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The Electra
Havmeyer Webb Memorial Building
Electra
Havemeyer Webb
Louisine
Elder Havemeyer
Mary Cassatt
Harry Havmeyer
J. Watson Webb |
James Watson Webb (1884-1960) was born to Dr. W.
Seward Webb and Lila Vanderbilt Webb at "Oakledge," his parent's
first home in Burlington, Vermont. He was the
second of four children and lived between family homes in New York
City and at Shelburne farms in Shelburne, Vermont (
now an Inn.)
The Webbs were extremely wealthy, partly attributable to the
Vanderbilt rail road business' phenomenal economic success. The Webbs loved to entertain,
and hosted the wealthiest socialites in
the U.S. including the Havemeyers(The
Havemeyers: Impressionism Comes to America.) . James attended Yale, graduating in 1907 and was
employed by the Vanderbilts. James was inherently successful in
rail management business (Notes
By Electra Havemeyer...) Family parties at
Shelburne Farms
attracted him to a certain
Electra Havemeyer. The two
met
in 1905 and married in 1910.They first lived in Manhattan with
James' parents where in 1910 their first child Electra was born. The
new family then moved to Chicago for James' work in
railway where second child Sam was born. After a job offer in
the telephone industry, the couple moved back to Shelburne where
the Brick House on the Shelburne Farms property had been restored
for them (Electra's
Cultural Jewel at Shelburne Museum), much to Electra's delight. James then accepted a
position in the insurance business where he worked until
retirement. Third child Lila was born in1913 followed by Watson
Jr. in 1916, and son Harry was born in 1921 completing the family.
James purchased several properties and fully endorsed Electra's
collecting habits throughout the growth of their family and
thereafter. James Webb inherited several carriages
from the Webb family Hackney horse breeding farm, and also
passenger carriers after his mother's death in 1936 (Notes
By Electra Havemeyer...) . This
inheritance prompted the construction of the
Shelburne Museum by
wife Electra. The two retired and resided at their Vermont
property, the Brick House, until both passed away in 1960 within months of each
other. |
