Thank You so much, I can tell the is a labor of love. This would be lost forever without you. So Sad Sad smile 

Survey rmgase@hotmail.com

Jun 16, 2013 at 2:16 PM EST

I have lived my whole life in the Delaware valley. Stotsbury was an icon, a legend, in the area. I wanted to be an architect at one time when I was young Whitemarsh hall inspired me but alas to no avail for my father didn't have funds to put me through school. Well I guess my dream died with the mansion. I knew people that vandalized it, it makes me sick to this day. I don't know how Philadelphia could let a treasure like that house go.....

Ingmar ingak47@netzero.com

Jun 14, 2013 at 7:01 PM EST

I remember walking through the mansion just dreaming about coming down the grand staircase to a party as a young girl. I too was so sad to c what people had done to it. I did some research years ago and also remember an article in I think the bulletin sunday supplement and it described the grand parties that he had.

besttreeman besttreeman@msn.com

May 16, 2013 at 6:20 PM EST

I recently came across your website regarding the Stotesbury estate. If you are interested, I would be happy to scan and send you pictures my mom had from her childhood if you are interested. My maternal grandfather was a chauffeur for the Stotesburys, and my grandparents married in 1924. My parents have a wonderful piece of needlework hanging in their living room that was a wedding gift from the Stotesburys. I also have an autographed picture of Mrs. Stotesbury that was given to my grandfather. As a matter of fact, I have an engagement ring that was designed by one of the jewelers that Mrs. Stotesbury favored. My mother passed away in 2011 and lived with Alzheimers at the end of her life. As a result, I heard many stories of her earlier life where she spent winters at the Florida estate in West Palm Beach and summers in Philadelphia at the estate there. Thank you,

Laura & Drew Frye fryefamily2@verizon.net

May 14, 2013 at 1:19 PM EST

Every once in awhile, when I'm feeling down, I mosey on over to your website and imagine myself living in Whitemarsh Hall, entertaining house guests, and generally living the life of ease. I hadn't been there in a few years, but today was the perfect day to visit. However, the archived photo links are not working. Just thought I'd let you know. Thanks for creating and maintaining such a wonderful website.

Jean Agnes Lerma agie.lerma@gmail.com

Apr 2, 2013 at 2:36 PM EST

Hi Gerry, My friend and I used to ride our bikes on early summer mornings to the Stotesbury Estate in the '70's. The photos bring back the smell of the place and the scary thrill of meandering through the ruins as a young girl. Thanks so much for these.

Susan Salinger susansalinger@mac.com

Mar 19, 2013 at 11:08 PM  EST

Hello!   - -  May I request that my email address not be made public? Thank you. - -  I loved to see this site dedicated to what we kids called Stotesbury Mansion. My first view of Whitemarsh Hall was from the car. For some reason my mom had asked my dad to drive us up to the place and we sat at the front entrance. I wanted to go in but mom said it was owned by a company now (must have been around 1961). My mother had grown up in a house on Abington Avenue that had been built by her grandparents. We would all gather at mom-mom's house for the annual Wyndmoor Memorial Day parade, 21-gun salute ceremony, the games, and family picnic. We could walk through the park to mom-mom's backyard. Traymore Avenue was just rocks back then, so it wasn't very pleasant to walk on. I don't know when they finally paved that road. A few years after we drove up in the car, my cousins, who lived in the neighborhood on Southampton Avenue took us up to Stotesbury. It must have been in the mid-60's. It was a sunny day, an uphill hike, I remember, with lots of undergrowth but no shade. We approached it from the back and as we stepped out onto level ground the garden astounded me. I was enthralled by the statues and massiveness of the garden. You could still see the design and beauty beneath the weeds. It made me sad, wondering what it looked like when it was maintained and cared for. The fountain, though not working, still had all the statues intact but there were places along what apparently was servants' housing that already had been broken into. We entered through a broken door or large window in the back of the mansion.The first interior site that I remember was the amazing stairway. The enormous floor-to-ceiling mirror at the top of the landing was still unbroken. (The next time we visited, the mirror was gone.) The intricate crown molding, a kind of pineapple/leaf design made of plaster along the wall of the stairway, was already showing signs of damage where rain was seeping into the building and down the walls. I remember walking down the main large hall and peeking into various doorways. There were narrow circular metal stairways. The first visit, we were able to go up the stair but on a later visit, it was blocked by debris. We were able to explore extensively the first time we were there, and much of the building seemed to be in fairly good condition but in a year's time, it was damaged and vandalized badly. The photos you have from 1979 are really sad - how badly destroyed the place was. I will never understand why people have to destroy beautiful things. In the late '70's, while in college, I read an article that they were going to destroy the place and build luxury homes or something. I was living in Manhattan in 1980 when Whitemarsh Hall was demolished so I didn't even know about it until I returned to Pennsylvania in the mid-'80's. I still live in Pennsylvania and not too far from my roots. I was born in Chestnut Hill Hospital. It may be an interesting ride to take a trip down to Wyndmoor and see what the former grounds of Whitemarsh Hall look like now. Your photos from 1979 and subsequent demolition in 1980 and new structures built have all sparked my curiosity to go check it out. Thank you so much for creating this site and all the great photos and the floor plans. Thank you for sharing some amazing facts and photos!
Diane Nolan

PA, USA - Mar 16, 2013 at 9:06 PM  EST

Hi Gerry, Haven’t been to you website for quite a while now. Looks great I have just started to be active on the face book Whitemarsh Hall site so I thought check yours out again. Please keep up the good work! I also came across an article about stone mason last name Serianni who lost his house when they built in Chestnut Hill. Not sure it was your family or not.  I attached a few of the things I remember about Stotesburys that I posted on the face book site if you are interested. Thanks

John Ball  jcball4@comcast.net

Mar 13, 2013 at 1:17 PM  EST

Your site brought tears to my eyes. I was telling my son about one of the neatest places I have ever been, was at a loss for words so we Googled Stotesbury Mansion and found your incredible tribute to this completely amazing place. The first time my old friend Chris took me to Whitemarsh Hall, I about flipped. It was in the early 70’s and we had to go at night because the police were all over trespassers. We went back several times, each time it was harder and harder to get through the woods to the mansion without getting in trouble. We never took anything or defaced anything and it always used to tick us off to see the graffiti and the broken stuff and garbage everywhere. I wanted to buy the place in the worst way and just figured it would be around forever; when I was old and rich enough it would be there for the buying. I wanted to fix up just the kitchen and one or two rooms and let the rest of the place fall apart…….high school Naiveté. I was heartbroken when I returned from Korea in the Army and found the place gone. I am 60 now and will never forget the place. The awe we used to experience breaking through the trees and see the silhouette against the stars.......  Thanks for your effort,

David Livingston David.Livingston@ars.usda.gov

Feb 9, 2013 at 3:59 PM EST

Cover of Corvette Club of Delaware Valley's newsletter. Still an operational club. I actually drove my car to the Stotesbury Mansion for a "Photo Shoot". I was writing an article for "The Gas Cap". This was our newsletter for everything Corvette plus related items. Everyone was invited to submit articles of interest including: cars for sale, parts, swap meets, car shows, birthdates, house parties or even places you and your Corvette attended. This is my story: I visited Stotesbury many times, AM and PM. Most times with friends. I even convinced my Dad to come along this one Saturday afternoon... and bring a latern  - because we were going IN! We spotted along the way; statues, plazas, gates, and gardens, but the Mansion was now in site.
Ron Musacchio sonnyblueskies@att.net

Jan 26, 2013 at 3:56 AM  EST