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For the day-to-day management, Morgan employed over fifty full-time staff, including grooms, gardeners, chefs, and maids, exemplifying the self-sufficient luxury of the Gilded Age aristocracy.
Inside Whitely: An Oasis of Simplicity and Elegance
Despite its grandeur, the interior of the estate emphasized comfort over ostentatious decoration. A 19th-century reporter observed that while the mansion lacked flashy embellishments, its facilities were "royally" appointed. Many rooms showcased early American colonial simplicity—aesthetic choices such as pine flooring resembling ship decks, sail canvas drapes, low ceilings with exposed beams, and rustic fireplaces imbued the space with a sense of curated rustic charm.