Jack & Helen Frye Story – the Camelot Years of TWA
Frye Aviation Legacy
Transcontinental & Western Air, Inc. Trans World Airlines TWA
By Randall Reynolds
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TWA Executive Mansion Doubleday Washington D.C.
Called ‘Hillcrest Farm’ by the Frye’s, ‘Four Winds’ by Howard Hughes, and the ‘TWA Executive Residence’ by the Press. Currently the property is called ‘The Cedars’. As a landmark it’s known as the Doubleday Mansion. For a moment in time this stately TWA Executive Mansion played a role that boggles the mind. It entertained dignitaries like the White House as music spilled out over the pool and gardens down to the banks of the Potomac. Partnerships were clinched and countries came together; history was forged. TWA encompassed the world!
’A colonial mansion resided in by two remarkable people, a couple so charismatic, that 65-years later they are remembered as legends! With a seemingly endless circle of friends, they empowered the world. An estate with a carpet welcoming all to the ‘Camelot Years’ of Transcontinental & Western Air and the glorious Future of Aviation! (Current images of the mansion above and below)
The Breakfast Room of the mansion was professionally decorated at Helen’s guidance in the mid-1940’s. Although the above image is black & white, we know from research the fabric of this room and others displayed a stunning pallet of cream and hibiscus orange red with cream gardenia flowers. Please note this was not the formal dining room of the mansion
Helen was an artist and interior decorator as evident by her furnishings of the TWA mansion at Washington D.C. Graced in a patriot theme from flag accented carpet to colonial wall hangings, Jack and Helen’s vision was a welcoming showplace which would entertain airline dignitaries from around the world. Why? Because at the development of the TWA Lockheed Constellation Jack’s goal was to secure routes for Round-the-World service
The Doubleday Mansion pool was a treasured luxury updated by the Frye’s which they used as a quiet retreat from their harried life in Washington D.C. They loved to swim and entertaining poolside, swimming areas were found at all their homes. (Above) we see Helen’s niece Sheryl enjoying a Coca-Cola by the pool with a neighbor boy (1947). Funny what children remember….
In a letter to Frye architect John Gaw Meem in Santa Fe, N.M., Helen describes the mansion’s pool area- “we have a swimming pool here in Washington that has dressing rooms under a flagstone walk around the pool, and we have a dickens of a time to keep the rain from leaking through. I have even had it torn up and re-cemented underneath and still it leaks badly”. (January 16, 1945) Jack and Helen Frye were both avid swimmers. They swam frequently at their 5-acre estate at Overland Park Kansas which had a large pond and stream flowing through the rear of the property. They also loved to swim in Oak Creek which snaked through their 700-acre ranch at Sedona Arizona. This was the motivation that drove the Frye’s to create a beautiful swimming sanctuary at the Doubleday Mansion. They not only entertained poolside frequently but would relax in the refreshing waters late in the evenings to unwind before retiring. The pressure on Jack Frye as head of TWA before and after the war would have destroyed an average man. No one describes it better than Helen herself in letters to Frye friend in Flagstaff Arizona (Timothy Riordan) as seen below. Helen Frye Letters describes mansion life, “We are now established in our country house in Washington, which in my opinion, is a pretty poor substitute for the ranch, but still very, very much better than hotel life. The house is about two hundred years old and has seventy acres of land with a lovely swimming pool. We are going to get a couple of riding horses and stock the place soon. Do you think you could ever consider an Eastern trip? Jack and I would both enjoy very much having you come and spend a month with us.” Helen Frye, Hillcrest Farm, Falls Church, Virginia, February 21, 1944. “We have a new pet, which is a little unusual and I want to tell you about it. About three weeks ago right after a bad thunderstorm, Sonja, my big police dog, found a baby hawk on the lawn. He was all by himself, no momma, no papa, and he couldn’t fly even downhill. I told Sonja not to hurt it and of course she didn’t but she was very curious and had to sniff him all over. The hawk refused to back up an inch and sat back on his tail, put his feet up and opened his mouth and dared anyone to touch him. When I picked him up, he stuck his talons in my fingers until it was very painful, but he soon got over that and has been very gentle since. I kept him for a week. At first, I put him in the wastepaper basket at night, then inside an inverted lampshade, but finally