Woodmont (Gladwyne, Pennsylvania) facts for kids
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Woodmont
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Woodmont in 2017
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1622 Spring Mill Rd., Gladwyne, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 72 acres (290,000 m2) |
| Built | 1891-94 |
| Architect | William Lightfoot Price |
| Architectural style | Châteauesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 98001192 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 5, 1998 |
| Designated NHL | August 6, 1998 |
Woodmont is a large mansion and estate located on a hilltop in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania. This area is a suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The estate covers about 72 acres (29 ha) of land.
In 1953, Woodmont became the home of Father Divine, a religious leader. It also became the main center for his International Peace Mission movement. Woodmont was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1998. This was because of its well-preserved French-style architecture and its connection to Father Divine.
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Building Woodmont: Alan Wood, Jr.'s Vision
Woodmont was designed in 1891 by an architect named William Lightfoot Price. He was a Quaker and designed the mansion in a French Gothic style. The estate was built for Alan Wood, Jr., who was a very successful businessman. He owned a steel company and had also served as a U.S. Congressman.
The mansion was finished in 1894. It cost one million dollars at the time, which would be about $37.8 million today. Woodmont overlooks the Schuylkill River and the nearby town of Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. It also had a view of Alan Wood's own steel plant.
The design for Woodmont was inspired by the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina. This was a famous mansion owned by George W. Vanderbilt. William Lightfoot Price had worked on a hotel near Biltmore, so he knew its design well.
The Woodmont estate originally covered more than 400 acres (1,600,000 m2). It included tennis courts, a swimming pool, and stables. There were also greenhouses, a stream, and walking paths. The property even had a working farm with two dairy barns.
Alan Wood, Jr. lived at Woodmont for less than ten years. Before he passed away in 1902, he sold the estate to his nephew, Richard G. Wood. Richard lived there for 28 years. In 1929, he began selling off parts of the land. He sold about 200 acres (810,000 m2) to the Philadelphia Country Club.
Father Divine and the Peace Mission
Today, Woodmont is the main center for the International Peace Mission movement. The leader of this movement was Father Divine. One of his followers, John Devoute, gave him the estate in 1953.
Father Divine's followers worked to update the mansion. They also put an American flag in a noticeable spot outside. This showed Father Divine's patriotism. They also added a garden, similar to gardens at other Peace Mission properties. Woodmont was opened to the public for a special event in September 1953.
Followers continued to visit Father Divine at Woodmont until he passed away in 1965. The rooms where he lived have been kept exactly as they were when he died. This includes an old television set. Woodmont now serves as a special place to remember his life. It is also a meeting spot for the few followers who remain today.
Visiting Woodmont
Woodmont is open for visitors on Sunday afternoons. You can visit from April through October. Guided tours are available, and they are free of charge.
See also
