Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Saving A Mansion

Tuesday of this week I was driving home
and as usual I had the gps on
but I often take other roads
just to discover new things.

www.rebeccahaegelephotography.com

I didn't expect too much as I was not
in the best part of town.
In fact, I usually avoid this area altogether.

www.rebeccahaegelephotography.com

Ignoring the drug deal I just witnessed
on a busy intersection in broad daylight,
I continued driving.

www.rebeccahaegelephotography.com

♪ ♫ ♩ ♬  {Insert Angels Singing}  ♪ ♫ ♩ ♬ 

www.rebeccahaegelephotography.com

I discovered Lynnewood Hall.
♪ ♫ ♩ ♬

Researching this mansion,
I learned that it was designed by gilded age architect,
Horace Trumbauer for Peter A. Widener in the late 1800s.
(You really can't live in Philadelphia 
without stumbling across Trumbauer's works.) 

Today Lynnewood Hall is owned by the First Korean Church of New York
but it remains vacant because of a stalemate
between Cheltenham Twp. and the owners.
The owners wanted a zoning variance to use the property as a church,
the township has refused their appeal for a variance.

So the mansion sits vacant, neglected and crumbling.
It makes me angry that we will end up losing another
historically and architecturally significant masterpiece through neglect.

You can read more here about the history of Lynnewood Hall.

Please sign this petition!
You can also join the facebook group Save Lynnewood Hall.



The Party's Here!  (Blog Link Ups)

 My blog posts to my facebook page:  

28 comments:

MadSnapper said...

I hopped over to your other site and that Gate is wonderful all by itself. what a shame to let this just fall apart.
there is not much left in America to save. hope this one is saved.

Mersad said...

Like Sandra, I also visited your main website for more photos, and I also love the Gate. Such a beautiful place, well worth saving and risking to be eye witness in a drug deal in order to take photos of it! :)

Mersad
Mersad Donko Photography

Inspired By June said...

What a beautiful place - you don't "stumble" across a mansion like this every day!

Kmcblackburn said...

Beautiful gates and iron work!

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson said...

It's things like this that make me love to travel out of the way places. What a gorgeous place. Love the ironwork and the building is amazing! I love history also. Thanks for visiting my blog.
hugs,
Jann

Sarah Huizenga said...

I heard the angels singing right along with you :) It looks like the White House. I bet you want to go inside.

Diana said...

Looks like it came directly from England--so beautiful. Visiting via Thurs. Favorite Things :) Hope you have a great week-end. Blessings, Diana
Adirondack Girl @ Heart

jviola79 said...

What a beautiful building. I truly do hope they are able to save it. I visited from Thurs. Favorite Things this morning.

Katherines Corner said...

its a beautiful building, I really hop they will save it. Thank you for sharing your lovely blog at the Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop xo

Party of 5 said...

I hope they rethink demolishing the building. There's so little of history left in many communities.

Kim Cunningham said...

A great stumble! Love the iron work!

Anonymous said...

Oh wow, that was definitely worth the adventure! Lynnewood Hall is absolutely stunning! You simply don't see places like this here in the states...how sad that they are going to tear it down.

TexWisGirl said...

that fence and gate is amazing! the mansion, i hope, can be saved in time.

thank you for linking in!

Roan said...

WOW! It would be terrible to lose such a beautiful piece of architecture.

Farm Girl said...

What a lovely place and what lovely fences. It makes me so sad to see that place going to ruin.

Kerry said...

What a place. I signed the petition. Why not? I hope this building is saved.

Turn The Page said...

What a beauty! This is truly a keeper! Great post! Aloha

Karen @ Beatrice Euphemie said...

Oh, I hope it gets saved! It's rather beautiful even as it ages. Love the fence and gate. - Karen

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

HI I watched the video and am heart broken that this historic and beautiful building may turn into a complete ruin. It should be restored for the nation, The gates and surrounding fence are very impressive and I am glad you made this discovery on your way home. Have a great weekend.

21 Wits said...

Such a worthy place worth saving, great photos too, I'm happy you kept going and found this place.

Ileana said...

Beautiful place! I hope this building can be saved

Ruth Kelly said...

You would think that the town might care about this building and the historic value. Why are some people so stubborn?

Unknown said...

what a magnificent building just to sit there and let go to ruins. because of the area, makes you wonder if people are living in it anyway. great find!

Pauline said...

I find it hard to believe that such a magnificent building can exist and everyone for miles and miles around doesn't know about it and protest loudly about its state of neglect. And it seems incredible that the parties involved aren't working hard at finding a solution so that it can be preserved. I hope your post generates some support for the cause. Rebecca.

Brian King said...

Love the ornamental iron and rust!

Barb said...

This beautiful structure is well worth saving. Great photos too.

GingerV said...

shows what good things we can find when we get out of our comfort zone. really a wonderful building. seems kind of large to use as a church. kind of a sad story isn't it.
ginger

Mimi said...

What a waste of such a stately old mansion. Love the gates :)