had to settle for the top of the door to the bedroom as he was very unhappy except when he was on the highest spot in the room. One day I sat him in the window and the robins outside got very excited and the baby responded very excited too. I have known of other birds caring for young of another species when something would happen to their parents and I thought since the baby was so anxious to get to them that they were going to adopt him. I put him out on the roof, but it was a mistake. The baby Thunderbird lost his balance and fell off the roof and only kept from hurting himself because a limb of a tree broke his fall. Then the robins started dive-bombing him and the little fellow caught on very quick; he ran for cover and was very glad to see me when I arrived. The Thunderbird won’t eat anything but raw meat and seldom ever takes a drink of water but goes for lemonade once in awhile. I carried him around on my shoulder every time I went outside, thinking that sooner or later he would feel confident enough to fly away, and after a week of care he did fly away. We didn’t think we would ever see him again, but he showed up the next day at the pool and has been there every day since. He comes down and lights on your head or arm and makes little bird noises and eats what you have for him– which is either parts of Sonja’s horse meat or the lung or liver of a chicken. My houseman is quite fond of him too and spends his leisure hours every day giving the bird a bath. Although the swimming pool is there and shallow water goes over the rim, this Thunderbird likes his bath in a pie-pan and assisted by his own personal valet. He really soaks himself good but never drinks it. All the liquid I’ve ever seen him drink is blood and lemonade
We have had the League of Nations represented here this week and all of them, you understand, are in direct line of business and most of its post-war planning. Col. Shoop, who was the first man out on the invasion on ‘D’ day, flying a P-38, and the first man back to report- was here for a dinner of hot dogs cooked over the barbecue at the pool late one evening. His tales are very exciting and interesting, and I guess he is very lucky to be back here now, although he will return soon. He says those bombs- the robot ones- are really terrible. This fellow was test pilot for the Constellation and was on the trip coming across. We have had during the past week guests from France, Holland, Arabia, China, South America, New Zealand, Egypt, Canada, Scotland, Africa
Insert- From Wiki:
Clarence A. Shoop
In 1943, he met his future wife, actress Julie Bishop, while on the set of Princess O’Rourke. The couple married in 1944 in the Falls Church, Virginia, residence of TWA president Jack Frye.[6][7] At the invitation of Eleanor Roosevelt, the couple had a short honeymoon at her home in Hyde Park, New York.[8]
There’s no use explaining to you why my husband hasn’t any time to go visiting. I am more thankful every day for the swimming pool; otherwise, he would be doing like he did the last three years– working in the hotel and office all the time. Now he often takes his people to the pool and they can keep cool, bodily, as well as mentally, while they work on their plans. Last night at midnight you would have probably gotten a kick out of seeing him and another man, like two porpoises in the pool, just leisurely moving about under a big moon. It looked like pleasure but when you got close enough to hear them, they were working on very serious business.” Helen Frye, Hillcrest Farm, Falls Church (Arlington VA.) July 10, 1944
Other renovations on the Doubleday Mansion (medicine cabinets) are discussed with Frye architect John Gaw Meem, Flagstaff, he was working on a Sedona home (House of Apache Fires) for the Frye’s. “This old house we have remodeled here in Washington had some corner lavatories. I like them even though the medicine cabinet goes to one side or the other. The side for the best light can be chosen and they take less room. I used two of them here.” Signed Helen Frye (October 27th, 1946)
Jack and Helen Frye were both avid swimmers. They swam frequently at their 5-acre estate at Overland Park Kansas which had a large pond and stream flowing through the rear of the property. They also loved to swim in Oak Creek which snaked through their 700-acre ranch at Sedona Arizona. This was the motivation that drove the Frye’s to create a beautiful swimming sanctuary at the Doubleday Mansion. They not only entertained poolside frequently but would relax in the refreshing waters late in the evenings to unwind before retiring. The pressure on Jack Frye as head of TWA before and after the war would have destroyed an average man. No one describes it better than Helen herself in letters to a Frye friend in Arizona as seen below. Also it must be stated Howard Hughes was a frequent guest and had his own set of rooms
