I live in the area and have toured the home several times. Once I decided to take a guided tour. When I arrived at the main house I was introduced to my guide. She was an elderly lady whose name was Julie. She was the granddaughter of Frank Seiberling and grew up in the home. It was wonderful. She showed me where her uncles slept and the burn marks on the library shelves that were made by the cigarettes her grandfather would leave there. She also told me of her wedding which took place in the music room. It was great to get an insider's view of the mansion. Thank you for this video. It brought back a lot of truly wonderful memories.
Lovely house and I had no idea he was a lovely chap. I wouldn't want to live there without servants, though. I'd take an easy care, disabled access bungalow in the grounds - I want ALL the grounds - and the room I would take, including contents, is of course, the library.
Yes, Julie married John Shaw, who was a professor of English and specialized in Shakespeare at Hiram College and was a dear friend of mine. RIP. He and Julie both gave us a private tour , attic through gardens. She shared a story of braking her arm descending a downspout and also roller skating throughout her grandfathers home. Such fond memories.
A great video about a fine home built by a wonderful man. The guesthouse of this mansion is world famous for a very different reason: Alcoholics Anonymous co-founders Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith first met there in 1935, and the massive worldwide AA fellowship grew from that meeting. The meeting was instigated by daughter-in-law Henrietta Seiberling, who lived in that guest house and was letting one alcoholic help another.
Omg! My dad played here as a kid in 1930’s/1940’s with the owner’s kids! I loved my dad’s stories about the secret rooms and his description of the home. My grandparents were friends with the Seiberling family. Fond memories! Xoxo
It sounds like Frank was a very generous man!! I think I have to say the workers quarters are the best part of the house since he made it so comfortable for them and obviously appreciated them very much.
One of the single most significant advantages the industrial revolution brought. Was the evolution of industrial initiative. And the universal belief that growth and imagination was limitless.
He seems the embodiment of what a good capitalist should be - building up public institutions, providing decent housing, educating the young, taking care of the sick, and treating his servants well. If only all industrialists were like this during the Gilded Age. It's not like they didn't have the money. Eventually, they hurt themselves by ending up paying high taxes to make up for their greed.
Income Tax as we know it today was enacted in 1913. The Gilded Age was in full swing and actually nearing its end by the time that any of the automotive pioneers had accumulated enough wealth to build these magnificent mansions. This one is beautiful but made even more special by how it’s owner lived his life and managed his wealth. Another one that did so was Charles Stewart Mott who built axels for Buick and became one of the major stockholders of GM. He was at one time the 10th richest man in the World (? US?). His home, called Applewood, (Mott Applesauce - those Motts), is very beautiful and comfortable. His is no where near the size of most of the Auto Barons. He is most widely known for his philanthropy. The Mott Foundation has funded many Children’s Hospitals. Another home worth looking at Ken.
What a great tale about a great American entrepreneur. What a legacy to leave behind for the world as an example of what good can be accomplished for the benefit of humanity. Bravo!
I live in Akron and was surprised to find my great grandfather, who lived in Danville, Ohio at the time, was brought in to advise and help with the wood beam work in the great hall and other parts of the house as he had built many wood beam churches. He moved back, but here I am!
My favorite estate in the country. Somehow the mansion feels like a home, unlike the monstrosities built by the Vanderbilts and the Carnegies. Though I now live in New York, I was born near Akron and have revisited Stan Hywet as an adult. But my favorite memories are as a boy, visiting the estate with my dad on Father's Day, when the foundation held the annual antique auto show on their front grounds.
I was terrified that you would say that stunning house was torn down! Thank goodness it isn’t! It’s difficult to pick one room, but the second the picture of the conservatory appeared, I could just see Mrs. Seiberling there. She must have had a lot of wonderful times with her family in their beautiful home. Lucky her.
Stan Hywet Hall is the finest Tudor revival house in America. The gardens designed by Warren Manning and Ellen Bidle Shipman are probably even more significant than the house. Manning and Shipman also did the gardens at Gwinn in Cleveland.
A beautiful home that a man with beautiful ideas built. He is a man to be admired! A few wealthy people share his ideals, many are just greedy. This was my favorite of the homes you have shared Ken. Thank you.
A friend of mine from Chicago performs piano concerts here during special events.....he says that no matter how many times he plays "Hywet Hall" he is always surprised anew at so many visual details.
