I used to work there from 1988 for about 7 years. Back when they gave guided tours daily- they only began unguided taped tours shortly after I left there. The Elms was one of the houses I knew. I worked at 4 different mansions, 4 different scripts. I still have these scripts. These quarters were not shown to us, however, there were special tours for us guides for all the mansions that we could attend if we wished. The gardens way in the back were newly redone at the time. So it is interesting for me to see. And yeah, the home is haunted. Politely so. So many times, I've heard footsteps behind me, or in the next room, where they suddenly stopped if Iturned around, no one was there. The basement where the guides' room was always had an eerie, sad feeling at times. I loved the time they had the dress display in the upstairs living room. The home was always beautiful. I can still smell the fresh flowers... We used to have after hours get togethers at somewhere- at Green Animals or other homes. Some of my best memories are here in the mansions. Countess Szapary (Granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt at the Breakers) had given us a tour of the Breakers Stables and Carriage house before it was offered to the public. If I remember correctly they didn't open that for quite some time after I left. I will never forget the stories she shared with us. It really put everything in perspective to hear a family member share their stories and memories. She was VERY soft spoken. Precious times. It was always wonderful working at the Breakers when she was there in the summertime. I used to sit an a room, just looking at every detail. She caught me once and politely asked if I should be part of a tour. When I told her I worked there and was just absorbing the beauty of every room, she smiled, and told me "carry on, but leave the room when the tour comes". LOL She always said hello to me then on. A very nice woman. My favorite time of the year was Christmas at the mansions. If you have never been at Christmas time, it's a beautiful time to see them. Thank you for posting this.

@OffKilterRV

2 жыл бұрын

Wow!! Thanks for sharing these stories that is awesome. We love the mansions and the history behind them. To hear that they are haunted is wild. I definitely would not stay in one of those mansions over night by myself. 🤣 And to get a tour from one of the family members must have been so cool. Thanks for watching and sharing these memories that you had. 😀

@Lovelightmagic11

2 жыл бұрын

@@OffKilterRV Oh yes indeed. Countess Szapary used to visit the guides' room from time to time. Sometimes, she would sit a bit and share some stories. Ask how things were going. She never minded us having questions. She was always delighted to answer us. We often had questions about pieces of furniture or paintings, pictures. I think she loved that we would ask and not assume anything. She lingered behind some tours, just to make sure no propaganda was being said about the family. Very protective of her family, she was. And rightfully so. But she was always kind. I remember her being very thankful of how she was received by us guides. We sent her a thank you note for the personal tour, and she was delighted. She felt it was proper for us to say thank you, and as it really was, the right thing to do. All of us enjoyed her taking the time to share with us. I think that helped bridge any gaps. And at a time where she grew up where staff were seen, not heard, spoke when spoken to...She welcomed these exchanges despite her upbringing. In the past before this, she was always distant. She spoke just above a whisper. As humbled as we were, she became so about us. I remember I was bringing someone in the elevator and she rang it. Once she saw it was being used, she politely said, "carry on, I will wait". We were never to say who she was. Visitors came first, but also the privacy of where she was going. We were never allowed to say anyone lived there. I hear this changed after. I remember meeting Paul, her son. He was gracious and polite. The Breakers and Marble House is haunted too. One day doing a tour (Breakers) in mid afternoon, the tour in front and behind were quite a few rooms between. I remember walking to the fireplace in the Great Hall (Karl Bitter, I believe). My tour was just descending the stairs. In the Library, I saw a figure walk into the wall. He was dressed in a dark suit, a morning suit. Course, it hit me as odd. I walked into the library then around to the alcove area, no one was there. By that time, my tour was at the fireplace outside the library. I just smiled and whispered hello. I just continued as if nothing. I was used to it. In Gertrude's room, walking from Mrs. V's dressing room to GV bathroom, I heard steps behind me. And they stopped once I reached GV room. The air being about 15 degrees cooler behind me than in the doorway and room before it.... I never said GV's room speech so fast in my life. It was the first time I knew of presences in the home. The best is, my whole tour heard the footsteps...But again, no one there in Mr's V's room, the dressing room, bathroom or loggia. At Marble House, there was always a sad presence in Consuelo's room. The back halls down to the kitchen, where from time to time, footsteps. The Gothic room as well, has a presence. I could always feel someone moving to sit in different chairs. Same with the Library. The mezzanine level, there is a butler's office behind one of the sitting rooms. It used to be the guide's room, but that changed to the level above. There is always a presence there. The guide's room, again. More presence. Again, politely haunted. You could especially feel their presence during last tours and the lights being turned down by the caretaker. I have lots of memories and stories. Like I said, it was some of the best times in my life that I treasure so. Some guides are still there from when I was. I visit from time to time to say hi.

