter road trips to visit cathedrals, and a six-week excursion throughout England, Scotland, and Wales.

While the Vanderbilts would continue to enjoy “automobiling” in Europe during their frequent trips, they would not purchase an auto in America until January 1907. Why the delay? Perhaps it was because most American roads were typically in poor condition compared to European roads.

But by the mid-1890s, Biltmore’s roads were nationally recognized as being of the quality needed throughout the country. In North Carolina, “Buncombe County…had accomplished more road improvements by 1914 than any other county in North Carolina,” and George Vanderbilt was given much of the credit.

George Vanderbilt's 1913 Stevens-Duryea Model C-Six, the only automobile remaining in the Biltmore collection.
George Vanderbilt’s 1913 Stevens-Duryea Model C-Six, the only automobile remaining in the Biltmore collection.

American automobiles

In 1907, George Vanderbilt ordered a Stoddard-Dayton car delivered to his home in Washington, D.C. In 1911, he purchased a 1912 six-cylinder, six-passenger Model Y Stevens-Duryea for $4,000. Within a year, he traded the 1912 Stevens-Duryea for a 1913 Stevens-Duryea Model C-Six, which arrived in May 1913.

Receipt for purchase of Stevens-Duryea car; sold to George Vanderbilt for $3096.90 in May, 1913.
Receipt for purchase of Stevens-Duryea car; sold to George Vanderbilt for $3096.90 in May, 1913.

The Stevens-Duryea C-Six is the only vehicle that George Vanderbilt purchased remaining in the Biltmore collection and is today an extremely rare model, believed to be one of only 10 still in existence. It has been carefully conserved but not restored and is in private storage. Intriguing details of this vehicle include Edith Vanderbilt’s monogram hand-painted on the doors and the old-fashioned kerosene lamps that provided backup for the car’s newfangled electric headlights!

Detail of parts and maintenance for Stevens-Duryea car.
Detail of parts and maintenance for Stevens-Duryea car.

Learn more about the Vanderbilts’ travels at The Vanderbilts at Home and Abroad exhibition inside The Biltmore Legacy building in Antler Hill Village, which offers a fascinating glimpse into the lives of George and Edith Vanderbilt and their daughter Cornelia.

Whistler and Vanderbilt: an artist and his patron

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George Vanderbilt was a knowledgeable art collector, acquiring both the classics—like tapestries from the 1500s—and works from contemporary artists of his time such as Renoir. For portraits of his family, he turned to one of the leading artists of the era: James McNeill Whistler.

Best known today for the iconic portrait of his mother, Whistler (1834–1903) was an American-born artist who worked in Europe most of his life. No stranger to controversy, he was influenced by both the schools of realism and impressionism, later developing a unique symbolism in which the subjects of his paintings became less important than forms, colors, and mood.

While we don’t know exactly when Vanderbilt and Whistler met, we do know they had mutual friends and it’s likely Vanderbilt was familiar the artist’s work in London and Paris. By 1897, the two men were acquainted enough that Vanderbilt requested Whistler paint his portrait. In May 1897, Vanderbilt wrote:

“Yesterday when Sturges told me you were not in London I was greatly disappointed, both because I had looked forward to seeing you, venturing to hope for a Sunday afternoon visit to your studio, to make up for the visit I lost in March, and because I have a favor to ask of you. Is there a chance of your returning to London soon and if you do will you consider me a fit subject for a portrait? . . .

I cannot begin to tell you how much I want an example of your great work. I revel at present in possessing your etchings but want an oil too. Hoping you will consider this favorably believe me with deep esteem your admirer.”*

Whistler promptly agreed, stating:
“I think I may frankly say that I would not ask for a more sympathetic subject than yourself and therefore am greatly pleased at the prospect of painting your portrait.”

By the end of the year, the portrait was completed, with Whistler writing on December 30:
“My dear Vanderbilt, Now that the great work is complete and I fancy you and I who have been so much in it may in our present enthusiasm say ‘great work!’. . .

For my part I look upon this painting with real delight and am well pleased to be hereafter represented by it in my own country. And I am happy in believing that you too have in it complete enjoyment and satisfaction. You have been charming!”

The two men remained friends, with their correspondence showing Vanderbilt admiring Whistler’s art and opinions equally. He also continued collecting Whistler’s works, commissioning a portrait of Edith Vanderbilt in 1898 that was completed in 1902 and purchasing the artist’s self-portrait.

Over the years, Vanderbilt invited Whistler to Biltmore House repeatedly but Whistler never returned to the United States. When the artist died in July 1903, Vanderbilt was a pallbearer at the funeral.

