The socialite was born in 1915 to a wealthy family in St. Louis, Missouri. In the 1960s, Harkness became well known as a philanthropist and patron of the arts. When Swift bought the property in 2013 for a reported $17 million, it was reported that her neighbours were worried she would bring too much media attention to the small town - which she did. (Photos: Jack Mitchell/Getty Images, Beth Garrabrant) As the saying goes, well-behaved women seldom make history. Rebekah Harkness asked. She bought that former Rhode Island home—yes, the one with all those bathrooms. Rebekah Harkness is the author of LOVE AND EMPOWERMENT, THE BLISS BALANCE, and TURNING THE TIDE - THE TOP TEN PRINCIPLES OF A SUCCESS MINDSET. Taylor Swift's mansion in Watch Hill, Rhode Island. 'The Great British Baking Show': Who Is Peter? The song ends, 'Who knows, if I never showed up, what could’ve been / There goes the loudest woman this town has ever seen / I had a marvellous time ruining everything / I had a marvellous time ruining everything / A marvellous time ruining everything / A marvellous time / I had a marvellous time. Editors handpick every product that we feature. Emma Samuel, Noor Inayat Khan was the daughter of an Indian Sufi mystic and is the subject of a new film, A Call To Spy, By What a lovely welcome to the neighborhood! And of course, Swift was once known for her lavish parties, filled with all her A-list besties, Anyone remember her iconic Fourth of July bashes, complete with matching swimsuits, blow-up slides, and American flag cake? The Holiday House was once owned by Rebekah Harkness The mansion was once owned by Rebekah Harkness, a high profile socialite who famously married into the Standard Oil fortune. One Easter egg down, hundreds more to go. Salinger and Salvador Dali. The Harkness family looked immaculate from the outside…behind closed doors, though, was another story. After her husband’s death, Harkness renovated the home she owned in Watch Hill, Rhode Island. Perhaps most interesting to Rhode Island readers will be her song, “The Last Great American Dynasty” where she recounts the history of her Westerly home. Swift reportedly paid for the mansion in cash. After throwing a series of 4 July parties with celebrity guests including Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds and then-boyfriend Tom Hiddleston, the property and beach were swarmed by paparazzi, capturing every moment of the festivities. She was known for her rebellious streak throughout her life - as Swift's lyrics allude to - and even formed a sub-culture group of debutantes called the 'Bitch Pack' who enjoyed disrupting social events, including lacing punch with mineral oil, or performing a strip tease at a dinner. Born Rebekah West in St. Louis, Harkness spent her childhood summers in Watch Hill. A luxurious new collaboration between two renowned British names, By Press photo of Rebekah Harkness in 1966 with two o her Harkness dancers. So prepare to go full Nancy Drew! Swift bought her "Holiday House" in 2013 for $17 million. She married twice after her second husband's death, the latter being 20 years her junior, with both ending in divorce. So, it all makes sense! Said house (“Holiday House”) is located in the affluent village of Watch Hill in the town of Westerly, Rhode Island. “Little by little, Holiday House, as the Watch Hill Estate was called, began to acquire the character of Rebekah’s private living room. These continued after her husband's death, with guests including Andy Warhol, J.D. The Harkness's Rhode Island home, Holiday House, became a hub for the social set in the town, as the couple threw raucous parties most weekends. As Swift's lyrics explain, 'Rebekah rode up on the afternoon train, it was sunny / Her saltbox house on the coast took her mind off St. Louis / Bill was the heir to the Standard Oil name and money / And the town said / “How did a middle-class divorcée do it?” / The wedding was charming, if a little gauche / There’s only so far new money goes / They picked out a home and called it “Holiday House” / Their parties were tasteful, if a little loud / The doctor had told him to settle down / It must have been her fault his heart gave out.'. Rebekah Harkness inherited the vast Standard Oil fortune after her husband William Harkness died in 1953; the couple purchased the seaside mansion in 1947 as newlyweds and named it ‘Holiday House’ After her husband’s death, she remodeled the home to have 8 kitchens and 21 bathrooms so she could avoid seeing her children when she entertained guests like Salvador Dalí (who later … So then Rebekah married big-shot oil tycoon William Hale Harkness. Rebekah bought a mansion on New York’s Upper East Side and turned it into a posh training center for dancers called Harkness House. