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Welcome to Melmar

"Melmar" is a Gilded Age Mansion built in 1910 and located in Huntingdon Valley, Pa. with a rich history, being owned by, visited by, and associated with many prominent families over the past 115+ years

 The "Melmar" Mansion as it looks today

The "Melmar" Mansion rear elevation prior to recent renovations providing an unobstructed view of "The Great Walls"

Melmar is located in Huntingdon Valley, Pa - a northern suburb of Philadelphia

The Philadelphia skyline can be seen in the distance in the picture below (just above the horizon in the top right corner...)

Notable Mansions near Melmar

During the Gilded Age, the area north of Philadelphia surrounding Melmar became the home of summer estates for many of America's elite families including several mansions that exceeded 100,000 square feet in size such as Whitemarsh Hall, built in 1916 by Edward T. Stotesbury (1849-1938),  and Lynnewood Hall, built in 1899 by Peter A.B. Widener (1834-1915), both just a few miles away from Melmar.​

  • 147 room Whitemarsh Hall was built in 1916 for E.T. Stotesbury, and at the time of its demolition in 1980 it was the third-largest private residence in the United States and remains as the largest American house ever to be demolished on purpose.  Melmar's Nicholas Biddle had several connections with Stotesbury:

    • They were both members of the Huntingdon Valley Country Club and were both board members together there

    • Stotesbury headed the Philadelphia banking firm of Drexel & Co which was founded by Biddle's grandfather Anthony J. Drexel's (1826-1893)

    • Stotesbury's daughter Edith was the wife of Sydney Hutchinson, the founding partner of the firm that Biddle worked for early in his career from 1915-23

  • Built in 1899 and still surviving, the Widener family's 110 room Lynnewood Hall has been called "The last of the American Versailles".  Melmar's Nicholas Biddle was President of the Huntingdon Valley Country Club where the Widener family were members. and became more closely associated with Lynnewood Hall by being appointed chairman of the Lynnewood Hall Cup, one of the most prestigious amateur golf events in the country in the early 20th century

1.8 miles Meadowbrook - Craige Lippincott

​2.0 miles Glencairn c1928 - Raymond Pitcairn

2.1 miles Cairnwood Estate c1895- John Pitcairn

2.2 miles Cairncrest Estate c1892- Harold Pitcairn

2.3 miles Knowlton Mansion c1881- William Rhawn

2.7 miles Fairacres c1886 - John Worrell Pepper

2.8 miles Alverthorpe Manor c1939 - Lessing J. Rosenwald

3.8 miles Lindenhurst c1868 - John Wanamaker

4.4 miles Ogontz c1867 - Jay Cooke

4.4 miles Ronaele Manor c1926 - Eleanor Elkins Widener

4.4 miles Lynnewood Hall c1897 - Peter A.B. Widener

4.5 miles Elstowe Manor c1898 - William L. Elkins

4.5 miles Cheltan House c1896 - George W. Elkins

4.5 miles Eildon c1881 - Jay Cooke's daughter, Laura Cooke

4.7 miles Lyndon c1895 - Cyrus H.K. Curtis

4.8 miles Belgrame c1905 - George Horace Lorimer

4.8 miles Hopeland Manor c1912 - Sidney Tyler

5.0 miles Georgian Terrace c1905 - George & Stella Elkins Tyler

5.3 miles Grey Towers Castle c1896 - William Welsh Harrison

5.8 miles Glen Foerd c1850 - Charles Macalester, Jr.