Edith Vanderbilt Gerry gifted two Whistler works in the Biltmore collection to the National Gallery of Art after her death—George Washington Vanderbilt and Gold and Brown: Self-Portrait. Her oval portrait remains on display in the Tapestry Gallery.

*Vanderbilt to Whistler, London, England, May 18, 1897. Excerpted courtesy of Whistler Collection, Glasgow University Library.

Timeless Tradition Continues at Biltmore’s Employee Christmas Party

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Although Christmas at Biltmore is our busiest season of the year, for one special night each November, Biltmore employees and their families gather to enjoy their own special Christmas evening amidst the twinkling lights and beautiful decorations adorning Biltmore House.

The impressive décor is admired by all, but the child inside many of us would likely wonder, “What good is a 35-foot Christmas tree without equally grand amounts of gifts?”

A family enjoys Christmas at BiltmoreHow our tradition began

When George Vanderbilt opened Biltmore House to his family and friends on Christmas Eve 1895, guests were greeted in the Banquet Hall by a splendidly tall tree laden with gifts for estate workers. Although the wrapped packages under today's Banquet Hall tree are decorative rather than full of surprises, that doesn’t mean Biltmore has ended the Vanderbilt gift-giving tradition. During our staff Christmas party, all children 11 and younger receive a present chosen especially for their age range.

Children looking up at Biltmore Christmas decorationsThe celebration continues

Archival information from 1898 shows that Edith Vanderbilt quickly assumed an active role in estate Christmas preparations as soon as she and George returned from their honeymoon in October of that year. She began making lists of all employees' children, their ages, and choosing special gifts for each of them—more than 100 children in all!

Today, Michaela Schmidlin, Entertainment and Event Programming Manager, oversees the process of choosing appropriate gifts for each age range. The toys are timeless, often requiring creativity rather than batteries to operate, and preference is given to North Carolina manufacturers.

“It’s really neat to me that this tradition has remained year after year. We’ve modernized it a little with Excel spreadsheets and such, but otherwise, it hasn't changed that much. We give more than 300 gifts each year, and though they are more contemporary than the presents children would have received in the early 1900s, they always reflect the Vanderbilt spirit of warmth and generosity,” Michaela said.

Biltmore employee Christmas party, 1916“A Vanderbilt Christmas”

Each year, the estate is decorated according to a special theme that celebrates George Vanderbilt's love of the holiday season.

“Not only did Mr. Vanderbilt provide very generous Christmas bonuses to employees, but can you imagine what this party meant to employees' children and families? Some people came from as far away as the Tennessee state line, and that was quite a trip—especially in horse and wagon days,” said Michaela.

This delightful tradition is just one of the ways Biltmore honors Mr. Vanderbilt’s legacy today, and we are delighted to keep history alive each year at the annual Christmas party.

Images
— Featured image: A Biltmore family enjoys the annual staff Christmas party
— First image: A family admires the Banquet Hall Christmas tree
— Second image: Children of all ages enjoy Christmas at Biltmore
— Third image: Biltmore employee Christmas party held at Antler Hall in 1916 (Edith Vanderbilt is right of center in a black hat; Cornelia Vanderbilt is on her left in a light-colored hat)  

Welcoming Edith Vanderbilt to her new home

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Edith Stuyvesant Vanderbilt was just 25 years old when she arrived at Biltmore on October 1, 1898, following her marriage to George Washington Vanderbilt.

The couple, who wed in Paris, enjoyed a three-month honeymoon in Europe before traveling to Asheville where Edith caught her first glimpse of her new home.

Archival photograph of Biltmore Estate employees lining Approach Road to welcome the newlyweds.
Archival photograph of Biltmore Estate employees lining Approach Road to welcome the newlyweds.

The arrival of the newlyweds was celebrated all around Biltmore; employees and their families lined estate roads to greet the Vanderbilts. Festivities continued into the night with fireworks and music in front of Biltmore House. 

The Asheville Daily Citizen reported that estate employees gathered at the arch, “…representatives from the agricultural departments of the estate were massed, each group bearing a device typical of their labor.” Dairy workers wore white suits and led Jersey calves by their halters, while employees of the Biltmore Nursery tossed flowers as the couple passed by in a carriage.

Archival photograph of the floral arch constructed by estate employees to welcome home the newlyweds.
Archival photograph of the floral arch constructed by estate employees to welcome home the newlyweds.

It was a warm welcome as estate employees constructed this dramatic floral arch celebrating George and Edith Vanderbilt’s arrival at Biltmore on October 1, 1898, for the first time since their wedding.