I attended Kent State University in the late 90s. I was a member of an academic honor fraternity that fulfilled many of our service requirements at SHH. I got the semi-grand tour during my first service project. The architecture is amazing in person. I always enjoyed going there for any reason. Mr. Seiberling did so much for Akron and the tire industry.
Wow! Kent State University. Brings back great memories. And as a high school student doing field trips to SHH. At almost 70 yrs now I still remember the quiet power and elegance! Glad it's still relevant in 2022.
OMD! I have just been listening to OHIO, by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. I remember the news of the shootings - in 1970/71? in Australia. I visit that song about 6 times a year and play it about 6 to 10 times, before I leave. Had not linked the house to that University!
I'm from Ohio, but have never toured this home! I live in Fremont which has the Hayes Presidential Center. I LOVE it when houses have secret stairs, rooms and passageways!! That's my favorite part, always!
3:50 shows head of table chair is even taller than the rest . Glad to see the actual homes furnishings ! Not filled in antiques . Burn marks still on the fireplace . Didn't paint over .
I've toured Stan Hewett hall (which translates into "stone quarry") many times. The Seiberlings were friends with the Von Trap Family Singers (yes the ones from the sound of music). They came to visit often, staying in the dormitory. The traveled with their own clergy.
Fun fact: the curtains that are in the music room at Stan Hywet used to be the curtains in the long gallery at Harbor Hill another gilded age mansion that has been covered on This House. The Cyberlings bought the curtains after harbor hill had been abandoned and it’s contents sold.
LOVE this one so much. The secret rooms, Gertrude's bathroom, the pantry, the antiques in the laundry room, best music room ever, the philosophy of community, this wonderful home has it all. I'ts so nice that he lived to age 95 and that his children appreciated it and bequeathed it for others to continue to enjoy. This might be one of my favorite videos ever on This House. It also amazes me how these entrepreneurs can turn to a different direction when needed. Bravo!
Now this is my kind of man, and also the same for his beautiful house. His integrity, innovative mind, generosity and kindness, and also very good taste is the sort of things that truly appeal to me. Thank you again 💓 💖 💗
Actor & director John Lithgow spent a few years growing up living in Stan Hywett, since his father worked as the caretaker. John put on his first Shakespearean play there. He once reminisced with his younger brother about running around playing in the mansion, since they and their parents were the only people there.
I was very impressed by the Servants Dining Area, I’m sure with this kind of thoughtfulness for their comfort, they were extremely loyal and productive. Thank you for sharing his story. I love your channel!❤
My father in law was an engineer and plant manager for Goodyear and held 5 federal patents for tire making machines before his retirement. He had started out with The Manhattan Project and then Goodyear Nuclear, and oversaw design and building of the Piketon and Paducah gaseous diffusion plants.
What a beautiful home. And it's lovely to hear of a wealthy man that enjoys sharing it as well. I love the quote above the door, that is the most important part of it all. 🕊
Absolutely stunning. Thank you for the story behind the Good Year Tire Company and this beautiful mansion. Truly astonishing and happy to know it still exists.
I live relatively close to this house. Been there a few times. It’s absolutely beautiful inside. I would of loved to have grown up in this place. It’s has this amazing atmosphere inside of it. Like stepping back in time
Thank you for this. I love this house so much. My favorite room has always been the music room. It's nice to walk through during Christmas time and the pipe organ in the walls is playing. There is also a swimming pool in the house.
I used to live near by and loved to visit in all the different seasons. There is so much more to see than what is in this video. If you ever get a chance to go you must take the behind the scenes tour to see all that this property has to offer.
I grew up in Akron in the 70's and 80's with Frank Seiberling's great-granddaughter. If you want to live large relatively cheap, Akron is the place. You can purchase a 8,000-10,0000 square foot estate in this neighborhood for less than a million. You are only 45 minutes from downtown Cleveland, 20 minutes from Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Of all the "Rust Belt" Cities, Akron has done the best job, keeping the city from "falling apart"
Stunning! Maybe he should have called it “Wood Year” manor/estate. Because he certainly has a fondness for artisan and wood craftsmanship. Thanks for the video.
Candy Spelling, the wife of successful Hollywood TV producer, Aaron Spelling, had a room devoted to gift-wrapping in their huge Spelling Mansion (now owned by Petra Eccelstone, daughter or F1-racing mogul Bernard Ecclestone). If you are going to have a gift-wrapping room, you need a large table space and wide rollers of paper and cutting blades and tape dispensers to do the job right. For a floral room, it keeps the bugs you bring in on the blooms and vines in a single location at least!
