The Strangest House in the World : George Daynor Fights (the) Depression. New Jersey resident George Daynor stands before his muck house in 1939. Press photograph with caption on reverse.
Some "outsider" artists who build environments are shy, but Daynor was Howard Finster with an even bigger bent for attention. An early fame whore. He used his junk-made Vineland environment to attract visitors and fame. Here is an excerpt from Wiki:
"George Daynor claims that he was guided to New Jersey by an angel, who provided the design for the palace. Completed on Christmas Day 1932, the palace was built on 7 acres which cost him seven dollars. Daynor said that his palace was "the greatest piece of originality ever brought about in the history of Man." He would charge 25 cents for a tour.
Daynor was a publicity hog and claimed to be "the most photographed man in the world." After Peter Weinberger was kidnapped on 4 July 1956, Daynor called the FBI and falsely reported that the kidnappers had visited the palace. The FBI followed the false claim and Daynor was imprisoned for a year.
The Palace of Depression was linked with another disappearance, that of William Ebenezer Jones III, who went missing in 1962; the grounds of the Palace of Depression were dug up, but no body was ever found."
Not much of the joint left...only the ticket booth. Plenty about George and his Palace of Depression on the Web, but I don't see this pic. Wikipedia is HERE
Press photograph 1939 Collection Jim Linderman
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