The History of the C.V. Rich Mansion
Protecting our important historic home.
This stunning Italian Renaissance Revival home is situated on 3.5 acres land and conveniently located near major highways and train stations.
The home of the Woman’s Club of White Plains, the CV Rich Mansion, is one of only a handful of special properties in White Plains listed on the National and State Registries of Historic Places. This beautiful house has been lovingly maintained by the Woman’s Club of White Plains since it was purchased in 1931.
Built as a summer home for a wealthy stockbroker, it was completed in 1911. The property consisted of 41 acres with a barn (now a private home on Ridgeway Circle). Built in the style of an Italianate villa the house today remains essentially unchanged and retains many original features including the library bookcases, sconces and lighting, 19th century murals, a marble fountain, and fireplaces.
Charles Vanderlip Rich purchased the home in 1916 and lived in the mansion with his wife and two children, employing seven servants. The family-owned the property until 1932 when they sold the mansion and four acres to the Woman’s Club of White Plains for $87,000
The Woman’s Club immediately began building an auditorium so they could bring the community into their historic home. They hosted summer theater, lectures, candidate debates, large group community meetings, and even became a Red Cross Station during World War II. Noted guest lectures have included Eleanor Roosevelt, Helen Keller, Ann Sullivan, Carl Sandburg and David Mc Cullough. A note of congratulation was received from the Hoover Administration for creating jobs and employing the men of White Plains. ( This of course was during the Great Depression).
Today at the CV Rich Mansion Woman’s Club members spend thousands of hours a year conducting volunteer projects, hosting events and raising funds for local non-profit organizations and for the restoration of our beautiful home.
Maintaining our Historic Home and Gardens is a community effort. If you’d like to contribute to its legacy, any amount is greatly appreciated.
Events at the C.V. Rich Mansion
We offer a variety of event spaces from a half-house to the entire mansion. A Half-house rental is the perfect size for a shower or anniversary party. The House and Gardens are most commonly used for smaller, more intimate gatherings, or for cocktail hours during larger scale events and special occasions. The Grand Ballroom, used for most larger events has a dramatic ceiling height and a neutral color palette to compliment any styled event!
A beautifully restored elegant historic venue with a modern function!
The CV Rich Mansion, which is listed on the National and State Register of Historic Places, is situated on 3.5 acres of lush lawn and attractive, terraced gardens with parking for approximately 125 cars. An Italianate villa built in 1911; the mansion retains all its original charm but has been updated to accommodate what today’s consumers are looking for in an event venue.
The main floor features original-to-the-house marble fireplaces in the spacious and appealing living room, dining room and library. A palette of creams and greys are used throughout the living room providing a neutral and timeless backdrop for photos. French doors lead to the covered patio and gardens, a perfect setting for a warm weather cocktail hour, outdoor dinner, or wedding ceremony.
In the wood-paneled, club style library, there are leatherette winged back chairs, oriental carpet, and other furniture in warm colors. A leather bench surrounding the decorative fireplace completes the seating area. The library also overlooks the gardens and holds the Woman’s Club collection of memorabilia including pictures of the previous owners of the house, Charles and Ethel Rich.
On the right side of the house, the airy, bright glass-enclosed sunroom provides views of the beautiful gardens that boast seasonal blooming flowers, bushes, trees, and grasses. On the left, the Tea Room with its marble fireplace and marble fountain is both charming and cozy, perfect for more intimate gatherings.
Planning a wedding? The upper floor includes beautifully appointed rooms for the bride and groom, both with adjoining restrooms. An additional restroom is located on the second floor as well.
The Ballroom is one of the only venues in southern Westchester to seat up to 220 guests!
Our stunning Ballroom features 50ft high ceilings and can seat up to 220 for a formal reception. The space can be configured to accommodate most needs from weddings to corporate meetings. Soundproofing has been installed for your guests’ comfort and Wi-Fi is available throughout the venue. Also decorated in neutral colors, the ballroom will work with any floral or special lighting design. There is a large lobby with separate entrance in which you can greet or check-in guests. Restrooms are located on the first floor of the ballroom along with lounges for both men and women on the lower level.
The Gardens is a perfect spot for beautiful ceremonies or cocktails!
Situated on 3.5 acres of expertly maintained property, the C.V. Rich Mansion features outdoor gardens that make for a fabulous backdrop for your event. This also includes not just one, but TWO outdoor ceremony locations to choose from. During the event, you and your guests can pose near the original gilded-era architecture or lush green grounds for the perfect shot.
Non-Catered Events - Popular for corporate retreats with great flexibility!
The unique layout of the house and ballroom also make the mansion the perfect location for corporate or social groups. Partial house rentals which include either the Sun Room or the Tea Room are available for small gatherings or meetings. For larger events, the house or the ballroom can be rented, or you can choose to engage the entire mansion. The mansion has hosted fundraisers, meetings for social or religious groups, photo shoots, TV and movie filming and corporate training.
The CV Rich Mansion is a stunningly beautiful venue for every type of event!
The CV Rich Mansion is the perfect location for large and small events, from corporate seminars to fundraisers to family occasions such as weddings and bar/bat mitzvahs.
Are you interested in renting out our historic home?
We invite you to contact our Events Manager below to schedule a house tour and learn more about our offerings.