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, Will's Sweet Promise to Kate Before Their Wedding, Elliot Page Thanks Fans After Coming Out as Trans, Chrissy Gets John the Same Two Gifts Every Year. This content is imported from YouTube. "I wonder if Taylor Swift might like to hear the story of the time a body washed up on the beach under her Watch Hill mansion," wrote one reporter for The Day at the time of her purchase. In The Last Great American Dynasty, Swift not only describes all of these antics, but also draws comparisons between herself and her home's former owner, singing, 'Holiday House sat quietly on that beach / Free of women with madness, their men and bad habits / And then it was bought by me.'. A week after her death on June 17, 1982, the mortal remains of Rebekah Harkness were toted home by her older daughter Terry in a Gristede's shopping bag. Together, the pair resided in Rhode Island, in a home called "Holiday House" that Swift now owns. Taylor Swift has just released her eighth studio album, Folklore, and we're freaking! Taylor Fans Think Her BF Joe Co-Wrote Two Songs, See Taylor Swift's Complete Beauty Evolution, This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. Marie Claire participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Ariana Grande's Engagement Ring Is *So* Expensive, What Meghan's Post-Royal Fashion Choices Reveal, The Sussexes Will Help Tackle Hunger With Archewel, Ryan Shared a Sad Post About His Christmas Plans, Jennifer Garner Wore the Most Festive Sweater Vest, Ariana Grande's Mom Reacts to Her Engagement. Taylor Swift surprised her fans at the end of last week when she released a new album, Folklore, with many spending the weekend dissecting the set of new songs and the meanings behind the singer's lyrics. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Rebekah Harkness, Self-Help Author, has inspired countless individuals to become the best version of themselves while feeling happier, more successful, and balanced. First, a brief biography: Born Rebekah Semple West in St. Louis in 1915, Harkness was a divorcée whose second marriage was to Standard Oil heir William Hale Harkness. We may earn commission from the links on this page. Taylor Swift kaufte 2013 das ehemalige Herrenhaus von Rebekah Harkness in Rhode Island – mit dem Spitznamen „Holiday House“ – für etwa 17 Millionen US-Dollar pro Jahr Geschäftseingeweihter.Laut dem Washington PostHarkness war eine geschiedene Frau, die William Hale Harkness – den Erben der Standard Oil Company – heiratete und dafür bekannt war, extravagante Partys zu veranstalten. Harkness completely renovated Holiday House, their Rhode Island mansion. Swift tells the story of the former owner of her Rhode Island home, Holiday House, By In 2013, Swift actually purchased a house belonging to Harkness. Swift even mentions Rhode Island, singing: "Rebekah gave up on the Rhode Island set forever/ Flew in all her Bitch Pack friends from the city/ Filled the pool with champagne and swam with the big names/ And blew through the money on the boys and the ballet.". The now iconic single-initial lavaliere, immortalised in Anne Boleyn’s portrait as Queen consort to King Henry VIII, has become synonymous with the scandalous royal and her untimely end, By (She would marry four times in total.). Harkness had quite the life according to The New York Times. But equally unapologetic as Swift. "The product of a boating accident, not foul play." Jack Mitchell/Getty Images; Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic After Rebekah Harkness died in 1982, her daughter Terry took her mother’s remains home in a Gristede’s shopping bag, according to a … Does American Greetings Hold Taylor Swift Secrets? She went to school in South Carolina and married an advertising photographer—but it didn't work out. The Last Great American Dynasty details the previous owners of the property, most notably Rebekah Harkness the widow of Standard Oil heir William Hale Harkness with whom she ‘ picked out a home and called in “Holiday House” ‘ shortly before he died in 1957. Carol Ann Mossa/Shutterstock. This site uses cookies to improve your experience and deliver personalised advertising. In her day, Harkness was as much of a media darling as Swift is now, and often the target of unfavorable headlines and press coverage. Not to mention, the governor of Rhode Island, Gina Raimondo, even proposed a tax at the time on second-homes worth more than a million dollars, otherwise known as the "Taylor Swift" tax. Upon her death in 1982, Rebekah Harkness was called many things in her New York Times obituary. “Is there a classy way to go?” Harkness completely remodeled Holiday House, their Rhode Island mansion. 