Joseph Sinnott Mansion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Joseph Sinnott Mansion
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Main Building at Rosemont College, December 2006
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | Montgomery and Wendover Aves., Rosemont, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 0.8 acres (0.32 ha) |
| Built | 1889-1891 |
| Architect | Samuel Huckel Jr. |
| Architectural style | Renaissance, Chateauesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 80003582 |
| Added to NRHP | August 29, 1980 |
The Joseph Sinnott Mansion is a beautiful old house located at Rosemont College in Rosemont, Pennsylvania. It's also known by its Gaelic name, "Rathalla," which means "home of the chieftain on the highest hill." This historic building serves as the Main Building for Rosemont College.
It was originally part of a large property called 'Rosemont Farm'. In 1889, a wealthy businessman named Joseph F. Sinnott bought 40 acres of this land. He then had his summer home built there between 1889 and 1891. The famous architects Edward Hazelhurst and Samuel Huckel designed this grand house. It cost $150,000 to build, which was a huge amount of money back then!
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What Does Rathalla Look Like?
Rathalla is a large stone building with 32 rooms. It has 2 and a half stories and sits on a strong brick foundation. The style of the building is called Renaissance Revival and Châteauesque. This means it looks like the fancy castles and homes from the Renaissance period in France.
Special Features of the Mansion
The mansion has a tall, steep roof covered in slate. You can see six decorated chimneys and many windows that stick out from the roof, called dormer windows. It also has small towers, known as turrets.
The outside of the house is covered with 52 detailed stone carvings. Some of these carvings are gargoyles, which are often shaped like strange creatures.
Inside, above the main staircase, there is a beautiful stained glass window. This window shows the Sinnott family's special symbol, called a coat of arms. It has a black swan with a gold crown around its neck and an arrow piercing its heart. Below the swan, there's another symbol with three more black swans. The family motto, "Ama Deum et Serva Mandata" (which means "Love God and Keep the Commandments"), is written on a scroll below the images.
The architects, Hazelhurst and Huckel, designed Rathalla to look like the grand homes found in the Loire Valley in France. This style was very popular at the time. Many rich families, like the Vanderbilts in New York, also built their mansions in a similar castle-like style during the same years.
Rathalla's Journey to Rosemont College
In 1921, a group called the Sisters of the Holy Child of Jesus bought the property for $250,000. Later, in 1927, they sold it to Rosemont College for just $1. Since then, Rathalla has been the main building for the college.
Famous Visitors to Rathalla
As the Main Building of Rosemont College, Rathalla has welcomed many important people over the years.
- John F. Kennedy: In 1953, a young senator named John F. Kennedy visited Rathalla. He later became the President of the United States. His sister, Patricia, had graduated from Rosemont College in the 1940s.
- Joseph Biden: In 1974, another senator, Joseph Biden, was the main speaker at the college's graduation ceremony. He later became the President of the United States.
- Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen: A well-known religious leader, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, visited Rathalla and Rosemont College many times. He spoke at over thirty graduation ceremonies!
Rathalla's Historic Importance
Rathalla was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This means it is recognized as an important historical building. It is considered special because it truly shows the style and feeling of the time when it was built.
Rathalla in Movies
The Main Building at Rosemont College has even appeared in movies! You can see Rathalla in the films "The Sterling Chase" and "Tenure," because parts of these movies were filmed on the college's campus.
Modern Updates to a Historic Building
In 1999, the people in charge of Rosemont College decided to update Rathalla. They wanted to make sure this historic building had modern comforts and safety features.
Renovations and Awards
The updates included:
- New electrical wiring
- Modern heating and air conditioning systems
- Updated plumbing
- A new elevator
- A chair lift
- A bedroom designed for people with disabilities
The construction company that did this work, Pancoast and Clifford Inc., won an award for their amazing job. They received the "Best Restoration/Renovation Award" for bringing Rathalla into the modern age while keeping its historic beauty.
