▁in ▁the ▁formation ▁of ▁the ▁giant ▁U . S . ▁Ste el ▁manufact uring ▁concern . ▁He ▁also ▁fin anced ▁the ▁construction ▁of ▁the ▁Pennsylvania ▁Rail road ▁and ▁the ▁Reading ▁Company , ▁and ▁had ▁extensive ▁real ▁estate ▁hold ings ▁in ▁Pitts burgh ▁and ▁throughout ▁the ▁state ▁of ▁Pennsylvania . ▁He ▁later ▁built ▁the ▁historic ▁ne oc lass ical ▁Fr ick ▁M ansion ▁( now ▁a ▁land mark ▁building ▁in ▁Manh attan ), ▁and ▁upon ▁his ▁death ▁don ated ▁his ▁extensive ▁collection ▁of ▁old ▁master ▁paint ings ▁and ▁fine ▁furn iture ▁to ▁create ▁the ▁celebrated ▁Fr ick ▁Collection ▁and ▁art ▁museum . ▁ ▁However , ▁as ▁a ▁found ing ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁South ▁F ork ▁Fish ing ▁and ▁Hun ting ▁Club , ▁he ▁was ▁also ▁in ▁large ▁part ▁responsible ▁for ▁the ▁alter ations ▁to ▁the ▁South ▁F ork ▁Dam ▁that ▁caused ▁its ▁failure , ▁leading ▁to ▁the ▁cat ast roph ic ▁John st own ▁Flo od . ▁ ▁His ▁veh ement ▁opposition ▁to ▁un ions ▁also ▁caused ▁violent ▁conflict , ▁most ▁not ably ▁in ▁the ▁Hom est ead ▁St rike . ▁ ▁Early ▁life ▁Fr ick ▁was ▁born ▁in ▁West ▁Over ton , ▁West mor eland ▁County , ▁Pennsylvania , ▁in ▁the ▁United ▁States , ▁a ▁grand son ▁of ▁Abraham ▁Over hol t , ▁the ▁owner ▁of ▁the ▁prosper ous ▁Over hol t ▁Wh is key ▁dist illery ▁( see ▁Old ▁Over hol t ). ▁▁ ▁Fr ick ' s ▁father , ▁John ▁W . ▁Fr ick , ▁was ▁un success ful ▁in ▁business