Gertrude Seiberling loved flowers and was a talented gardener; she founded the Akron Garden Club, which remains part of the Garden Club of America. She used fresh-cut flowers from the gardens throughout the home, and the Flower Arranging Room was conveniently located off the Breakfast Room Garden to facilitate cutting and arranging. Today, the volunteer flower arrangers use the same cutting gardens to arrange fresh arrangements that continue to be placed throughout the home. They also dry flowers in the room for Fall and Winter arrangements.
The house and grounds interplay quite well together. I understand the lady of the house was quite meticulous in having everything "just right." For instance, trees were moved around to create a better sense of space. The vista from the back door is a tree allée which leads the eye to a block of sky (the house sits on a ridge). Thus, it appears that one can see forever into the distance. It is also said that after the stone floors were laid, Mrs. S thought they looked too new. She had them sanded in spots to make them look worn, thus giving the appearance the house was older.
Hey Ken,I could not pick a favorite room.The whole place was spectacular! P.S.I grew up in a little town in Arizona called Goodyear.There was a humongous Goodyear plant there and several blimps as well!
I have been to this magnificent house as my mother lived in Akron for many years. She took us there for a special Christmas time tour and it was just gorgeous. Your video brought back wonderful memories for me of our visit.
The estate is magnificent, but I haven't been there for a number of years. The times I went, rooms like the kitchen, pantry, laundry were not on the tours (This may have changed.). Outside the large window in the stage area of the music room is a beautiful white allee of birches. The frieze in the dining room is of characters from "The Canterbury Tales" by Chaucer. Mrs. Seiberling (pronounced as if it begins with "sigh") had workers on their knees rubbing the stone floors to make them appear to be old and worn from centuries of use. Odd note: docents explained that female Seiberling descendants can marry in the mansion; male descendants cannot. BTW there was another mansion "that rubber built" in Akron: Harbel Manor built by Harvey Firestone. Excellent video.
Just to update a few things here: the Plane Tree Allee extends south from the home, outside, from the Music Room -- with rhododendron and azaleas. The Birch Allee extends north of the house from the north hallway. Mrs. Seiberling did not make servants attempt to rub the stone floors; stone masons worked on a few of them so the interior stone floors are not entirely flat. The "rule" about descendants marrying there is false -- the last descendant to marry inside the Music Room was Irene's granddaughter circa 1975. Several of Frank's and Gertrude's grandchildren, including Bill Seiberling, son of Willard, were married on the property or inside the home. Some "oral history" myths have continued to circulate despite being debunked.
@@hchapman2341 Your "oral myths" were what was told to the people on the tour (both times that I went) by the tour guides. BTW I said workers, not the servants, as the ones wearing down the floors to make them appear aged (info given by the tour guides). I was confusing the plane tree allee with the birch allee, but it's been a good 25 years since I was last there.
Wow!!! What a BEAUTIFUL home!!! Loved the interior and I learned something today….I learned what a Sitz bath is since you mentioned that they had one in the master bathroom.
Good Evening, Ken, I’m so happy you toured this home. The most beautiful place is behind the home. All the lovely plants and a Greenhouse. I wish my dad could of toured the house. He dated with one of the daughters, when he attended Western Reserve boys school.
Ken. Thank you for your content. These educational videos help me through my day and I appreciate everything that goes into your videos. Hope to see you around St. Louis one day!
Wunderbar house, great architect! Most of these captains of industry only begin to let go of wealth when they comprehend their own demise. Mr. Sieberling was a notch above the crowd being an Ethical person from the get go. Times change many times children of the wealthy don't have the wealth or even want it therefore unable to care for the house. Great to know the house is in good hands thru the Trust. Sad that so many lesser but still marvelous old homes have been left to rack and ruin..... Great video tour.
I'm in Cleveland and I have visited this house couple times, but go often because even if you don't want to go inside the outside is beautiful and Free , my favorite side of the house is actually outside.. it had an English garden well kept and is beautiful also has a Japanese garden and a green house..
I grew up in Akron and visited here many times. Fondest memory was when I assisted a local music producer and we had Marion McPartland, a New York jazz pianist performing an outdoor concert in the garden. Also on another visit, I stood beside a friend as he played Bach on the organ in the music room.
Such a beautiful home. ITs great to see an old house like this is still around and not torn down to make way for a factory or highway. Too many beautiful homes have been lost to history over the years.