Experience the thrill of The Hunt

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We are honored to announce the release of our newest wine—The Hunt. Inspired by the celebration of feasts based on estate hunts, this wine is a robust, Bordeaux-style red blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Cabernet Franc, and 25% Merlot, handcrafted using grapes from our growing partners in Sonoma County.

Winemaker's notes

According to winemaker Bernard Delille, The Hunt has been aged for about 18 months in French and American oak barrels. “The intensely dark, black cherry color shows its rich layers, while its nose expresses black cherry, blackberry, and raspberry, with notes of vanilla, oak, and chocolate,” said Bernard.
 
“We have worked hard to attain a nicely balanced wine with velvety, mouth-coating tannins that linger softly. The Hunt offers good aging potential. If you let it age, good—but if you can’t wait, The Hunt is delicious by the glass and pairs especially well with smoked meats and cheeses, short ribs, duck confit, venison, and other game meats.”

A label inspired by the past

The Hunt’s striking label was inspired by the strong lines and rich heritage of an extraordinary firearm in Biltmore’s original collection and features a photograph of the finely wrought engraving of a vintage Auguste Francotte shotgun crafted of walnut, steel, and silver.

Remarkable for its outstanding balance, finely hand-checkered stock, and detailed engraving, this double-barreled, double-trigger shotgun was made by the Belgian company Francotte & Cie, one of the world’s premier gun makers.

“Francotte’s sporting firearms were considered to be among the highest quality,” said Leslie Klingner, Biltmore’s Curator of Interpretation, “and would have been a first-rate choice for the Vanderbilts and their guests when shooting rabbits and quail.”

Architectural elements

The Hunt is also a nod to Biltmore’s legendary architect, Richard Morris Hunt, who worked closely with George Vanderbilt to create the iconic French Renaissance-style chateau, which would be his final masterpiece of creative design and technological innovation.

Join us in the celebration of The Hunt’s release. This outstanding wine is a perfect choice for those who appreciate luxury, adventure, and the best that Biltmore has to offer!

Purchase The Hunt on the estate during your next visit.

Cornelia’s birthday celebrations continue

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As Cornelia Vanderbilt grew older, her birthday parties became grand events. Her twenty-first birthday on August 22, 1921 began with a surprise gathering of 250 estate workers and tenants at 7 a.m. in front of Biltmore House. The staff clearly had a deep affection for Cornelia, and many of their children had been her playmates since her birth.  

As part of their surprise for Cornelia, whom they had watched mature into a sophisticated young woman, the employees improvised a band that played old-time dance tunes. The group then presented Cornelia with a game-bag as a gift. Later that same evening, more than 200 guests attended a masquerade party at Biltmore House in Cornelia’s honor. 

An elegant masquerade party

The Asheville Citizen-Times published the following account of the occasion:

Miss Vanderbilt is accorded honors on reaching majority; masquerade party given on Monday at mansion

Miss Cornelia Stuyvesant Vanderbilt reached her 21st birthday Monday and was accorded honors becoming the lady of Biltmore mansion. Monday night a large masquerade was given and guests were present in large numbers.  

The social calendar for the week started with one of the most brilliant of the season's entertainments, the fancy dress ball, given the Monday evening at Biltmore House by Mrs. George Vanderbilt in honor of the birthday of her daughter, Miss Cornelia Vanderbilt. Dancing was enjoyed in the sunken garden where masses of ferns and palms made a pleasing and charming background for the two hundred or more fascinating and gorgeous costumes of the guests. The Garber-Davis orchestra from Atlanta provided the dance music. Late in the evening supper was served in the banquet hall. A special feature of the entertainment was that the assemblage of the guests, at the commencement of the evening, a closed sedan chair was brought in by four attendants, and as the curtains were drawn, Miss Vanderbilt stepped forward in a most attractive costume of a page of the period of the French Renaissance.

Miss Rachel Strong, of Cleveland, who is visiting Miss Vanderbilt and was among the chief guests at the party, was charming as an oriental dancing girl, her frock being among the most gorgeous. Among the costumes represented were Japanese Geisha girls, Gypsies, pirates and Sultans. Miss Vanderbilt received many birthday gifts.

Grand parties continue

Cornelia’s birthdays continued to be stunning occasions, even after she married the Honorable John Francis Amherst Cecil in 1924. The Asheville Gazette reported on celebrations for Cornelia’s 25th birthday. Again, note how employees were always part of the celebration. 

