We’re going to the Tire Factory

[rndmr2]

Glad to see a new report even if it isn't Disney! LOL That mansion is beautiful!

Sorry the "Retirement" didn't last long, but it does sound like it will be better with the new robotic milker.

 

[mom2rtk]

"We're boring and we know it."

Doesn't Skip know by now not to lay on the bed until you have had a chance to photograph it?

How fortunate you were able to get some pool time in before the baseball boys arrived. I would have been right there with the girls, packing it in instead of trying to enjoy the pool alongside a bunch of wild boys.

I rarely eat waffles, but every now and then do have one at a hotel when we travel. They are usually pretty good because they are freshly made. I'd love one right now!

The house is gorgeous. Your photos look amazing as always. You must have deleted all the bad ones you mentioned!

23 bathrooms? Sign me up! As long as I don't have to clean them........

What a stunning location to take your camera out for a run though. I bet you really loved that.

 

[wiscbugs]

Nice pictures! Skip looks pretty interested in that window!

 

[dolphingirl47]

I really enjoyed all the photos.

Corinna

 

[jenseib]

Glad to see a new report even if it isn't Disney! LOL That mansion is beautiful!

Sorry the "Retirement" didn't last long, but it does sound like it will be better with the new robotic milker.

It's kind of nice to be writing one again, and luckily this is just a short trip.

"We're boring and we know it."

We know we are. LOL.....but then again I am probably more exciting than some other parents too.

Doesn't Skip know by now not to lay on the bed until you have had a chance to photograph it?

You would think by now he would know.


How fortunate you were able to get some pool time in before the baseball boys arrived. I would have been right there with the girls, packing it in instead of trying to enjoy the pool alongside a bunch of wild boys.

I am so glad they went right away and got some time in. I would've never heard the end of it if they had missed the chance at swimming.

I rarely eat waffles, but every now and then do have one at a hotel when we travel. They are usually pretty good because they are freshly made. I'd love one right now!

I don't either really. The other day on our "day trip" to Ohio Caverns Claire and I stopped at Bob Evans for a late lunch and I was in the mood for pancakes. I have been eating low carb so they just sounded so good to splurge on. OMG they were strawberry pancakes....wonderful best tasting things ever with strawberries and sauce over the top and whipped cream and something that looked like drizzled frosting. It was HUGE! I brought half of them home for Skip and he was amazed at how much was left. He ate a portion of them for dinner and said they were wonderful. Then Paige tried them on Thursday and was amazed at how good they were...and Skip finished them off as a snack last night. They really were worth there cost for sure! And I don't regret cheating on the diet one bit.

The house is gorgeous. Your photos look amazing as always. You must have deleted all the bad ones you mentioned!

They are all pretty dark but I did try to get them fixed as best I could. And the outside ones I kept over exposing.

23 bathrooms? Sign me up! As long as I don't have to clean them........

Exactly!

What a stunning location to take your camera out for a run though. I bet you really loved that.

It was fun to take some pictures of a place I have never photographed before. I could've spent another hour outside there easily but the family was done!

Nice pictures! Skip looks pretty interested in that window!

thanks....LOL...Yes he was looking at the back yard.

I really enjoyed all the photos.

Corinna

Thanks

 

[jenseib]

On to the Great Hall.

stan59 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

stan60 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

stan61 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

In this next picture you can see up to the top left there is a window….it goes into a bedroom and I forget why they had this. I believe it was Mrs. Seiberling’s room…perhaps she could then keep an eye on everyone from there?

stan62 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

stan63 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

You can see the window better in this next picture.

stan64 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

Also did you notice a spot on the fireplace chimney? There was some sort of deer or elk head that was usually there and it was gone for refurbishment.

Yes this is an eagle! This was stuffed back before killing and stuffing eagles was illegal.

stan65 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

stan66 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

stan67 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

This was an old record player and we did get to hear it.

stan68 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

And then on to the Dining room. Claire said this was her favorite room. She liked the colors.

stan69 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

stan70 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

stan71 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

stan72 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

And then into the Butler’s Pantry.

stan73 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

stan74 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

And then the Kitchen

stan75 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

This kitchen was on the main floor which for many mansions they typically have the main kitchen in the basement back during this time….so he said. It might have been right around the turn where they started bringing the kitchens up to the main floor as well. But one of the reasons this was built on the main floor as they never felt the need to hide the cooks or anything being done. They even let their servants eat on the main floor, though they did have their own spot to do so.

stan76 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

I am sure you all see what I see in this next picture.

stan77 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

The kitchen was built very modern for the times and over the years they did replace a few things to upgrade them. They had a fridge that put off some toxins, though not really known at the time and it was something that could explode easily too…..I no longer remember the exact details, but luckily they only had it for a few years before replacing it with a more modern advanced model.

stan78 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

stan79 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

And this area is the Cooks Pantry.

stan80 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

Out in the hall was an intercom system, a phone extension and a call board. He explained how it all worked, which was different than what other homes of the time would have used.

stan81 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

Across from the kitchen was the breakfast room which was where they ate most of the informal family meals.

stan82 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

stan83 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

And this had its own breakfast room pantry.

stan84 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

stan85 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

And here is something you don’t see in most homes……a Flower arranging room.

stan86 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

This room is still used for that very same purpose today as well.
Throughout the halls there were doors in a box shape in the walls. Really it just looked like part of the décor of the wall, but inside were fire hoses.

stan87 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

And the door bell.

stan88 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

 

[dolphingirl47]

The house is really stunning and I love all the quirks.