President of TWA Jack Frye (1930-1947) and his wife Helen Varner Vanderbilt Frye with V.I.P. guests aside his Lockheed Lodestar at Washington D.C. There’s a reason Helen Frye was known as ‘Mrs. TWA’! Talk about class, she was the face of elegance and poise, as Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt, and later Mrs. Jack Frye. On Constellation flights back and forth across the nation Helen often assisted TWA Hostesses in serving passengers (and entertaining) while Jack served as captain with his flight crew (1946)
Seen (right to left) Irma Protzmann Hannegan (wife of Robert Hannegan, U.S. Postmaster General & Chairman of Democratic National Committee), Kathryn Murphy Nunan (wife of Joseph D. Nunan Jr. Internal Revenue Commissioner), President of TWA Jack Frye & wife Helen Varner Vanderbilt Frye. Frye TWA Private Hostess (Attendant Stewardess) Harriet Appelwick is seen in doorway, others are unknown. The lady next to Helen, though, is thought to be an emissary-diplomat for a country which Frye was trying to secure TWA routes from. Image was taken at the deplaning of a flight with Jack and Helen Frye, the aircraft shown is Frye’s Private TWA Lockheed Lodestar NC33604. The location was Washington D.C. (Washington National Airport) DCA. The circumstances are not known, however, another flight close to this timeframe was in connection with a Democratic junket (vacation) the Frye’s took to Florida with Robert Hannegan (Chairman of the Democratic National Committee) and his wife Irma. The passengers shown are some of the most politically connected of the Roosevelt administration, Jack too was one of the most powerful men of the Democratic Party in the 1940’s and 1950’s (Roosevelt and Truman administrations). Jack was even asked to run for President of the United States (according to his daughter) in the 1950’s. Another interesting note on Jack and Helen Frye were they were invited to White House dinners several times. As testament to this, Helen was endeared to President Roosevelt when he would feed his terrier Fala from the table. Helen was a animal lover and even helped found the Sedona Humane Society! Also it was said Jack Frye was the only White House intimate who was allowed access to the Oval Office day or night! The Lodestar could board 14-passengers with 3-crew members (1945). The image cited was originally a Reni News Photo but appears copyright has not been updated or renewed to our current time frame of 2025. Therefore the image is displayed in accordance with fair use practice and thought to be ‘public domain’. The image is displayed as historically significant and in a manner which does not generate profit, any infringement on the copyright of said is not intentional. On file at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library. Truman Library image(s) hold specialized copyrights & usage fees –paid by Sedona Legend
The Frye TWA Mansion on the shores of the Potomac shortly after Jack and Helen Frye vacated the property, the Fryes relocated to their Georgetown townhouse in 1947
Sedona TWA Online Presentations:
Standard Airlines – Aero Corporation 1920’s
Transcontinental & Western Air TWA 1930’s
TWA President Jack Frye Northrop Gamma 2D
Transcontinental & Western Air TWA 1940’s
A-Broad With Eleven Yanks – A Memorial to Boeing Superfortress 42-24698
TWA President Jack Frye Executive Plane Lockheed Electra 12A
TWA President Jack Frye Executive Plane Lockheed Electra 12A Robinson
TWA President Jack Frye Executive Plane Lockheed Lodestar 18
TWA Executive Mansion Doubleday Washington D.C.
Winslow Airport TWA Hub & Cross-Country Service
Mr. & Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jr. (Helen and Neil)
Sedona Frye Tumblr Blog
Sedona Legend Web Site is a copyrighted historic photo enhanced narrative presented for educational and entertainment purposes. Images are displayed in regard to the United States Fair Use Act and private archives. Sedona Legend was envisioned and created to provide Red Rock State Park visitors with a comprehensive historic overview of Jack and Helen Frye’s Sedona ranches and Jack Frye’s involvement with Standard Airlines and TWA. Sedona TWA is totally non-profit and generates no income, nor does it seek or has it ever accepted a single donation, it is independently funded by Sedona Legend Publishing. Sedona Legend is encouraged by the many friends of Jack and Helen Frye and was launched at Sedona’s Red Rock State Park as result of volunteering for (two) 6-month sojourns. A gracious thank you to Red Rock State Park staff and volunteers for their enthusiasm and the Frye and Varner families for their invaluable support
23-years of Research & Presentation
Created By Randall D. Reynolds (Sedona Legend Publishing)
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