This house was less obnoxious in terms of over the top bling unlike many of the other mansions that you’ve shown before. It felt like it could’ve been the perfect (albeit American) backdrop for “Wolf Hall” or “The Other Boleyn Sister”. I’m not a fan of the heavy Tudor and Jacobean furniture because they’re just too heavy, dark and ornate. The rooms themselves were wonderful. I’m so glad that this is one mansion that didn’t get torn down!
Take a look at Pebble Hill Plantation in Thomasville, Georgia. It's everything you love in a large historic mansion that still privately owned and has been beautifully kept up!
I find it immensely commendable that someone so wealthy is determined to share that wealth with his community. Modern wealthy individuals should take heed.
I’m so glad that I stumbled upon this beautiful Home and Story of an Entrepreneur with such a Kind and Generous heart. Seeing how he made affordable housing for the workers really touched my heart Especially in today’s climate of homelessness for the less advantaged. I wish that some of today’s billionaires had the same kind of social responsibility.
Words cannot describe the outstanding architecture of this mansion. The bedrooms were my favorite rooms when I was there because each was unique and so inviting and comfortable. I could not believe the state of the art plumbing in those bathrooms either. For me the gardens were outstanding too,, especially the long allee and constant blooms throughout.
This is my favorite old mansion. I've been through tours of many old mansions and the Seiberling house FEELS like a house, a home. It has a very cozy and comfortable feel to it. I've been through it many times. I was even going to be a guide but the day before I was to take the test and sign up my car DIED! So I never got around to trying it again. I can't pick a favorite room, I like them all. Also hey Ken, it's not SEE berling...it's pronounced like Sigh-berling.
I live in the area and have toured the home several times. Once I decided to take a guided tour. When I arrived at the main house I was introduced to my guide. She was an elderly lady whose name was Julie. She was the granddaughter of Frank Seiberling and grew up in the home. It was wonderful. She showed me where her uncles slept and the burn marks on the library shelves that were made by the cigarettes her grandfather would leave there. She also told me of her wedding which took place in the music room. It was great to get an insider's view of the mansion. Thank you for this video. It brought back a lot of truly wonderful memories.
That is so cool
My grandpa was Franklin Smith, of Manhattan.
Lovely house and I had no idea he was a lovely chap.
I wouldn't want to live there without servants, though. I'd take an easy care, disabled access bungalow in the grounds - I want ALL the grounds - and the room I would take, including contents, is of course, the library.
What a special tour that would have been.
Yes, Julie married John Shaw, who was a professor of English and specialized in Shakespeare at Hiram College and was a dear friend of mine. RIP. He and Julie both gave us a private tour , attic through gardens. She shared a story of braking her arm descending a downspout and also roller skating throughout her grandfathers home. Such fond memories.
An English lodge styled home with a library containing secret passages to multiple rooms, yes please! All it's missing is a dark and stormy night...
A great video about a fine home built by a wonderful man. The guesthouse of this mansion is world famous for a very different reason: Alcoholics Anonymous co-founders Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith first met there in 1935, and the massive worldwide AA fellowship grew from that meeting. The meeting was instigated by daughter-in-law Henrietta Seiberling, who lived in that guest house and was letting one alcoholic help another.
Thanks for bringing that up.
That movie with James Woods & James Garner, Bill W. is very good.
That's just amazing. Not only do I work for Goodyear but have 28 years as a recovering alcoholic.
AWESOME INFO.
@@albertmcmichael9110 Congratulations on your sobriety! 🎉 Much hard work and courage go into remaining sober.
Omg! My dad played here as a kid in 1930’s/1940’s with the owner’s kids! I loved my dad’s stories about the secret rooms and his description of the home. My grandparents were friends with the Seiberling family. Fond memories! Xoxo
It sounds like Frank was a very generous man!! I think I have to say the workers quarters are the best part of the house since he made it so comfortable for them and obviously appreciated them very much.
One of the single most significant advantages the industrial revolution brought. Was the evolution of industrial initiative. And the universal belief that growth and imagination was limitless.
He seems the embodiment of what a good capitalist should be - building up public institutions, providing decent housing, educating the young, taking care of the sick, and treating his servants well. If only all industrialists were like this during the Gilded Age. It's not like they didn't have the money. Eventually, they hurt themselves by ending up paying high taxes to make up for their greed.
It gives me pleasure to see the robber barons who lost it all due to their evil ways.
