Thomas DeKay Winans | |
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| Born | December 6, 1820 Vernon, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | June 10, 1878 (aged 57) Newport, Rhode Island, U.S. |
| Resting place | Green Mount Cemetery |
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Thomas DeKay Winans (December 6, 1820 – June 10, 1878)
https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/94b47c90-d6f4-0132-71f9-58d385a7b928
https://npg.si.edu/exh/brady/gallery/15gal.html
https://www.nga.gov/collection/provenance-info.22701.html#biography
Son of Ross Winans, he was also an inventor and involved with both railroad and maritime engineering. He, along with his brother William, contracted to build the railroad from Moscow to Saint Petersburg for Tsar Nicholas I from 1843-1850. They set up their locomotive works shop in Alexandroffsky. Here he met and married his wife Celeste Louise Revillon. They returned to Baltimore where he built a Russian-inspired house named Alexandroffsky at 838 Hollins Street at the corner of Baltimore and Fremont Streets. It was one of the earliest "automated" houses in the US introducing a form of a thermostat-controlled gas heating system. He also installed revolving floors to move heavy tables and chairs aside as needed. The grounds featured many greenhouses to accommodate their collection of plants acquired from around the world. Their collection of outdoor statuary featuring some unclad figures caused so much concern and complaint from their neighbors that he erected a high brick wall around the entire property which covered nearly a full city block. (It was also said that people were using his grounds for their own personal amusement which might prompt a fence, but the wall provided complete privacy.)
He also built Orianda house at his "country" estate named the Crimea in what is now known as Leakin Park. The estate consisted of about 600 acres and there he practiced some experimental farming techniques. He built a chapel there for his beloved wife following her death. They are both buried in the family vault at Green Mount.