@sammy7237

Жыл бұрын

@@Lovelightmagic11 “She [Countess Szapary] lingered behind some tours, just to make sure no propaganda was being said about the family. Very protective of her family, she was. And rightfully so.” It’s funny how someone’s actions can be interpreted so differently from one person to the next. What you saw as her being “protective,” I would probably have seen as being controlling or micromanaging, and said something like, “Why don’t you just give the tour, then?!” 😑

thanks for taking the time to record and post this

@OffKilterRV

4 жыл бұрын

Zach Taylor We love it there and have done that behind the scenes tour twice now I can’t get enough of it. Thanks for watching!! 😀🤙

One of my favorites of the cottages on Rhode island

@OffKilterRV

4 жыл бұрын

Brent Fairlie I agree. Have you done the Beneath the Breakers tour? Whoah!! That is a great one as well. Thanks for watching!!

Thank you for sharing this Great video

Fun note: I took this tour on a brutally hot and humid summer day. The family/guest rooms were swelteringly hot with no air, but when you came up the the servants' rooms the curtains were actually on the ceiling because of the stiff breezes coming through the open windows.

@OffKilterRV

3 жыл бұрын

Hopefully the servants that lived up there we’re getting a good ocean breeze like you said. Have you done beneath the breakers? I thought that was incredible as well!!

@lj5801

3 жыл бұрын

@@OffKilterRV Unfortunately, I haven't done that one ...yet, but there was a real difference in temperature between the "house" and the servants' quarters at The Elms.

Thanks for this!

keep in mind ......these were summer cottages to escape the summer heat in NYC

@OffKilterRV

3 жыл бұрын

Indeed they were. Must have been some fun times had at these cottages 😀

The tour guide didn’t even show the boilers, my favorite part.

@OffKilterRV

3 жыл бұрын

I don’t remember seeing the boilers under the Elms. I do remember seeing the boilers under the breakers though. Under the breakers tour was a blast as well but I did not video that one. I’ll get it next time I’m there. Thanks for watching the video!! 😀

Looks like a great tour - great job

@OffKilterRV

3 жыл бұрын

It definitely was a great tour, I highly recommend it!! Thanks for watching 😀👊

Hey this is awesome. Was there yesterday but didn't get to go inside. This will help me reconstruct the elms using forge microblocks.

@OffKilterRV

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching the video!! I recommend next time you’re there do the behind-the-scenes tour it was fantastic 👍👍

Damnnnnnn those LV’s though!?!?😳♥️🤘🏻

@sammy7237

Жыл бұрын

And Goyard, too, I noticed.

@OffKilterRV

Жыл бұрын

What are LVs?

@sammy7237

Жыл бұрын

@@OffKilterRV Louis Vuitton(s)

A wonderful amazing inside tour! Another part of the story is how the families lived in mansions like this. A lot of the wonderful stories are in a book called "Fortune's Children: The Fall of the House of Vanderbilt.' The people bring alive these beautiful mansions and the Gilded Age.

@OffKilterRV

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for recommending this book I will definitely read it!! I can’t get enough of the history of these houses. I will definitely read the book and look forward to doing a video under the breakers. I’ve done the tour under the breakers but didn’t get any video.

