Well, I have no idea what amount they would have had to cough up by 1968. Â But, I remember hearing on the America's Castles cable program once that many of those great old sprawling mansions might never have been if they had not been built prior to the advent of personal income taxes. Â I'm not sure exactly when that was but I think it may have been around the turn of the last century. Â So, Collinwood itself may have the lack of taxes to thank for its very existence. Â
Maybe the Collinses would have to do with Collinwood what the Vanderbilts do with the Breakers in Newport, Castlebee. The Vanderbilts actually still own the place, but "rent" it to Newport for like a couple bucks a year for all those tours. The family spends maybe a week or so a year there, when it's then closed to the public. That way, they get to write it off on their taxes and keep it even though they really can't afford to use it.
Imagine the tours going through Collinwood. "And if you look into this room, recently discovered after being walled up, you'll see a skeleton in Victorian garb sitting next to a gramaphone. Please, sir, stay on this side of the velvet rail. Now, if you'll all follow me, you'll notice a very interesting nursery which sometimes is a linen closet. Let's see which one it is now......"
Gerard
