Mansion

The primary structure on the site is the Glen Foerd mansion, built as an Italianate country house in the mid-1800s. In this period, high profits of the owning class allowed them to build private getaways where they could escape the hustle and bustle of Philadelphia’s urban center and assert their social standing through impressive design. Originally known as Glengarry, this estate was constructed for Charles Macalester, a wealthy financier who purchased considerable acreage bordered by the Delaware River. Macalester not only created his own estate on this land but also built several homes for relatives and other prominent Philadelphians to reside in or retreat to, establishing the area of Torresdale. The names Torresdale and Glengarry paid homage to Macalester’s heritage, their namesake both ancestral homes in Scotland.

The house was enlarged in 1902 after being purchased by the Foederer family, industrialists who owned a prominent leathermaking business. At that point, the estate was renamed “Glen Foerd” to represent both periods of ownership. The interiors were especially transformed with elaborate details. Smaller adaptations to the house and grounds continued for several years.

Italianate features of the house include the hipped roof and ornamental brackets. You can still conjure the house’s exterior in its original state: Imagine a wrap-around porch encircling the central three-story structure, with the north wing removed, and a cupola at the center of the roof.