Income Tax as we know it today was enacted in 1913. The Gilded Age was in full swing and actually nearing its end by the time that any of the automotive pioneers had accumulated enough wealth to build these magnificent mansions. This one is beautiful but made even more special by how it’s owner lived his life and managed his wealth. Another one that did so was Charles Stewart Mott who built axels for Buick and became one of the major stockholders of GM. He was at one time the 10th richest man in the World (? US?). His home, called Applewood, (Mott Applesauce - those Motts), is very beautiful and comfortable. His is no where near the size of most of the Auto Barons. He is most widely known for his philanthropy. The Mott Foundation has funded many Children’s Hospitals. Another home worth looking at Ken.
What a great tale about a great American entrepreneur. What a legacy to leave behind for the world as an example of what good can be accomplished for the benefit of humanity. Bravo!
At the cost of thousands of Africans that were moreless enslaved on rubber plantations. Yeah..they were real humanitarians
Sad to say that most tires are no longer produced in Akron, and that downtown Akron is but a shell of it's original self; but, life goes on.
I like fireplaces so seeing many impressive chimneys definitely had my interest.
I live in Akron and was surprised to find my great grandfather, who lived in Danville, Ohio at the time, was brought in to advise and help with the wood beam work in the great hall and other parts of the house as he had built many wood beam churches. He moved back, but here I am!
My favorite estate in the country. Somehow the mansion feels like a home, unlike the monstrosities built by the Vanderbilts and the Carnegies. Though I now live in New York, I was born near Akron and have revisited Stan Hywet as an adult. But my favorite memories are as a boy, visiting the estate with my dad on Father's Day, when the foundation held the annual antique auto show on their front grounds.
My mom's family home..she was born there...my Grandmother was Henrietta Seiberling whi founded AA with Bob Wilson.
I had the privilege of visiting this wonderful home several years ago and it truly was a home and not just a showpiece mansion.
I was terrified that you would say that stunning house was torn down! Thank goodness it isn’t! It’s difficult to pick one room, but the second the picture of the conservatory appeared, I could just see Mrs. Seiberling there. She must have had a lot of wonderful times with her family in their beautiful home. Lucky her.
This mansion is magnificent. Christmas at Stan Hywet is simply enchanting. The music room is my favorite, a truly magical place.
Every time I go during Christmas I have to get the ginger bread cookies from the little village they set up by the carriage house. ❤️
Stan Hywet Hall is the finest Tudor revival house in America. The gardens designed by Warren Manning and Ellen Bidle Shipman are probably even more significant than the house. Manning and Shipman also did the gardens at Gwinn in Cleveland.
I agree - I was just as impressed if not more by the beautiful gardens. I am so glad they have kept them up.
A beautiful home that a man with beautiful ideas built. He is a man to be admired! A few wealthy people share his ideals, many are just greedy. This was my favorite of the homes you have shared Ken. Thank you.
I agree with you. The photo of he and his wife say it all. I've never seen a picture of a woman so happy and exuberant.
@@andyokus5735 yea that stale face really screams happiness
It makes me wonder if businesses all did what he did, whether we would need such a large government full of social services that are never enough..
A friend of mine from Chicago performs piano concerts here during special events.....he says that no matter how many times he plays "Hywet Hall" he is always surprised anew at so many visual details.
I attended Kent State University in the late 90s. I was a member of an academic honor fraternity that fulfilled many of our service requirements at SHH. I got the semi-grand tour during my first service project. The architecture is amazing in person. I always enjoyed going there for any reason. Mr. Seiberling did so much for Akron and the tire industry.
Wow! Kent State University. Brings back great memories. And as a high school student doing field trips to SHH. At almost 70 yrs now I still remember the quiet power and elegance! Glad it's still relevant in 2022.
OMD! I have just been listening to OHIO, by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.
I remember the news of the shootings - in 1970/71? in Australia.
I visit that song about 6 times a year and play it about 6 to 10 times, before I leave.
Had not linked the house to that University!
@@ridgecrestvarietyshow7324 Were you there when the shootings happened? 52? years ago?
@@ridgecrestvarietyshow7324 I was a Kent student too but in the 1070s visited this beautiful home several times
I'm from Ohio, but have never toured this home! I live in Fremont which has the Hayes Presidential Center. I LOVE it when houses have secret stairs, rooms and passageways!! That's my favorite part, always!
3:50 shows head of table chair is even taller than the rest .
Glad to see the actual homes furnishings !
Not filled in antiques .
Burn marks still on the fireplace .
Didn't paint over .