On Friday, August 22, 300 employees attended a garden party and tea at 4 pm with dancing to Guthrie’s Orchestra.  Biltmore Dairy employees gave Cornelia a surprise birthday gift of a giant ice cream cake—4’ high and 2’ square at the base—made of 26 gallons of Biltmore Dairy ice cream.  It “consisted of alternate layers of chocolate parfait, Lady Ashe ice cream, and a covering of vanilla mousse.  The cake was studded with roses and lilies and also bore the inscription ‘May your joys be as many as the sands of the sea.'”

Cornelia celebrated the following evening with an open air ball for 300 people at 9:30 p.m. Guests danced in a pavilion to the Charles Freicher Orchestra. The lawn was lit with Japanese lanterns placed in trees and shrubbery. 

The Gazette further noted that, “the beautiful array of summer gowns of the many dancers made a scene as beautiful as that of gay moths and fireflies in a fairy garden,” and a buffet supper was served at midnight.

Although we have no further descriptions of Cornelia’s birthday parties, we are sure they were often celebrated in style. From her earliest days as the “Biltmore Baby” to her life as a celebrated socialite of wealth and style, Cornelia Vanderbilt Cecil continues to exemplify the Roaring 20s and the Jazz Age that still fascinate us today.

Happy Birthday, Cornelia Vanderbilt

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On August 22, 1900 George and Edith Vanderbilt welcomed the arrival of their only child—a daughter—who was born in the grand Louis XV Bedroom in Biltmore House. She was named Cornelia Stuyvesant Vanderbilt in honor of prominent members of both her mother and her father’s family.
 
Cornelia’s birth was mentioned in the society pages of newspapers all across the country, including the Asheville Citizen, which reported:

Stork comes to Biltmore
To Mr. and Mrs. Vanderbilt a Child is Born
“The advent of a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. George W. Vanderbilt was announced last evening from Biltmore House. The little stranger is a Buncombe baby—pretty as babies go—but with the Buncombe birthright of the mountain health its days of babyhood will dot in dimpled sweetness and the fairy lines of beauty blend in a vision fitting to its home on the grand estate.”

And from the Spartanburg Journal of upstate South Carolina:

Biltmore’s New Star
“A new star has appeared at famous Biltmore, and the charming mistress of this most gorgeous home is smiling upon her first born, a tiny girl called Cornelia Stuyvesant Vanderbilt…”

Birthday celebrations

Although we have no specific descriptions of birthday parties during Cornelia's childhood, we do know that she had many playmates among her cousins and the the children of families who lived on the estate.

As Cornelia grew older, her birthdays would be celebrated in a style befitting a young woman who was making her debut in society. We’ll take a look at some of those festivities in an upcoming post.

In the meantime, happy birthday, Cornelia Vanderbilt!

Camping in Pisgah Forest, circa 1901

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Summertime in the mountains brings to mind thoughts of hiking trails, camping along clear creeks, and marveling at a cascading waterfall—sometimes all on the same excursion.

The call of the wild

Pink Beds Vanderbilt Campsite, July 1901
Excursions were multi-day affairs, with campsites like this one being moved to new locations every few days.

Just as many of us do today, George Vanderbilt and his friends often found the lush forests of Western North Carolina calling their names. They frequently headed out for multi-day trips to explore the beauty of Pisgah Forest, according to information gathered by Lori Garst, Curatorial Assistant in Museum Services.

Several years before George Vanderbilt’s Biltmore House was completed, the call of the mountains led Vanderbilt and his friends into the forest to camp, fish, shoot, and enjoy the beauty of Western North Carolina.

Gearing up for success

1901 Camping Excursion Pack Mules
Mules could carry up to 20% of their bodyweight for 20 miles a day, during excursions.

In June 1893, Estate manager Charles McNamee wrote to Dr. Westray Battle that he was so glad that Dr. Battle would be joining Mr. Vanderbilt’s camping excursion. McNamee prepared Battle by telling him that the group was headed to a place near Brevard where they would be met by Mr. Vanderbilt’s mules and then would proceed on towards the camp. McNamee outfitted the party for fly fishing and recommended that Battle take a firearm “for service or sport.”

Calming any hesitation about roughing it in the backwoods, the Estate manager assured Dr. Battle that there would be tents, a cot for each man, and even a cook. McNamee writes, “I thought it better to be semi-respectable in our camp rather than to be absolutely savage…”

The great excursion of 1901

George Vanderbilt at
Schenck’s workers built George’s second lodge in three days, earning it the nickname “Three-Day Camp.” The cabin had six rooms, a porch, and a dining room.

