Who owned Vanderbilt's before it was Vanderbilt... I remember hearing it was 150 years old by the time they purchased it and had two prior owners?

The Hyde park house was built by them in the 1890s. Had been owned by Astors and a Dr Baird w/o developed it in 1764 and another owner in 1820s.

Frederick Vanderbilt and his wife weren’t fond of living in Newport being very quiet people who weren’t big on parties so they decided Hyde Park was more their speed.

Does the book Until The Dawn contain facts about the Vanderbilts?

Gosh it did but can't recall the name right now. The Vanderbilt's pretty much took that completely done ans rebuilt. Very interesting