I've toured Stan Hewett hall (which translates into "stone quarry") many times. The Seiberlings were friends with the Von Trap Family Singers (yes the ones from the sound of music). They came to visit often, staying in the dormitory. The traveled with their own clergy.
Fun fact: the curtains that are in the music room at Stan Hywet used to be the curtains in the long gallery at Harbor Hill another gilded age mansion that has been covered on This House.
The Cyberlings bought the curtains after harbor hill had been abandoned and it’s contents sold.
Seiberling
I'm now on the look out for Android Frank
LOVE this one so much. The secret rooms, Gertrude's bathroom, the pantry, the antiques in the laundry room, best music room ever, the philosophy of community, this wonderful home has it all. I'ts so nice that he lived to age 95 and that his children appreciated it and bequeathed it for others to continue to enjoy. This might be one of my favorite videos ever on This House. It also amazes me how these entrepreneurs can turn to a different direction when needed. Bravo!
My favorite part of this house is without question, the motto over the front door. "Non nobis solum"
So nice that he was able to grow old in this gem.
Fave room, the secret passage, of course.
Now this is my kind of man, and also the same for his beautiful house. His integrity, innovative mind, generosity and kindness, and also very good taste is the sort of things that truly appeal to me. Thank you again 💓 💖 💗
The gardens are even more amazing than the house. It’s definitely a treasure
Actor & director John Lithgow spent a few years growing up living in Stan Hywett, since his father worked as the caretaker. John put on his first Shakespearean play there. He once reminisced with his younger brother about running around playing in the mansion, since they and their parents were the only people there.
I have toured this house 2 times 40 years apart. Interesting that some things have "changed". I found the basement laundry room most interesting.
*Nice to hear about a public minded Baron of industry. I am impressed!*
I was very impressed by the Servants Dining Area, I’m sure with this kind of thoughtfulness for their comfort, they were extremely loyal and productive. Thank you for sharing his story. I love your channel!❤
My father in law was an engineer and plant manager for Goodyear and held 5 federal patents for tire making machines before his retirement. He had started out with The Manhattan Project and then Goodyear Nuclear, and oversaw design and building of the Piketon and Paducah gaseous diffusion plants.
My grandpa, Franklin, lived to be 93. If I bought it, I'd leave it the same. I love the antique fixtures and machines. Thanks, Ken!
Are you related to Mr. Franklin Seiberling. the Founder of Good-Year Tire & Rubber?
@@whammond511 No, actually, a different Franklin.
Modern color photos of the interior as it is today would be great.
What a beautiful home. And it's lovely to hear of a wealthy man that enjoys sharing it as well. I love the quote above the door, that is the most important part of it all. 🕊
Absolutely stunning. Thank you for the story behind the Good Year Tire Company and this beautiful mansion. Truly astonishing and happy to know it still exists.
Seiberling is pronounced sigh-ber-ling I loved living near this mansion and touring many times.
I live relatively close to this house. Been there a few times. It’s absolutely beautiful inside. I would of loved to have grown up in this place. It’s has this amazing atmosphere inside of it. Like stepping back in time
I couldn’t pick a favorite room! I loved the whole house! What a great story❤️👍🏻
I was able to tour this beautiful mansion a few years ago. Magnificent!
Of the rooms viewed on this video, my favorite is the dining room.
Thank you for this. I love this house so much. My favorite room has always been the music room. It's nice to walk through during Christmas time and the pipe organ in the walls is playing. There is also a swimming pool in the house.
You are The Best Writer and Narrator. Thank You!
The room I like the most, toss up between hidden office and music room. Thanks for the history lesson. 73
I used to live near by and loved to visit in all the different seasons. There is so much more to see than what is in this video. If you ever get a chance to go you must take the behind the scenes tour to see all that this property has to offer.
What a lovely man who built a gorgeous house.
Hi Ken, thanks for
the tour. This is my
favourite house so far
It's cozy and gothic
I toured this home in the 1970's. Was facinated.
Thank You Mr. Goodyear for helping your fellow man and women. Much appreciate your videos.
I grew up in Akron in the 70's and 80's with Frank Seiberling's great-granddaughter. If you want to live large relatively cheap, Akron is the place. You can purchase a 8,000-10,0000 square foot estate in this neighborhood for less than a million. You are only 45 minutes from downtown Cleveland, 20 minutes from Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Of all the "Rust Belt" Cities, Akron has done the best job, keeping the city from "falling apart"
Akron is even given a shout in Tom Lehrer's great "In Old Mexico" ballad. Great song!