6.5 miles Andalusia c1795 - The Nicholas Biddle Estate

6.7 miles Pen Ryn Estate c1744 - Josephine Wharton Drexel

6.9 miles Whitemarsh Hall c1916 - Edward T Stotesbury

7.1 miles Camp Hill Hall c1882 - Sarah Drexel Van Rensselaer

7.2 miles Guilford Estate c1925 - George W. Elkins

7.3 miles Phil-Ellena c1844 - George W. Carpenter

7.9 miles Hope Lodge c1748 - Samuel Morris

8.0 miles Compton c1888-1968 - Lydia Thompson Morris

8.1 miles Frances Maguire Hall c1857 - Alfred Cravan Harrison

8.1 miles Greylock Mansion c1909 - Henry A. Lachlan

8.1 miles Arbor Hill - Dennis Alter

8.2 miles Kates Hall c1903 - Joseph S. Clark

​8.2 miles Homewood c1929 - Eleanor Widener Dixon 

​8.2 miles Gentilhomme c1797 - Stephen Girard​

8.3 miles Krisheim c1910 - George Woodward

8.5 miles Druim Moir c1886 - Henry H. Houston

8.9 miles Erdenheim c1917 - George Dunton Widener, Jr.

8.9 miles Highland Mansion c1796 - Anthony Morris

8.9 miles Grace Kelly c1929 - Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco 

10 miles Almshouse - James Wade

11 miles Tyler Hall c1930 - George & Stella Elkins Tyler​

12 miles Bingham Mansion c1788 - Senator William Bingham

12 miles Stotesbury Mansion c1870 - Edward T Stotesbury

12 miles Penshurst c1901 - Percival Roberts

12 miles Woodmont Manor c1894 - Allen Wood Jr

12 miles Meetinghouse - James Danella

12 miles Villa Collina - Vernon Hill

13 miles Knollbrook c1908 - John Howard Pew

13 miles Gray Range c1899 aka Ballyheather

13 miles Maybrook Mansion c1881 - Henry C. Gibson

13 miles Ballytore Castle c1885 - Isaac H. Clothier

13 miles Linden Hill Estate c1931 - Robert Burch

13 miles The Chateau - Vahan Gureghian

13 miles Skylands c1928 - Mary Ethel Pew

13 miles La Ronda c1929-2009 - Percival E. Foerderer

13 miles Yorklynne c1899 - John Odgers Gilmore

14 miles Alscot c1899 - Walter Lippincott

14 miles Arnecliffe c1910 - Henry Hill Collins

14 miles Rosemont - Byron P. Moulton

14 miles Glenmede c1908 - Joseph Newtown Pew

​14 miles The Woodlands c1789 - William Hamilton

14 miles Dolobran Estate c1881 - Clement Griscom

14 miles Cheswold c1872 - Alexander Johnston Cassatt

15 miles Rathalla c1892 - Joseph Sinnott

15 miles Stoneleigh c1878 - John C. Haas

15 miles Fonthill Castle c1910 - Henry Chapman Mercer

16 miles Aldie Mansion c1927 - William Mercer

17 miles Woodcrest Mansion c1903 - James W. Paul Jr.

17 miles Woodburne Mansion c1906 - Edgar T. Scott

17 miles Albermarle c1933 - Montgomery Scott Estate

17 miles Launfal c1926 - Clarence Geist

18 miles Rose Garland c1910 - John Sinnott 

18 miles Laurento c1901 - Craig Biddle

18 miles The Barn - W.R. Wagner

18 miles Ardrossan c1913 - Robert Leaming Montgomery​

18 miles Chanticleer c1913 - Adolph G. Rosengarten

18 miles Four Chimneys - Cheryl Olsten

20 miles Vaux Hill c1845 - Dr William Weatherill

29 miles Greystone Hall c1907 - P.M. Sharples

50 miles Lynch Castle c2018 - Sir "Viper" Lynch

Notable Neighbors near Melmar

0.1 mi George Horace Lorimer 1867-1937 - Editor in Chief of the Saturday Evening Post 

0.2 mi Steven Schwartzman's childhood home - 35th richest person in the world, founder of Blackstone the world's largest alternative asset firm

0.2 mi Michael Cardone Jr - CEO and Chairman of Cardone Industries, world’s largest privately owned remanufacturer of automotive parts

0.3 mi Michael Cardone Sr 1937-2024 - Founder of Cardone Industries, world’s largest privately owned remanufacturer of automotive parts