I actually liked what you showed more than what the tour guide presented. Thank you.

@OffKilterRV

3 жыл бұрын

I appreciate the kind words and I’m glad you liked the video. Thank You 😀😀😀😀😀

@sammy7237

Жыл бұрын

Same here. Since I was a little kid I’ve always been most interested in the attics and basements of places.

@OffKilterRV

Жыл бұрын

In the last comment when I mentioned the behind the breakers or maybe it’s called under the breakers I forget, they take you through the tunnels from one building to the mansion at the Breakers. In those tunnels our old shutters and workbench areas with old original tools it’s incredible.

@sammy7237

Жыл бұрын

@@OffKilterRV Tunnels, you say? Be still my heart! Seriously, I live for that kind of stuff.

They didn't offer behind the scenes tours when we lived in Newport in '94-'95. I would have loved going on those. Thanks for the video, it's the next best thing!

@OffKilterRV

3 жыл бұрын

The behind-the-scenes tours are fantastic. We also did behind the breakers but I did not video it. Family members of ours were in Newport a couple days ago they said only one match was open so I’ll probably wait a little longer before going back I like to experience all of it!! Thanks for watching!! 😀

@Lovelightmagic11

2 жыл бұрын

Behind the scene tours were only offered to tour guides and special groups (you kinda had to know "someone" to attend those), however, in 94-95, they were talking of opening up the special tours to the public and have unguided tours in the "big houses" at that time. I believe it was the following year that taped tours were being conducted. There were guided tours all the years I worked there from 1988-1995.

Keep up the Great work

@OffKilterRV

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Robert I really appreciate that!! 😀

@robertsilva8097

3 жыл бұрын

@@OffKilterRV you are very welcome

@robertsilva8097

3 жыл бұрын

@@OffKilterRV I also just subscribe to your beautiful Channel

@OffKilterRV

3 жыл бұрын

@@robertsilva8097 That’s awesome brother I really appreciate it!! I wish I was pumping out more videos but unfortunately I shoot the footage and fall way behind on editing it and publishing it. So when you see videos over the next couple weeks pop up and they seem out of timeline order you’ll know why. 🤣🤣

Is it me or is the servants’ floor in this home more comfortable than was the norm? The wide, skylit hallway, the bed to bath ratio (~5 to 1), and the apparent roominess of the bathrooms all suggest that Mr. Berwind treated his staff pretty well-relative to his peers, anyway. Thanks for allowing us who may not otherwise be able to visit a chance to take the tour from our living rooms. It’s very cool stuff! P.S. I was a little surprised at the lack of recreation facilities-e.g., no tennis court, swimming pool, bowling alley. Can you provide any insight? Again, thanks very much!

@OffKilterRV

Жыл бұрын

The servants area up on the top floor definitely did not seem like bad living. But I guess when you compare it to the rest of the house it would be slumming it. The wide open grass lawn in the back has beautiful gardens around it. There is another sort of carriage house in the back off to the side I’m not sure if there any tennis courts or recreation areas over there. Im not sure if many of those homes during that time had tennis courts. I know that they would shade themselves from the sun because they tend was a sign of a servant or gardener. Maybe that’s why they didn’t play tennis? I’m not sure 🤣 I appreciate you watching the video and I definitely recommend doing the mansion tours specially the behind-the-scenes tours like this one. Behind the breakers is an even better tour they take you through the tunnels!!! Thanks!!

@rikkibrazie8859

Жыл бұрын

Actually, most of the guilded age mansions have nice servants quarters. These family's generally took very good care of their servants and paid well. What is unique is the hallway being slightly ornate. The rooms are big and walk-in closets is upscale, however, the norm for these mansions. My much smaller house was built in 1905 and only the master has a walk in closet. As for activities, swimming pools were very rare at this time. Women in high society took great care to cover their whole body. They wore gloves and showing ankle was a no-no. Being in a swimsuits would have been scandalous. I don't think they played much tennis at the time. These people weren't into getting sweaty, they mostly just sat around and socialized and had elaborate themed parties and gatherings. High society WAS their entertainment. It's what they lived for.