I remember always buying the Goodyear GatorBack tires for my car. Great tires and beautiful house.
Wow! Some people really live life.
These are the honourable industrialists.
Stunning! Maybe he should have called it “Wood Year” manor/estate. Because he certainly has a fondness for artisan and wood craftsmanship. Thanks for the video.
He sounded like a great guy. Amazing kitchen and pantry. I'd love to visit this place!
The kitchen is my favorite room!
I visited this house a few years ago. Beautiful place including the garden in the back of the house. They have concerts there during Christmas season.
This house is amazing.
Dang, to be so well off that you have a “Flower cutting and arranging room”?!?!
Candy Spelling, the wife of successful Hollywood TV producer, Aaron Spelling, had a room devoted to gift-wrapping in their huge Spelling Mansion (now owned by Petra Eccelstone, daughter or F1-racing mogul Bernard Ecclestone). If you are going to have a gift-wrapping room, you need a large table space and wide rollers of paper and cutting blades and tape dispensers to do the job right. For a floral room, it keeps the bugs you bring in on the blooms and vines in a single location at least!
Gertrude Seiberling loved flowers and was a talented gardener; she founded the Akron Garden Club, which remains part of the Garden Club of America. She used fresh-cut flowers from the gardens throughout the home, and the Flower Arranging Room was conveniently located off the Breakfast Room Garden to facilitate cutting and arranging. Today, the volunteer flower arrangers use the same cutting gardens to arrange fresh arrangements that continue to be placed throughout the home. They also dry flowers in the room for Fall and Winter arrangements.
The house and grounds interplay quite well together. I understand the lady of the house was quite meticulous in having everything "just right." For instance, trees were moved around to create a better sense of space. The vista from the back door is a tree allée which leads the eye to a block of sky (the house sits on a ridge). Thus, it appears that one can see forever into the distance.
It is also said that after the stone floors were laid, Mrs. S thought they looked too new. She had them sanded in spots to make them look worn, thus giving the appearance the house was older.
Hey Ken,I could not pick a favorite room.The whole place was spectacular!
P.S.I grew up in a little town in Arizona called Goodyear.There was a humongous Goodyear plant there and several blimps as well!
I’m watching this video while my tires are being installed! Ha! Perfect timing
If they are made in China good luck
I have been to this magnificent house as my mother lived in Akron for many years. She took us there for a special Christmas time tour and it was just gorgeous. Your video brought back wonderful memories for me of our visit.
The estate is magnificent, but I haven't been there for a number of years. The times I went, rooms like the kitchen, pantry, laundry were not on the tours (This may have changed.). Outside the large window in the stage area of the music room is a beautiful white allee of birches. The frieze in the dining room is of characters from "The Canterbury Tales" by Chaucer. Mrs. Seiberling (pronounced as if it begins with "sigh") had workers on their knees rubbing the stone floors to make them appear to be old and worn from centuries of use. Odd note: docents explained that female Seiberling descendants can marry in the mansion; male descendants cannot. BTW there was another mansion "that rubber built" in Akron: Harbel Manor built by Harvey Firestone. Excellent video.
Just to update a few things here: the Plane Tree Allee extends south from the home, outside, from the Music Room -- with rhododendron and azaleas. The Birch Allee extends north of the house from the north hallway. Mrs. Seiberling did not make servants attempt to rub the stone floors; stone masons worked on a few of them so the interior stone floors are not entirely flat. The "rule" about descendants marrying there is false -- the last descendant to marry inside the Music Room was Irene's granddaughter circa 1975. Several of Frank's and Gertrude's grandchildren, including Bill Seiberling, son of Willard, were married on the property or inside the home. Some "oral history" myths have continued to circulate despite being debunked.
@@hchapman2341 Your "oral myths" were what was told to the people on the tour (both times that I went) by the tour guides. BTW I said workers, not the servants, as the ones wearing down the floors to make them appear aged (info given by the tour guides). I was confusing the plane tree allee with the birch allee, but it's been a good 25 years since I was last there.
Wow!!! What a BEAUTIFUL home!!! Loved the interior and I learned something today….I learned what a Sitz bath is since you mentioned that they had one in the master bathroom.
Enjoyed the video!
Tours are fantastic at Stan Hywet. And the gardens are amazing. It’s worth a visit!
Love this house! As a member of Stan Hywet i go there often. So many favorite rooms! The Breakfast room, 3 season room, Library.... A real treasure!
