Lynnewood Hall in Elkins Park was built for for industrialist Peter A. B. Widener between 1897 and 1900 and designed by Philadelphia architect Horace Trumbauer. | Photo: Peter Woodall
The superlatives begin to feel overused, but they are the only ways to describe Lynnewood Hall in Elkins Park and its founder. At 110 rooms, it is currently the largest surviving Gilded Age mansion in the Philadelphia area. Its 268-foot enfilade–a suite of rooms aligned to create an unobstructed view from one end of its east wing to the other end of the west wing–is the longest in any residential building in the United States. The estate was built between 1897 and 1899 for Peter A. B. Widener, who owned the most Rembrandts of any private collector except Buckingham Palace.
Widener had made his fortunes in several industries. First in streetcar transportation and later a a co-founder of both U.S. Steel and the American Tobacco Company. He had two purposes for the manor. After his wife died, he wanted to keep his sons and their families nearby and to live in one home. Also, he needed a large amount of space to display his massive art collection.
Inside Lynnewood Hall – Great Hall. | Photo: Peter Woodall
In addition to the aforementioned Rembrandts (14 in total), Widener owned many priceless works of art, including Raphael’s Small Cowper Madonna, Giovannia Bellini’s The Feast of the Gods, and many by Anthony Van Dyck, Titian, El Greco, Thomas Gainsborough, Edouard Manet, and more. The house featured five art galleries: one each for his Van Dycks, Rembrandts, Bellinis, Italian Renaissance works, and a general gallery near the grand entrance hall.
The architect for this massive project was Horace Trumbauer. Although he would later leave a significant mark on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway with his designs for the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Parkway Central Branch of the Free Library, at the turn of the 20th century he was primarily an architect of residences. These were at first modest houses such as Overbrook Farms, but Trumbauer quickly moved on to planning Gilded Age mansions for wealthy industrialists. In addition to the Neoclassical Revival Lynnewood Hall, he also designed the eclectic Grey Towers (now part of Arcadia University), the Edward Stotesbury Neo-Georgian mansion Whitemarsh Hall, since demolished, and Italian Renaissance style Elstowe Manor, for Widener’s business partner William Elkins, among others.
Inside Lynnewood Hall – Ballroom. | Photo: Peter Woodall
In addition to the galleries, Widener’s art collection shaped a number of other spaces in the house. The reception room next to the grand entrance hall was designed to accommodate a 9 x 15 foot tapestry by François Boucher, The Dream of Rinaldo, which dates to around 1751. An 18th century Italian mural remains on the ceiling of the ballroom, which Trumbauer and the interior designers likely planned with that artwork in mind.
For the house itself, Trumbauer matched the opulence of the art collection with every luxury appointment conceivable in 1897, including alabaster sinks in the bathroom, grand front doors of solid Florentine bronze, gilded moldings, and carved black walnut interior doors imported from London. The gardens were designed by landscape architect Jacques Greber, whose work included the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
Inside Lynnewood Hall – Rembrandt Gallery. | Photo: Peter Woodall
The extravagances went beyond the decorative. A central vacuum system was installed throughout the house, common today, but high-tech at the turn of the last century.
In the north wing, the attic houses a chain, pulley, and clock system that operated a series of louvers beneath the glass roof to guide daylight through the art galleries below. The Metropolitan Museum of Art had a similar system over its European collection, installed in 1939, but it was rare to see a feature like this in a residence.
In 1942, Joseph Widener, son of Peter A. B. Widener, donated over 2,000 paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts to the fledgling National Gallery of Art, following the lead of Andrew Mellon’s founding gift to the institution.
Inside Lynnewood Hall – Raphael Room. | Photo: Peter Woodall
Lynnewood Hall remained the home of four generations of Wideners until 1944. It was then purchased by Carl McIntire to house the Faith Theological Seminary, which operated there for several decades.
In the latter portion of their tenure, however, the school struggled financially and turned to selling furnishings and fixtures for revenue. Maintenance was deferred as well. When the gallery for Anthony Van Dyck experienced roof leaks in the 1960s, the seminary closed the doors and basically forgot about it.
The current owner of the mansion is Dr. Richard Yoon of the Korean Presbyterian Church of New York, who had attended the seminary there.
