Part 9/11:
The economic hardships of the Great Depression, combined with the rising costs of maintaining such an expansive property and changing social norms, led to financial strain. The once unified estate was gradually subdivided through sale or inheritance dispersal, and the land's extensive agricultural operations dwindled.
From Private Estate to Public Good
Despite these challenges, the Shelburne House itself remained in family hands and continued to be inhabited. However, by the 1960s, signs of aging—peeling wallpaper, outdated systems, and overgrown gardens—became evident.