River House
from
Dead End Kids to Doris Duke
The following two excerpts are from the
books "New York, New York" by Elizabeth Hawes, published
by Alfred Knoph 1993 and "Too Rich, The Family Secrets Of
Doris Duke" by Pony Duke and Jason Thomas... Harper-Collins
1993. They only give a tiny glimpse into the world that the Knapp's
lived in. Because Joseph Palmer was such a private man, I have
to look for anything and everything that was around him to try
and derive even a sketch of his life.
50 years before River House was
built, J. P's mother Phoebe would write the Methodist Hymn "Open
The Gates To The Temple" although no stranger to living in
luxury herself, Mrs. J. F. Knapp was of course referring to the
gates of a heaven. However it has been said that once one passed
through the gates on East 52 Street into River House, it was as
if New York City was left behind for another world. Joseph Palmer
lived in this world and died here too on Jan 30, 1951.
Click To Enlarge
Movie Set For Dead End click on it see who's in the
cast
Doris Duke was the daughter and
only child of James B. Duke. When he died in 1925 his will made
12 year old Doris the richest girl in the world (100 Million in
very secure trusts and lots of gold stashed away too) James Buchannan
Duke & Joseph Palmer Knapp were partners in American Lithographic
Company.
Just Like J.P. had done with his
father's money, Doris too made her good fortune grow. Here is
another glimpse at life inside of River House 42 years after J.
P. passed through it's gates for the last time.
Big Picture Click Here
I wonder if Dodi ever tied up here with his yacht the
"Storm King"
Brooklyn Residence
Southampton