'Is there a chic way to go?'" She and her second husband William … When asked how often she entertains friends with the history of Rebekah Harkness and Holiday House while spending time there, Swift revealed, “Anyone who's been there before knows that I … The Last Great American Dynasty: The Untold Story of Rebekah Harkness. We went digging, and, Swifites, we finally cracked who "The Last Great American Dynasty" is about (no, not that Kennedy she dated): Rebekah Harkness. So, how does this all concern Swift? Rebecca Cope. In the most telling lyrics, Swift directly compares herself to Rebekah and all the criticisms they both faced: "There goes the maddest woman this town has ever seen/ She had a marvelous time ruining everything". Rebekah Harkness in 1966, Taylor Swift in 2020. "This arrangement effectively kept her from having to see her three children on anything like a regular basis," said the Times of the arrangement. People, the clues, write themselves. Rebekah was a beautiful, talented, divorcee originally from St. Louis, and her husband, William Hale Harkness, was heir to the Standard Oil fortune. "Gradually, Holiday House, as the Watch Hill estate was called, began to acquire the character of Rebekah's private salon. Rebekah Harkness was practically destined to become a spoiled little rich girl. William Harkness bought Holiday House in 1948, a year after their marriage. Born in 1915 in St Louis, Missouri, Harkness was the second daughter of prominent stockbroker Allen Tarwater and his wife, also named Rebekah. The ashes were placed in a … Taylor Swift’s home in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, which was previously owned by Rebekah Harkness. It’s got … a lengthy semi-nonfictional track about Rebekah Harkness, a St. Louis–born debutante who married the heir to Standard Oil, bought a giant house in … Swift moved into Holiday House in 2013 for $17.75 million, and it caused some drama at the time. 2.6K likes. The Harknesses shared a HUGE Watch Hill, Rhode Island mansion, called the Holiday House… In the "Cardigan" music video—that dropped Friday at midnight—she told fans, via comment section, that she purposely hid Easter Eggs throughout all the lyrics on Folklore. As Swift mentions, Harkness was also friendly with Salvador Dalí; after she died of cancer in 1982 at the age of 67, she even requested her ashes be kept in a $250,000 custom urn of the artist’s design. ', B is for Boleyn. These continued after her husband's death, with guests including Andy Warhol, J.D. Taylor Swift buys Rebekah Harkness’ House. An artist (a … Back in 2013, the 30-year-old singer-songwriter splashed out a reported $17 million for a stately oceanside mansion in Watch Hill, Rhode Island. Salinger and Salvador Dali. Welcome to Tatler. Rebecca Cope, Just as the sprawling house of Manderley cast a spell over the second Mrs de Winter, so too did its real life inspiration, Menabilly, which Du Maurier eventually lived in after the novel's publication. Born in 1915 in St. Louis, Missouri, her father Allen Tarwater was a powerful stockbroker, while her mother, also named Rebekah, was a perfectly turned out trophy wife. Mrs. Harkness … She was 67 years old. It was also, infuriatingly to the neighbors, a place for the Harkness Ballet dancers to practice on the lawn. She brought in top choreographers, Jerome Robbins and Brian Macdonald — … So then Rebekah married big-shot oil tycoon William Hale Harkness. Harkness inherited her late husband's Watch Hill, Rhode Island, manse, which was known by friends, family, and distinguished celebrity guests—think Howard Hughes and Salvador Dalí—as the Holiday House. "I found myself not only writing my own stories, but also writing about or from the perspective of people I've never met, people I've known, or wish I hadn't," the singer penned in her tweet. After her husband died, Harkness renovated the house she owned in Watch Hill, Rhode Island. The Harknesses were married for a brief period—just seven years. Rebekah West Harkness, a philanthropist who gave millions to the dance and to medicine, died of cancer Thursday in her Manhattan home. Ah, one of the many easter eggs in Folklore. Maya Asha McDonald, The royal headpiece inherited by the Queen but only worn in recent years by her daughter-in-law, the Duchess