Inside Lynnewood Hall – En Suite Bathroom in Chamber C. | Photo: Peter Woodall
Now, another Lynnewood superlative has recently appeared. A scrappy group of individuals, from disparate locations and vocations, has united in the shared goal of preserving Lynnewood Hall, easily one of the biggest fundraising and conservation efforts ever undertaken by a newly-formed non-profit organization.
“We have the intention to acquire Lynnewood Hall,” said Angie van Scyoc, who works as a financial advisor and is the president of the Lynnewood Hall Preservation Foundation. For some, their drive comes from a broad interest in preservation, while others have a very specific focus. “I’ve been following this house online since I was 11-years-old. I had my first tour five years ago,” explained Edward Thome, a realtor from Central Pennsylvania. “It’s shocking how unknown it is in the Philadelphia area. On the internet, it’s possibly the most famous house.” That led him to reach out to the current owner, Richard Yoon, gaining his trust over time. “I now have a personal relationship with Dr. Yoon,” said Thome. “That’s how we have access to the house.”
Inside Lynnewood Hall – Smoking Room. | Photo: Peter Woodall
Each weekend, several volunteers travel a couple of hours to gather at the site, taking stock, cleaning up, and performing maintenance. Much of the time it’s just dirty work, but it is often punctuated with intriguing surprises. In the smoking room, there is a secret passage in one of the closets that leads to a marble bathroom that had formerly been a coatroom. An area near the family bedrooms on the second floor that houses 14 safes also features a secret room that is not included in the house plans.
The east and west wings contain bedrooms on the second floor. Architectural drawings for the house label them as Chamber A, B, etc. While being given a tour of Lynnewood Hall my hosts discovered that each bedroom had a brass letter on it, now painted over, that likely corresponded to the plans. “Every time we’re here we find something new,” remarked van Scyoc.
Inside Lynnewood Hall – 1899 graffiti in Eleanor Widener Jr’s bedroom. | Photo: Peter Woodall
Sometimes the vandalism uncovered unexpected things, like when the damage to a mirror over a fireplace revealed sketches and measurements that were likely the work of the original designers.
Given Lynnewood Hall’s size and elaborate details, there is surely more discoveries to be made, such as the silver vault in the butler’s pantry. “To the best of our knowledge it hasn’t been opened since the Wideners were here,” said Thome.
Although the financial side of the group’s plan is certainly daunting, the board members insist that the preservation side is not as dire as many people believe. “The house is not stripped,” said Greg Denesevich, an electrical engineer from Scranton who works in building design. “It’s not falling down.”
Inside Lynnewood Hall – Guest Suite/Chamber M. | Photo: Peter Woodall
“Our two biggest priorities are to get the word out that the house is intact, not a ruin, and also to get our mission out there,” Thome declared.
The fundraising goal has yet to be determined, but the group remains confident. “There is huge community interest and support for its preservation,” said Thome. “Area residents want the green space opened up and eventually they want to see the house, too.”
“We’re actively seeking a preservation-minded investor or preservationist,” explained van Scyoc. “The problem is, anyone who wants to preserve it fully doesn’t want to pay the purchase price.”
Inside Lynnewood Hall – Skylight in second floor East Wing. | Photo: Peter Woodall
Lynnewood Hall was included in the Historic American Buildings Survey, but that documentation does not confer any protections. “We’re working on a National Register [of Historic Places] nomination,” noted Jennifer Robinson, another board member and the director of preservation services for the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia. “That would come into play if a purchaser wanted to use historic tax credits to preserve.”
The group is taking a long view of their project. Robinson compares it to the lengthy timeframe used in the preservation and reinvention of Eastern State Penitentiary, envisioning a phased plan that would include educational preservation programs at the outset for the building trades, historic preservation students, and others. She thinks this type of programming could exist alongside other uses for portions of the mansion like small offices or a hotel.
Inside Lynnewood Hall – Breakfast Room. | Photo: Peter Woodall
Given these long-range plans and the generally solid physical state of the property, the group is preparing for a decades-long process. But they are not the only ones eyeing the estate’s potential. The group said the owner, Richard Yoon, told them he has been notified by Cheltenham Township that he needs to secure a buyer or they will use eminent domain to seize the property. Recently, the township’s Facilities Committee held a meeting to inform the public of an urgent need to overhaul their municipal buildings, stating that the remedies could include renovation of the current location or finding a new building.
