HISTORICAL SOCIETY'S LATEST BOOK CHRONICLES LIFE OF VANDERBILT HEIRESS
PALM BEACH, Fla. (February 17, 2005)---Robert Ganger, a retired corporate executive and supporter of many local historical and preservation institutions, has released his first book, "Lila Vanderbilt Webb's Miradero: Window on an Era." Published by the Historical Society of Palm Beach County, the biography chronicles the life and legacy of heiress Lila Vanderbilt Webb, the granddaughter of shipping and railroad magnate, Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, and daughter of William Henry Vanderbilt, the heir to the Commodore's fortune.
Ganger's account emphasizes Webb's years wintering in the Palm Beaches, where she eventually designed and built a stately winter home in Gulf Stream, Fla. in 1932 called Miradero, which is Spanish for "lookout." Through rare historical images, personal letters, newspaper accounts and interviews with Webb's grandchildren, Ganger provides a unique glimpse into the power and privilege of Gilded Age life, and the transformation of Palm Beach from a tropical wilderness to an exclusive resort island.
Lila Vanderbilt Webb is considered one of the least known siblings of the famed Vanderbilt dynasty. Born into the wealthiest family in the nation, she first arrived in Palm Beach in 1899. For the next three decades, she was a fixture in prominent society, attending many exclusive events including the highlight of the social season, Henry Flagler's Bal Poudre held at Whitehall, his home in Palm Beach. Ganger's book is a character study of Webb's efforts to shed her strict, Victorian upbringing and take control of her life, despite a series of personal setbacks, which include her dynamic husband's addiction to morphine. The remarkable woman, whose life has been called "mythically grand" by many historians, drew strength from adversities to create a life full of tangible accomplishments.
The Webb family is best known for developing their renowned country estate, Shelburne Farms in Vermont . It is now a non-profit environmental education center operated by the Webb heirs and is listed as a National Historic Landmark.
The Ganger family purchased Miradero in 1969, saving it from certain destruction. In the mid-1990s, Robert Ganger began the painstaking process of restoring the home for use as his personal residence. With the help of state and local preservationists, he has attempted to maintain as much of Lila Webb’s original design as practical. The commencement of the restoration effort was the catalyst for his interest in the Webb legacy and developing this biographical account.
Robert Ganger is principal of the Gulf Stream Consulting Group, a strategic planning resource firm for emerging companies. He was previously vice president of development for Kraft General Foods. A proponent of preserving and sharing local history, Ganger serves on the board of directors for the Historical Society of Palm Beach County and the Delray Beach Historical Society, and is an active member of the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation. He is also the president of the Gulf Stream Civic Association.
“Lila Vanderbilt Webb’s Miradero: Window on an Era” is on sale for $35 and can be purchased through the Historical Society of Palm Beach County or at selected local book stores, including Classic Book Shop in Palm Beach and Past Perfect Florida History in Boynton Beach. A portion of the proceeds from the book’s sale will benefit the Historical Society. A book signing and lecture with Ganger will be held at the Society for the Four Arts on March 16, and at Bethesda-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Palm Beach on April 25 as part of the Historical Society’s lecture series.
For more information, or to order a copy of the book, call the Historical Society of Palm Beach County at (561) 832-4164, or visit www.historicalsocietypbc.org.
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