of Cornwall, By Now, her … Asked Rebekah Harkness. In 1961, she became the sponsor of the late Robert Joffrey's small ballet troupe, until it folded in 1975. Bianca Rodriguez is the digital fellow at Marie Claire, where she covers all your favorite podcasts, Netflix shows, and celebrities ranging from Rihanna to Harry Styles. She was also known for her four husbands - her first was a descendant of 14th President of the United States, Franklin Pearce, while her second was the Standard Oil billionaire William Hale Harkness, through who she acquired great wealth and social standing. But she was also known for a bunch of other, not so pleasant, things, like dyeing a dog green, moving hundreds of thousands of dollars from one bank to another to confuse her accountants, and joking about her daughter's suicide attempt. Due to her family's wealth, she was raised by a series of nannies, and attended a finishing school after High School. Hope Coke. The two purchased a mansion in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, which they nicknamed Holiday House. As well as the fascinating facts that have become myth - such as Harkness filling a pool with Dom Perignon, dying a cat green (a dog in Swift's song), and being kicked off a cruise for swimming nude - her 1988 biography, Blue Blood, written by Vanity Fair and New York Magazine editor Craig Unger, reveals a far more tragic story, including the fact that her childhood nanny was chosen specifically because she had worked in a mental asylum. In addition to founding the Harkness Ballet, Harkness launched a ballet school and home for the company called Harkness House, as well as … Influenced by her surroundings, specific images popped into her head, which eventually led her to writing multiple songs. A patron of dance and medicine. Sadly, he died just seven years into their marriage, making her a widow aged 39. Swift took to Twitter this week to explain to fans how she produced her album. The Harkness couple purchased a waterfront mansion in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, which the two nicknamed the "Holiday House." When the Joffrey Ballet refused to rename their company in Harkness' honor, she withdrew funding and hired most of the Joffrey dancers to her new company, the Harkness Ballet. Lizzo Surprised Her Mom with a Car for Christmas! While the rest of us were hard at work making banana bread, Swift was making a stellar 16-song album, giving us songs to sing in quarantine and plenty of Easter eggs to mildly majorly obsess over. One song that has drawn a lot of attention is The Last Great American Dynasty, which tells the story of socialite Rebekah Harkness, who it turns out used to own Swift's Rhode Island mansion, Holiday House. Rebekah Harkness. Harkness died of cancer in 1982. (It never actually happened, but still.). And since Swift is so, so famous, she naturally had to put up a ton of "No Trespassing" signs on the property that local citizens weren't too keen on. You can opt out at any time or find out more by reading our cookie policy. Jennifer Aniston's Wise Advice for the End of 2020, Beauty Obsessives Will Love These New Products, Every Cute Bag on This List Is Under $100. And this is where the connection to T. Swift comes in. They are also available for NOOKs, iPads, and Kindles. Rebekah has written THE BLISS BALANCE and TURNING THE TIDE, which are available at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and various other retailers. A philanthropist. The Harknesses shared a HUGE Watch Hill, Rhode Island mansion, called the Holiday House, that featured eight kitchens and 21 baths. The fascinating story of the most infamous necklace in British portraiture, Tiara of the Month: The fascinating origins of the Delhi Durbar tiara, The remarkable story of the Muslim Princess who spied for the British during World War II, The romantic story of Menabilly - the real life inspiration for Manderley in Daphne du Maurier's 'Rebecca'. Through the Rebekah Harkness Foundation, Harkness sponsored Jerome Robbins and the Joffrey Ballet. According to the New York Times, Harkness was born in 1915 to "a rich, emotionally frigid St. Louis family." Taylor Swift's '1989' Streamed More Than 'Witness', Taylor Swift's '1989' Is the Fastest Selling Album of the Last Decade. Harkness had a ballet company! The Harkness's Rhode Island home, Holiday House, became a hub for the social set in the town, as the couple threw raucous parties most weekends. Rebekah married William Hale Harkness, the heir to the Standard Oil fortune. 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