Part 10/13:
Nelson Aldrich’s Final Years and Legacy
By 1912, with the estate fully completed, Nelson Aldrich’s long-held dream was realized—a summer sanctuary for the nation’s top echelons. As his political career wound down—he chose not to seek re-election in 1911—Aldrich devoted more time to enjoying his private retreat. He passed away in 1915 at age 73, leaving behind a legacy that intertwined political influence and unmatched wealth.
For his family, Indian Oaks was a symbol of the Gilded Age’s glory. However, maintaining such a colossal estate proved challenging. In the ensuing decades, as America’s wealth shifted and the Great Depression loomed, sustaining the property became increasingly difficult.