@sammy7237

Жыл бұрын

@@rikkibrazie8859 All the more reason to have such facilities. I mean, what greater way to show one’s wealth is there than to have high-installation and high-upkeep-cost “things” that you rarely, if ever, use. To me, that’s the ultimate display of idle wealth!

Goose poop fight - Jersey Shore meets Newport!

@OffKilterRV

3 жыл бұрын

🤣🤣

Love y’all’s accents.

@OffKilterRV

3 жыл бұрын

Ha!! I hate it and try to purposely dull down the accent while I am speaking during the video. I can’t wait to get out of New Yawwwwk🤣

@michaelmoore8834

3 жыл бұрын

@@OffKilterRV no I love it. I’m North Carolina my friends mom has one like y’all’s. My friend though been here so long she has a southern accent. When y’all were throwing the poop I got tickled

@OffKilterRV

3 жыл бұрын

🤣🤣 Thanks!! We live out on Eastern Long Island but the accents are probably thicker because the three gentlemen in the video myself my brother-in-law and my other buddy all work as fireman in New York City. So working in the city thickens the accent even worse. 🤦🏻‍♂️ Oh well thanks for watching the video and can’t wait to get myself back down to the Carolinas we love it down there. Have a great summer!

The Great Gatsby 🥂

You should see the new breakers tour...

@OffKilterRV

3 жыл бұрын

There is a new Breakers tour? We were supposed to go last April but the trip was canceled because of Covid. There is a possibility we’re going in May 2021 but it’s not definite. I have to imagine that all tours are guided? With Covid I’m wondering because I have not been there in over a year if they’re still handing out headsets.

@dieselXJ

3 жыл бұрын

@@OffKilterRV Yeah the new beneath the breakers tour. It starts an the caretakers cottage goes into the boiler room and you enter the house from the tunnel. The tour focuses on the mechanicals ect. It hasn't been running because of covid but should be back

@OffKilterRV

3 жыл бұрын

@@dieselXJ Oh yes I wife and I actually did the beneath the breakers tour. Didn’t video that one but that is a fantastic behind-the-scenes tour. Amazing!! I’m trying to go back in May I’ll probably do that tour again and get some video. Thanks for watching 😀🤙

Almost like Highclere Castle AKA. Downton Abbey

Downton Abbey, American style.

@OffKilterRV

3 жыл бұрын

Really? Intriguing 🤔 🤣

Why?

@OffKilterRV

3 жыл бұрын

Why what?

@christopherbiondi7397

3 жыл бұрын

Why not?

@OffKilterRV

3 жыл бұрын

Exactly 🤣

it would have been more interesting if he'd Opened a few of those doors. Too much of the guide and not enough of the house

Aside of the other mansions, this is not one.

Vid was great but the person taping chewing their gum like a cow chewing cud was very annoying

@OffKilterRV

2 жыл бұрын

I recorded this video and very rarely chew gum and never while recording I don’t know what the noise is in the background. The camera audio was starting to act up on me and I replaced the camera about a month later.

@sammy7237

Жыл бұрын

No one in the video can be heard chewing gum. Perhaps you were hearing yourself.

Shame on you for recording it without permission

@OffKilterRV

4 жыл бұрын

I had permission. At the beginning of the tour I asked the guide if it’s OK if I record he said yes thus giving me permission. Blaaaaaaaaaaah

@kellywilson6557

3 жыл бұрын

Ok, Karen! He had permission and he was giving the public positive info -free advertising.

@OffKilterRV

3 жыл бұрын

Nice!! Thanks for the back up 😀👊

@starortiz3483

3 жыл бұрын

People assuming without knowing!!!

@OffKilterRV

3 жыл бұрын

Yes!! 😀👊