Cairnwood- Bryn Athyn, PA

If you were a Captain of Industry during the Gilded Age, you absolutely had to have at least one Beaux Arts mansion; if you were a Robber Baron, you probably had several. Imposing, grand and dramatic, these houses were built to impress. And they still do, over a century later. One such house is Cairnwood, a Carrère and Hastings creation located on the outskirts of Philadelphia.

This magnificent mansion was built in 1895 for industrialist John Pitcairn, Jr., a Scottish born immigrant who left school at fourteen to work as an office boy for the Pennsylvania Railroad. Quickly rising in ranks, he ultimately left the railroad business to focus on the emerging oil industry. He went on to found one of the country’s first refineries, before building the nation’s first natural gas pipeline. In 1883, along with John Baptiste Ford, he formed the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, the first successful mass producer of the product, which is still a Fortune 500 company. So, in short, he had plenty of money for a substantial country home.

Built of brick and limestone, the sprawling 28 room, L shaped mansion has many classic characteristics, but assumes an almost chateau-like appearance. It lacks many traditional Beaux Arts features, such as heavy ornamentation, and includes a turret, which houses a chapel. Inside, it is substantially lighter than many other homes of the era. Despite it’s size and grandeur, it almost feels informal, which would be appropriate for a country house.

Downstairs are several stunning spaces, including a French inspired living room, a library, and a striking curved wall dining room. Vast stone and marble fireplaces anchor the almost intimate spaces. Upstairs, the rooms are a bit more utilitarian, but grand nevertheless. The large windows and terraces offer sweeping views across the estate grounds. The third story turret houses the family’s chapel, as the Pitcairns were devoted followers of the New Church, a Swedenborgian Christian denomination I had never heard of before visiting the home. The total construction cost of the mansion was a very specific $161,638.82.

While Gertrude Pitcairn died just three years after the mansion was completed, John remained at Cairnwood until his death in 1916. His eldest son then inherited the estate, living there with his wife and nine children until his massive mansion Glencairn was completed in 1939. Both properties remained in the family until 1979, when they were donated to the Academy of the New Church.

The grounds surrounding Cairnwood are as impressive as the built structures. Formal gardens and rolling lawns remind you this was a gentleman’s country house. There are also several outbuildings, including a studio space and carriage house. Glencairn, located a stone’s throw from Cairnwood, is also available to tour, and should not be missed, along with the adjacent cathedral. Plan for a whole day to explore the entire Bryn Athyn historic district; it is a fascinating trip to the past.

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