I was driving on Asbourne Road yesterday in Elkins Park and saw a big old building that kind of looked like the White House. It is surrounded by an iron fence. Does anyone know what it is?

Here it is: http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=...4062&encType=1

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It's Lynnewood Hall, built by P.A.B. Widener. Architect was Horace Trumbauer. The Widener family maintained a modest household of around 100 to look after the 110 rooms and grounds.

Was most recently owned by crazy fundie religious college, who sold off most of the interiors, and I think is more or less semi-derelict at moment. The art collection, once one of the most spectacular private collections in the US, went to the National Gallery in Washington.

http://www.quondam.com/15/1426.htm

Across Asbourne Road from the Widener place is another great estate which was built by the Elkins family and now owned by the Dominican Sisters. Rumor has it that it was recently sold (to whom, I don't know).

Its a shame that some of these places cannot be restored and opened to the public as museums. Newport RI has alot of really neat old mansions, open for tours.

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