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The Glorious Rise and Fall of Omstead Manor: A Tale of Wealth, Grandeur, and Decline
In the Age of Monopolies, Tycoons Could Buy and Destroy
Imagine an era where the most powerful magnates could buy entire towns along the Gold Coast, demolish every building, and replace them with sprawling mansions that symbolized their wealth. This was the Gilded Age—a time of extraordinary ambition, extravagance, and unmatched wealth. Central to this story is John Edward Aldred, a man whose journey from a humble textile town to a magnate of utilities culminated in the construction of Omstead Manor, a symbol of opulence and ambition.