Corinna

 

[wiscbugs]

Definitely a cool house!

 

[jedijill]

It's the American version of Downton Abbey!

Jill in CO

 

[jenseib]

The house is really stunning and I love all the quirks.

Corinna

It is

Definitely a cool house!

It really is

It's the American version of Downton Abbey!

Jill in CO

I think the guide may have said that a time or 2 as well. I have never seen the show...I hear so many people like it though.

 

[jenseib]

After coming out of that hallway we turned left and went down some stairs to the Plunge pool. The pool was one depth the whole way through and they fill the water to the level they wanted for swimming. I thought that was stupid, but I guess I am not rich so what do I know? The pool was not heated either and remember the family mostly spent their winter months here. BRRRR!


stan89 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr


Back up the stairs to the Stair way just outside of the Entrance Hall. We learned a little more history about the family and how the Goodyear symbol got its start…which of course I no longer remember. There was an interactive typewriter sitting the in the hall and the kids all took a turn typing a few letters….And they had no clue what they were doing and none of them had ever seen a typewriter before.


stan90 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr


And then into the Billiard Room.

stan91 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr


Mainly the males hung out in the Billard room and they would smoke cigars.


stan92 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr


stan93 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr


Franks home office was right off the Billiard room and he did have a separate entrance there as well so that business could be conducted without going through the main house.


stan94 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr


stan95 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr


Back though the Billiard room we were shown the humidor for the cigars. There was also a fridge in the room for cold drinks for the men to have.


stan96 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr


Now it was time to head upstairs.

stan97 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr


There was an elevator, though we didn’t see it. It was said that Frank Jr was quite the prankster and was famous for getting people stuck in the elevator. There was some sort of safety measure that when a door was open the elevator would stop moving. So Frank Jr. would often wait for staff to get in then open a door and take off leaving them there.


stan98 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr


Once upstairs we had a look down at the Great Hall.


stan99 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr


I believe this room was the Blue bedroom which was the older Seiberling boys room. I don’t think they really lived here that much as I think both were quite old by the time the house was built. I know one went off to war and I think he was the same one that ended up living here most of his life or later life. I am pretty sure he got married and divorced and was an alcoholic. I think his ex-wife then went on to work with people who had drinking problems.


stan100 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr


stan116 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr


stan117 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr


The Seiberling men usually didn’t sleep in the beds in the house. They had sleeping porches off their rooms and would sleep on cots out there. It was believed that sleeping outside in the cool air would prevent illness. To me that sounds like a good way to get sick. Mrs. Seiberling did not believe this and thought the men foolish.


This bathroom connected the Blue and Red bedrooms together.


stan118 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr


The Red bedroom was young Franks room.


stan119 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr


I asked why each room had a bed if the men slept outside and our guide said it was more for show than anything else.


You can kind of get a peek at the sleeping porch through the archway here in the next picture. This is where all the Seiberling sons would sleep.


stan120 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr


The next bedroom across the hall was the Colonial bedroom which is where Mrs. Seiberling’s mother stayed for a few years until her death. I believe after that it was a guest bedroom. The main housekeepers bedroom was right across the hall from it so that she could help the mother when needed.


stan121 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr


stan122 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr


Next to that bedroom was the Linen room.


stan123 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr


We then went down a hall that went towards the front of the house. This is where 2 guest bedrooms were.

stan124 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr


stan125 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr


It is said that staying at Stan Hywet was like staying at a fine hotel. The service from the staff was compared to a first class hotel.


stan126 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr


stan127 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr


Back out to the main hall with the balcony and looking at the Great Halls light fixture.

stan128 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr


stan129 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

 

[dolphingirl47]

I quite like the look of that pool. However, I do not like the sound of it being unheated.

Corinna

 

[dizneeat]

Jen, I am all caught up again. I really enjoy your attention to detail and am in awe at what you remember about the tour. Many parts of the house remind me of the stately homes in Britain, some other parts do not. I remember the servants quarters different as well, but that may be because they lived in the basement.

It's the American version of Downton Abbey!

Jill in CO

Jill got it perfectly right. That is what it reminded me off!

 

[Beth D]

I'm in! I love this trip so far, the house is great.

I know which bridge you were talking about on the turnpike! It was always our landmark for a far away trip too.

I especially can't wait to hear about the rest of the trip, including your visit to our favorite pizza place!

 

[jenseib]

I quite like the look of that pool. However, I do not like the sound of it being unheated.

Corinna

Yeah , the unheated part did not appeal to me at all!