1.9 mi Brent Asplundh - President at Asplundh Tree Expert, the nation’s 97th largest private company

1.9 mi Dr Gerald Lemole part of the surgical team that performed the first successful heart transplant in the United States in 1968

  • daughter Lisa married Dr Oz

  • daughter Laura married Benjamin Franklin Dupont, descendant of the founder of Dupont

  • son Michael was the surgeon that treated Congresswoman Gabby Giffords gunshot wound

2.0 mi Bruce Toll - 1850th richest person in the world and co-founder of Toll Brothers the builder of the Biddle Estates surrounding Melmar

2.0 mi Raymond Pitcairn 1885-1966 co-founder of The Pitcairn Company

2.1 mi John Pitcairn 1841-1923 co-founder of Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company (PPG)

2.4 mi Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and family

2.5 mi Dr Oz - 9-time Daytime Emmy® Award winner and Head of US Health & Human Services Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

2.5 mi Amelia Erhart 1897-1937 - Famous aviator 

2.6 mi Bradley Cooper's childhood home - Award winning actor and filmmaker 

2.8 mi Lessing J. Rosenwald - former chairman of Sears, Roebuck & Company 

2.8 mi Dr Michael Lemole - Professor of Neurological Surgery that treated Congresswoman Gabby Giffords gunshot wound

2.9 mi Marvin Harrison, NFL hall of fame receiver

3.0 mi Adam F Goldberg's childhood home - Creator of the 2013-2023 TV sitcom The Goldbergs

3.1 mi Mark Levin 's childhood home - Host of Fox News's Life, Liberty & Levin and The Mark Levin Radio Show & NY Times bestselling author

3.2 mi Horace Trumbauer 1868-1938 Historical Marker - Renowned Gilded Age architect

3.3 mi Pennsylvania US Congresswoman Madeline Dean

3.3 mi Site location of Apollo Creeds mansion in the 2015 movie "Creed"

3.4 mi Harold Katz - former owner Philadelphia 76ers

3.4 mi Bill Cosby - former comedian, actor, and media personality

3.4 mi Dr. Amar Bose - billionaire founder of Bose Corporation

3.5 mi Dr. Jill Biden's childhood home - ex First Lady of the United States

3.5 mi Steven G. Asplundh - Chairman of Asplundh Tree Expert, the nation’s 97th largest private company

3.6 mi Henry W. Breyer Sr - founder of Breyers Ice Cream

3.6 mi Beth Sholom Synagogue - National Historic Landmark designed by Frank Lloyd Wright

3.7 mi Sylvester Stallone's childhood home - Award winning actor and filmmaker

3.8 mi John Wanamaker - pioneered the concept of the department store founding John Wanamaker & Co in 1861

4.0 mi Reggie Jackson's childhood home - Major League Baseball Hall of Famer

4.4 mi Jay Cooke 1821-1905 - One of the first investment bankers in America, and recognized as "the financier of the Civil War"

4.4 mi Eleanor Elkins Widener 1861-1937 - Survivor of the 1912 sinking of the RMS Titanic

4.5 mi Peter A.B. Widener 1834-1915 - American businessman and art collector

4.5 mi William L. Elkins 1832-1903 - American businessman and art collector, namesake of Elkins Park, Pa

4.7 mi George W. Elkins 1858-1919 - Son of William L Elkins

4.7 mi Cyrus H.K. Curtis 1850-1933 -Founder of the Curtis Publishing Company​

5.0 mi George & Stella Elkins Tyler 1884-1963 - Granddaughter of William L Elkins​

6.0 mi George Dunton Widener 1861-1912 - Eleanor Widener's husband who died during the 1912 sinking of the RMS Titanic

6.0 mi Harry Elkins Widener 1885-1912 - Eleanor Widener's son died on the Titanic, Harvard University's Widener Memorial Library namesake

6.5 mi Nicholas "The Great" Biddle 1786-1844 -The third and last president of the Second Bank of the United States

