Have you ever heard the name Emilie Grigsby? Or maybe something more along the lines of the "American Princess," a nickname that Emilie earned, sounds a little more familiar to you.
In this episode of This House, the host explores the mansion of Emilie and everything that went into her very posh nickname.
Emilie’s life wasn’t always so regal. Her father died when she was very little, and after that, her mother, Susan, found it difficult to maintain the same upper-middle-class lifestyle.
Susan actually sent her two children away to private schools in Ohio. Emilie’s brother, Braxton, attended a seminary, while Emilie went to an Ursuline convent.
With her two kids away at school, Susan opened up a high-end brothel to much success and was able to keep the family home and have her two kids away receiving a private education.
Susan’s business was kept secret until around the time Emilie turned 16. By this time, Emilie was very cultured and into American and European history as well as the visual arts.
During this blossoming period, Emilie began to work and weave her way into society and even attracted the attention of newspapers and high-society gentlemen who were looking for a wife.
Through a connection made by her brother, there was talk that Emilie was courting and would soon be engaged to a young man named Charles Yerkes, but it was actually his father, Charles Tyson Yerkes, whom she landed on romantically. After all, the elder Charles was the one who was worth over $25 million, which present day would be the equivalent of around $900 million.
Emilie began an affair with the elder Charles, and when he made a move to Manhattan, he brought his mistress along with him and ended up gifting her a posh mansion all her own.
To learn all about this five-story mansion located on famed Park Avenue, check out the video.