Jen, I am all caught up again. I really enjoy your attention to detail and am in awe at what you remember about the tour. Many parts of the house remind me of the stately homes in Britain, some other parts do not. I remember the servants quarters different as well, but that may be because they lived in the basement.



Jill got it perfectly right. That is what it reminded me off!

I will admit, I have the brochure too so I can look at the map to remember which room is which and then I can remember the details....somewhat at least...of what he told us.

I'm in! I love this trip so far, the house is great.

I know which bridge you were talking about on the turnpike! It was always our landmark for a far away trip too.

I especially can't wait to hear about the rest of the trip, including your visit to our favorite pizza place!

Have you ever gone to this house? I never even heard of it till right before we went and was surprised when my sister said she had been there.

Yes, that bridge is a landmark too. It really is a neat bridge and it is amazing how hilly that area is since I live on such a flat area.

I sadly didn't take a single picture of our pizza, but it was the best ever!!!

 

[jenseib]

Across from the Great Hall balcony was daughter Irene’s room.

stan130 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

Irene liked the Tudor Revival style that the house had and had her room done that way.

stan131 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

A bathroom connected the 2 daughter’s rooms.

stan132 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

These girls were pretty modern and wanted a shower put in after the house had been built. Since the plumbing was in the side wall, they put the shower there instead of at the head of the tub.

stan133 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

Next was Virginia’s bedroom.

stan134 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

She decorated her room in Louis XVI French Provincial style.

stan135 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr



stan136 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

stan137 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

I think it was Irene lived on the property most of her life (I assume her husband lived there too). But she moved into the Carriage house and lived there till she died, which was around 1999.

I don’t remember this room at all, but it looks like some sort of utility room.

stan138 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

And then onto the Master bedroom. You can see the window that looks down into the Great Hall.

stan139 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

stan140 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

Though it’s the master, mainly Mrs. Seiberling slept in here while Frank slept on his sleeping porch.

Her dressing room.

stan141 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

Her bathroom.

stan142 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

The strange looking mini tub was to freshen up in since they didn’t usually bath daily and even though her daughters showered, she was still old school enough to only take baths. Which was kind of odd since she was pretty modern in most other aspects.

stan143 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

Mr. Seiberling’s sleep porch bed.

stan144 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

Mr. Seibering’s shower….he had his own separate bathroom.

stan145 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

stan146 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

Across the hall was the morning room. This is what Mrs. S would use as her sitting room or study. She was a very good painter and she would often paint pictures in there.

stan147 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

stan148 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

Off the end of the hall they had a set of stairs that led to an art gallery, which now is used as museum storage. Also I think that is where you would get to the balcony of the Music Room.

And with that our guided tour was over. We would head down the stairs near the Morning room and exit out of the basement.

The house had many other rooms and features that were not on the tour, like a gymnasium, a dark room and a wood room. I have read there is a special tour for that, but I am not sure how often it is offered or the cost. Plus there was a whole other floor that was not on the tour. I believe now they are used for office space, but was mainly the staffs rooms back then.

We went down the basement and I didn’t take any pictures but it was a very long hallway with many shut doors but they did have public restrooms down there which we used. They were pretty old looking. I assume they were not part of the original house, but perhaps put in when the house was donated as a museum? Anyways, the basement was not glamourous at all. I am sure a lot of it is used for party prepping and other uses.

At the end of the basement we went outside into what was the service court…where things were brought to the house into the basement I assume.

stan149 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

stan150 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

stan151 - Copy by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

stan152 - Copy by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

Before going on, here is a map of the house I found on the internet. It gives you an idea of where I went in the house.

plStan by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

Now the girls thought the tour was over so we should leave and I told them I was planning to explore the grounds a bit. I really think Skip would’ve left too but I was not coming all this way without looking around.

stan153 - Copy by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

stan154 - Copy by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

This is the back of the house…which is just as gorgeous as the front.

stan17 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

Smile for me girls.

stan155 - Copy by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

girls1 by Jennifer Dowling, on Flickr

 

[dolphingirl47]

I enjoyed the rest of the photos. The bedrooms are stunning, but the concept of sleeping porches is very strange. What a shame that the girls and Skip were not really interested in the grounds.

Corinna

 

[wiscbugs]

I like the diagonal pics...makes everything seem even more fancy

 

[dizneeat]

Thank you for sharing the rest of the photos. The house looks just great and so does the outside of it.

 

[jenseib]

I enjoyed the rest of the photos. The bedrooms are stunning, but the concept of sleeping porches is very strange. What a shame that the girls and Skip were not really interested in the grounds.

Corinna

I think the sleeping porch is very strange. You wouldn't catch Skip doing that EVER! he would be complaining nonstop!

I like the diagonal pics...makes everything seem even more fancy

I try to get some artsy shots and some it was the only way to fit much of the room in from where I was standing. LOL.

Thank you for sharing the rest of the photos. The house looks just great and so does the outside of it.

it really was so pretty and I am happy I found this in my searches.