Years later, a series of photographs taken by Dr. Carl Schenck, Estate Forester, document a lively 1901 trip into Pisgah by Mr. and Mrs. Vanderbilt. Included in the large party were Dr. Battle, Marion Olmsted (F.L. Olmsted’s daughter), and Dr. Schenk. The Vanderbilts returned from an extended stay in Europe on June 6 and, without wasting any time, Charles McNamee began arranging for the outing within a few days.

McNamee ordered two tents on June 8, 1901; however, he received no reply. Requests for the tents continued until June 26. All other provisions for the excursion were in order. Perhaps in response to the lack of tents, a plea came from Vanderbilt to Schenck to build a place where the group could stay near Looking Glass Rock.

Revisiting lost memories

Edith Vanderbilt at Looking Glass Falls
Edith Vanderbilt favored the beauty of Looking Glass Falls.

We are fortunate to have 22 photographs documenting the Vanderbilts’ excursion in 1901, beginning on June 30 with a photo of the group of men with mules.  The remaining images show the trip to Looking Glass Rock with stops along the way at Looking Glass Falls, an unnamed waterfall which we now recognize as Sliding Rock, Looking Glass Creek, and “Three-Day” Camp. The final image is of Carl Schenck’s house in Pisgah with the men and mules. The back reads, “Making ready to leave for Buck Spring Lodge July 1, 1901.”

Plan your mountain escape!

Today, you can still visit the many sites the Vanderbilts’ went to in 1901 including Looking Glass Rock, Sliding Rock, and Looking Glass Falls. There are several camping spots in the area perfect for your summer getaway, too!

Two ceremonies in two days: the Vanderbilt’s wedding

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In June 1898, George W. Vanderbilt and Edith Stuyvesant Dresser held their wedding in Paris on June 1 and June 2. Why two ceremonies? The first was a civil service and the second was a religious ceremony, in accordance with French law dating from the French Revolution.

Popular opinion had assumed the wedding would be a grand affair, possibly at George Vanderbilt’s home church of Grace Episcopal Church in New York City. Despite the speculation, the couple decided to be wed in Paris with as little fanfare as possible—as possible for a Vanderbilt, that is.

George and Edith were first married in a 15-minute civil ceremony at 3 p.m. on June 1, 1898 by the mayor of Paris at the Town Hall of the Eighth District in the Rue Anjou. According to one newspaper article, the couple had to comply with all the requirements of French law; the civil ceremony was complete with family witnesses, baptism certificates, the marriage certificate for George’s parents, and proof of American citizenship. The couple signed a contract of marriage.

One newspaper described Edith’s dress at the civil ceremony; unfortunately, no photos are known to exist: “The dress worn by the bride to-day was a creation of Laferrière (a noted Parisian fashion designer). It was of café-au-lait crepon, over a lining of yellow silk. The skirt was cut out in a deep Vandyke edged with a fringe of white silk, which fell to the hem. Underneath the fringe, one caught occasional glimpses of yellow lining. The bodice had a rounded collar of mauve taffeta covered with guipure (a type of lace). The bride wore a white straw hat trimmed with pink roses.”

At the end of the civil ceremony, George and Edith left the hall separately, as it would have been scandalous for them to be seen together before the church ceremony the following day.

The religious ceremony was held at the American Church of the Holy Trinity in Paris at noon on June 2, attended by family and close friends. Before the ceremony began, George had to present their civil contract to the clergymen and sign the wedding register. An eyewitness account from the Philadelphia Record reports:

―It was a union of quiet contentment…There probably never was so unostentatious a Vanderbilt wedding since the family made its millions. It is true that the church was full of costumes and the company was very fine, but there was an altogether marked quietness of tone and an absence of display.

​Although there are no wedding photographs available, newspapers described the bride’s attire. Edith—a striking figure at six feet tall—wore an understated Empire-style gown in creamy white satin of French design, with a court train trimmed in the same lace worn by her grandmother nearly a century before. According to the Philadelphia Record, her veil was decorated with lace worn by her mother. Regarding the family lace, the New York Journal declared: “It is an admirable thing to have lace, and it is also an admirable thing to have ancestors, but when one can have both lace and ancestors it is most admirable.”

After the ceremony, the wedding party, family and friends attended a breakfast at Edith’s apartment on Rue Vernet. Natalie Brown, Edith’s sister, provided two bottles of special champagne which their maternal grandfather had set aside at Edith’s birth, to be served on her wedding day. From there, the newlyweds left for Geneva by train to embark on a four-month European honeymoon.