The Italian Villa style residence of Mrs. Theresa Rooney Fair designed by Charles Kenitzer once situated on the northwest corner of Pine and Jones Streets, was magnificent from any vantage point. The Fairmont Hotel atop Nob Hill is named for the Fairs. Mrs. Fair was married to Irish immigrant, mining engineer, and United States Senator, James Graham Fair. In 1859, at the age of 28, Fair became one of four partners, along with John Mackay, James Flood, William O’Brien in the fabled Comstock Lode, the largest single deposit of silver and gold ever discovered. Before it was depleted in 1898, more than a half billion dollars (a half-trillion in today’s currency) in ore was mined there. Their daughter, Theresa Fair Oelrichs built Rosecliff in Newport, RI in 1899, and their other daughter, Virginia married William K. Vanderbilt II.