In 2017, the township made several changes to its zoning code, including a new category, MU3 – Mixed Use District. According to its website, the updated code “represents the most significant zoning change for the affected properties, is intended for adaptive reuse (the former estates of Elkins Estate and Lynnewood Hall) and ‘new town mixed use’ developments. It incorporates detailed standards for building and street design, public space design, historic preservation standards for select parcels, sustainability bonuses, etc.” In a municipality as developed as Cheltenham Township, these new permitted uses could make Lynnewood Hall’s 33 acres highly desirable.
Inside Lynnewood Hall – Reception Room. | Photo: Peter Woodall
These events have put the Lynnewood Hall Preservation Foundation on alert, fearing eminent domain might lead to a destructive and undesirable reuse, from a historic preservation standpoint, or even demolition.
“One of our goals is to get people back to the site,” Greg Denesevich noted. “The Wideners used to open the house to the public to see the art.” Angie van Scyoc agreed, explaining “We look to the past to inspire the future.”
For more information about Lynnewood Hall Preservation Foundation: LynnewoodHallPreservation.org
The group might exploit Widener’s connection to the sinking of the Titanic, since many people have an interest in the Titanic. Widener died in the sinking. Also the captain was not on the bridge when the Titanic hit the iceberg because he was attending a party given by Widener.
Widener’s son and grandson died on the Titanic—he did not. His daughter in law survived. Widener was an investor in the Titanic and was consumed with guilt. Subsequently, his health deteriorated.
So you know the captain of the Titanic was not on the bridge?
What a great memory you may – not – have. Please just refrain unless you have something concrete to contribute to the conversation.
@JF:Your snippy rejoinder to Linda’s observation above was somewhat in-appropriate, without you posting your correction to her comment. It IS widely acknowledged that Captain Smith, spent the earlier part of that fateful eve of his ship’s demise, at a dinner party hosted by the Wideners in the Titanic’s first class restaurant. However,when the disaster commenced,he had already returned to his cabin to retire for the night, as it’s also documented that’s where he was when summoned to the bridge by the watch-officer a short time later.
This is so exciting! My Dad went to Faith Seminary there in the early 50’s! He raved about its beauty!
I would love to stay informed if the progress!
So grateful!
Unbelievable effort. Would like to be involved. Needs to be respectively preserved. Please.
A hotel can be installed in the original building and people can drive directly on Broad Street to get downtown or transportation provided at a nearby Regional Rail station
The Elkins Estate directly across the street from Lynnwood Hall is under development already. It is doubtful that the location can support another hotel. Cost to renovate the property is likely to be in excess of $15,000,00. The roof leaks and many of the rooms are in terrible condition. I spent 3 hours in Lynnwood Hall back in 2/2020. I toured the property with an experienced developer who had successfully completed large historic property preservation and repurposing. He thought the sale price combined with the local township zoning restrictions to be almost insurmountable barrier. to any preservation project. I hope he was mistaken.
Please with the bluster as ifyou have any knowledge whatsoever.
CORPORATE SPONSORS….. Go find them… a must for my experiences in this effort.
Make it an art museum/ bed and breakfast where guests can explore the museum at night with only a flashlight. I would loan my extensive and importan art collection on the condition that it not ever go to the city of Philadelphia, as the Barnes collection did. The city should be banned from ever receiving donated art.
I plan to support this effort. I would love to see space people could book
meetings and conferences.
I’m infatuated with this home, have always wondered about it’s preservation since I was a little boy. Hopefully I get to photograph it.
The property was purchased by the nonprofit Lynnewood Hall Preservation Foundation from longtime owner Richard S. Yoon, pastor of the First Korean Church of New York.
A woman by the name of Tracy Whitaker is claiming she purchased lynnewood hall. Has it been purchased?
Beautiful! With the biltmoor mansion so popular why wouldn’t someone invest! People would flock to this place!
I live close by and I have known about Lynnwood Hall most of my live. I believe this property should be converted into a beautiful Garden or Arboretum. The property should be completely restored to its former glory. It could easily be a smaller sublime version of Longwood Gardens. I’d like to offer any help I can as a Volunteer to help the estate and grounds. – Best David Carlin
BEAUTIFUL!! THIS IS A MATERPIECE THAT MUST BE PRESERVED FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS. I WOULD LOVE TO VOLUNTEER AND GIVE ANY INPUT POSSIBLE TO HELP WITH THE PRESERVATION OF THIS UNIQUE STRUCTURE.