You could have included so much more about this house and surrounding land and the family history
Good Evening, Ken, I’m so happy you toured this home. The most beautiful place is behind the home. All the lovely plants and a Greenhouse. I wish my dad could of toured the house. He dated with one of the daughters, when he attended Western Reserve boys school.
Ken. Thank you for your content. These educational videos help me through my day and I appreciate everything that goes into your videos. Hope to see you around St. Louis one day!
Ken, that was a fantastic video of the Goodyear mansion. Thanks so much for posting this video for us to enjoy.
Wunderbar house, great architect!
Most of these captains of industry only begin to let go of wealth when they comprehend their own demise. Mr. Sieberling was a notch above the crowd being an Ethical person from the get go. Times change many times children of the wealthy don't have the wealth or even want it therefore unable to care for the house. Great to know the house is in good hands thru the Trust. Sad that so many lesser but still marvelous old homes have been left to rack and ruin.....
Great video tour.
I'm in Cleveland and I have visited this house couple times, but go often because even if you don't want to go inside the outside is beautiful and Free , my favorite side of the house is actually outside.. it had an English garden well kept and is beautiful also has a Japanese garden and a green house..
I always purchase Good Year tires.
This is a lovely home.
Stunning home and a great story.
Have been to this home at Christmas time it was beautiful . If you get chance to tour it Go
I grew up in Akron and visited here many times. Fondest memory was when I assisted a local music producer and we had Marion McPartland, a New York jazz pianist performing an outdoor concert in the garden. Also on another visit, I stood beside a friend as he played Bach on the organ in the music room.
In 1968 my Akron East High graduating class had our prom there and graduation ceremonies in the Goodyear Theater.
Such a beautiful home. ITs great to see an old house like this is still around and not torn down to make way for a factory or highway. Too many beautiful homes have been lost to history over the years.
This is a fascinating home with a fascinating story!!! I like the dining room especially!!! Thanks for sharing another interesting video!!! 👍👍🙂
This house was less obnoxious in terms of over the top bling unlike many of the other mansions that you’ve shown before. It felt like it could’ve been the perfect (albeit American) backdrop for “Wolf Hall” or “The Other Boleyn Sister”. I’m not a fan of the heavy Tudor and Jacobean furniture because they’re just too heavy, dark and ornate. The rooms themselves were wonderful. I’m so glad that this is one mansion that didn’t get torn down!
Take a look at Pebble Hill Plantation in Thomasville, Georgia. It's everything you love in a large historic mansion that still privately owned and has been beautifully kept up!
What a great guy and family. Did not know this about Good Year. Thank you
This was so nice to learn about !
I find it immensely commendable that someone so wealthy is determined to share that wealth with his community.
Modern wealthy individuals should take heed.
Absolutely love these great homes with secret rooms!
Wholeheartedly agree!!!
I’m so glad that I stumbled upon this beautiful Home and Story of an
Entrepreneur with such a Kind and Generous heart. Seeing how he made affordable housing for the workers really touched my heart Especially in today’s climate of homelessness for the less advantaged. I wish that some of today’s billionaires had the same kind of social responsibility.
Love the secret passageways
Words cannot describe the outstanding architecture of this mansion. The bedrooms were my favorite rooms when I was there because each was unique and so inviting and comfortable. I could not believe the state of the art plumbing in those bathrooms either. For me the gardens were outstanding too,, especially the long allee and constant blooms throughout.
You did a fine job on this vid. Beautiful mansion & amazing story behind it.
Amazing home and story, thank you.
bravo.
A wonderful, terrific episode, Ken.
This is my favorite old mansion. I've been through tours of many old mansions and the Seiberling house FEELS like a house, a home. It has a very cozy and comfortable feel to it. I've been through it many times. I was even going to be a guide but the day before I was to take the test and sign up my car DIED! So I never got around to trying it again. I can't pick a favorite room, I like them all. Also hey Ken, it's not SEE berling...it's pronounced like Sigh-berling.
I went to the Hall every year during my elementary school years.
I've been there multiple times. Beautiful home and gardens!
Yes, I do subscribe. I enjoy your content so much. Victorian architecture is my favorite and very close to my heart. Thank you for all you present.❤
Fantastique house wow!💕💕💕🎉🌺😘🚩thanks you for the history and detailsIt was amazing video!💜💎
I've been in this home along with my mother-n-law. Very beautiful.
Love this house, beautiful! The kitchen was my favorite!