National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Historical Overview
The butler and half-day man left the pantry once dinner was cleared away, and the full-day man
remained on duty until the family went to bed. The family signaled bed by ringing a bell, then
lights were put out, the full-day man retired, and a night watchman remained on duty until the
next morning.
Edward Nelson (Nielson) served as second man and valet from before 1909 until 1926.
With Louise's death, the butler was discharged, and Nelson became both butler and valet until
Mr. Vanderbilt's death in 1938. Nelson used the Second Man's Room in the basement for the
two months in the spring and two months in the fall when he was in residence with the
Vanderbilts.
The second and third men's half-day duties were the same as an on-duty day until 11:00
a.m. At 11:00 the full-day man went to his room to change into uniform, and the half-day man
prepared the luncheon table. When the full-day man returned at 11:45 a.m., the half-day man
was relieved until 1:15 p.m., when he returned to the pantry, along with the butler, to help serve
luncheon until about 2:00 p.m. The half-day man was then off-duty until 7:30 p.m., when he
returned to the pantry with the butler to serve dinner. Dinner was cleared at about 8:00 p.m.,
and then the half-day man was relieved of duty until the next morning.
Alfred Martin was employed as third man from 1909 to 1926, when he was promoted to
second man and also chief steward aboard the Vanderbilt yacht. He was born circa 1887 in
Raphny, Lincolnshire, England, and found employment with the Vanderbilts immediately upon
arriving in New York. He lived with his wife Elsie in the gatehouse at the main entrance to the
estate. Prior to her marriage, Elsie had worked as a maid for the Howards and later as a maid to
the Vanderbilts. Peggy Newman believed Elsie might have been Mrs. Vanderbilt's maid. 366
Henry Ballard also served as third man, probably after Alfred Martin was promoted. 367
Day and Night Men
The day and night men, also called the housemen and watchmen, provided security and
performed light duties including running errands. When the day man relieved the night man in
the morning, he checked the furnace, swept the porches, and set out the porch furniture with
the help of the butler. During the remainder of the day, he brought up coal for the kitchen and
ran errands for the cook or butler, walking back and forth from the village. 368
Tom Morgan was houseman and caretaker from about 1910 to 1918. He took over for
Patrick Monaghan who had preceded him as houseman. Monaghan lived in the gatehouse and
was quite elderly when Morgan was hired. 369 "On the occasion of one dinner party, Mr. Morgan
arranged 2,000 Sunburst roses on the dining room table. He made a 'Court of Honor', an oval of
columns with festoons of flowers between." His duties also included occasional trips to New
York City with flower deliveries when the express was on strike. 370
366
Peggy Newman, 17.
367
Theresa Farley, typescript of taped interview, October 16, 1947, unn., Oral History Collection, ROVA
Archives.
368
Theresa Farley.
369
Tom Morgan, typescript of taped interview by Margaret Partridge, August 24, 1970, 6, Oral History
Collection, ROVA Archives.
370
Tom Morgan.
75