Check out this recent exploration of the estate & some of the ongoing restoration work, by a Belgian Urban videographer that I just found. Although it appears to have been shot in midwinter of this year, it has only posted online this month.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tY48r8MkU1I
That video is of Elkins, neighboring Lynnwood.
I just saw your video on Brothers of Decay YouTube channel. Such an amazing estate! This could function just like Biltmore does in Asheville, North Carolina. If you can get some investors to come in, fix up the house and give tours you’ll see a return on the investment. I think Biltmore charges $80 per person now. I think they charge a little more at Christmas time. This would be an also an excellent bed and breakfast/wedding venue. It would be an absolute crime to demolish this piece of Pennsylvania history.
I loved Lynnwood Hall ever since imoved to the area and would love to see it brought back to its former glory. Everyone suggestions are great! I’d love to help any way I can.
Highest and best use probably a retirement home. Note the many small bedrooms in the servants’ quarters. State run or private enterprise?
Huh?
Was this estate used by the Franciscan Sisters in the 1960’s? I remember going to retreats in Elkins Park back then and the building was quite similar.
I don’t know what mixed used zoning can be used for but I can guarantee that if it was made into a hotel and catering hall that could host weddings the place would make a fortune!
Wow if that place could be restored it would be an awesome wedding venue where they could have the rooms that the bridal parties and families could stay. The ballroom would make an amazing background for a wedding. I hope something can be done to preserve that piece of history.
Such a large project.
Might think about selling a bedroom for a million dollars for a fortnight. Similar to a timeshare. But for the very rich.
This is a magnificent building, and the epitome of what historical preservation is and should be about. How it can be used is another question. As a museum, surely, to display great art collections. Perhaps every year, another great private collection could be shown there. It would be useful for many a movie or tv program setting. I don’t know if any area schools would have a need for it. Certainly, a hotel would be possible, or a spa, but its location would be a factor in that. Weddings would certainly desire their space. There are a number of British tv programs about the challenges of, more than restorying, operating such a building in a way that can survive, and it is very challenging. Most often, it seems to be for dining, weddings, events and hotel use. It is too bad he did not leave an endowment for its maintenance. Where is the family now?
I remember being there in about 1957. I had been the ring bearer for my uncle’s marriage to Dr. McIntire’s daughter, Marianna. I remember the huge front steps up to the entrance, and a staircase inside where Dr. McIntire was greeting guests. My cousin Sally was kind enough to send me the link to this site after I told her I recalled being at some kind of “palace.”
“Here is your palace,” she wrote.
My memory stops at that point because I probably was put to sleep in one of those rooms upstairs.
What a blessed surprise!
Many people could live there, young people who can’t afford rent could trade sweat equity , it’s a rt project, a music school, not another commercial spot hotel or air b n b, bring students in who can restore and live there w dignity and a project , theater and dance, painting and recitals , a school is perfect family and better use of space
Have they thought about doing it the same as Biltmore Mansion in North Carolina?
During my research on Fishtown & Kensington I found that Peter A. B. Widener’s mother (Sarah Fulmer)was a Fishtowner, she lived on Palmer Street. She was the daughter of Capt. John Fulmer (763-1824) & his wife Anna Maria Krouskop (1764-1842). The family name was originally Vollmer.
What a stunning beauty!! I do hope it can be refurbished to her original state! I love the idea of having student come help with the work!! What an experience as a co-op semester or two with hands on experience!!! Engineering, Art Majors and especially Interior Design students would have the opportunity of a lifetime and have made their mark with this restoration! I think there would be opportunities for other adults that would love to come volunteer their time and talents with preserving such a grand beauty!! I know I would!!! I am a designer, faux finshand experienced historic renovator and i would love to do a stint or two there! Lets explore the possibilities!!!
I would love to see Lynnewood Hall restored as it would be quite a gem for the Philadelphia area. The issue is funding and resources to accurately restore the property with proper management through to completion. Private and corporate sponsorships, philanthropy and celebrities affiliated with Philadelphia might want to assist. Architects, designers, construction trades, volunteers, etc. would need to collaborate to take on such a project of this scale. I’m currently on the West coast or I would jump on the opportunity to be part of the renovation in some capacity. Please keep me posted and best wishes for restoration!