6.9 mi Edward T Stotesbury 1849-1938 -Partner of Anthony J. Drexel and J. P. Morgan at Drexel & Co and then at J.P. Morgan & Co

8.2 mi Stephen Girard - "the financier of the War of 1812" and regarded as the 4th richest man in American history and richest from 1805-1820

8.2 mi Mike Cavanagh - CEO of Comcast

8.2 mi Henry Slack "Hank" McNeil - son of founder of McNeil Laboratories, the inventors of Tylenol

8.6 mi Steven "Stevie Ray Jawn" Nadal - Multi instrumental musician and former Melmar resident

8.9 mi Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco's childhood home - Built by her father, 3-time Olympic gold medalist John B Kelly

  • Now owned by Prince Albert II it serves as the private residence of the prince and family when they visit Philadelphia

9.5 mi R. "Bobby K" Kleckner's childhood home

  • Playboy, PGA Golf professional, Club owner, lifelong friend of current Melmar owner

9.6 mi J.D. "Meathead" Moyer's childhood home

  • Full time ski bum, former legendary Kangaroo connoisseur, early stage CHMSL investor, serial entrepreneur, and college roommate of current Melmar owner​​

10 mi Steven Korman - founder of Korman Communities, one of the largest residential real estate companies in the country

11 mi W. "Dollar Bill" Wagner's childhood home

11 mi John T. Dorrance - 23rd richest family in the world, founder of Campbell's Soup

12 mi William Bingham - recognized as the richest man in America in 1780

13 mi J. Howard Pew 1882-1971 - former President and son of founder of Sun Oil (now Sunoco)

13 mi Ed Snider 1933-2016 - former Chairman of Spectacor, and former owner of the Philadelphia Flyers and 76ers

13 mi Mitchell Morgan - 630th richest person in the world, founder of Morgan Properties the third-largest owner of apartments in the U.S.

13 mi David Adelman - 1757th richest person in the world, CEO of Campus Apartments

14 mi Jeff Yass - 28th richest person in the world, founder of Susquehanna International Group

14 mi Michael Rubin - 248th richest person in the world, founder and CEO of Fanatics, and GSI Commerce

14 mi Jeffrey Laurie - 480th richest person in the world, owner of the Philadelphia Eagles

14 mi John Middleton - 944th richest person in the world, owner of the Philadelphia Phillies

14 mi Pat Croce - former President of the Philadelphia 76ers

15 mi Kobe Bryant childhood home - NBA Hall of Famer

15 mi John C Haas 1918-2011 - founder of the chemical company Rohm and Haas

16 mi Robert Morris - founding father known as "the financier of the Revolution" and recognized as the richest man in America in 1775

16 mi Will Smith's childhood home - American singer-songwriter and actor, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air

18 mi Adolph G. Rosengarten Sr., founder of Rosengarten & Sons which merged in 1927 to become Merck & Co

18 mi Hope Montgomery Scott - the "unofficial queen of Philadelphia's WASP oligarchy", and subject of the movie "The Philadelphia Story"

20 mi John Eleuthère du Pont - great grandson of the founder of Dupont, and the subject of the movie "Foxcatcher"

22 mi M. Night Shyamalan - American filmmaker

23 mi David Paul - 1763rd richest person in the world, founder of Globus Medical

xx mi Arthur Dantchik - 165th richest person in the world, co-founder of Susquehanna International Group

xx mi Brian Roberts - 2558th richest person in the world, son of the founder of Comcast

Notable Historic Sites near Melmar

1.5 mi Dr Oz 2022 Senate Campaign Headquarters

1.9 mi Bryn Athyn Historic District

2.5 mi Huntingdon Valley Country Club - founded in 1897 originally designed by John Reid regarded as the 'Father of American Golf'

4.7 mi Dr. Benjamin Rush c1690 - birthplace of US Founding Father Benjamin Rush, regarded as the "Father of American Psychiatry"

7.5 mi Growden Mansion - alleged site of Benjamin Franklin's famous kite experiment proving lightning was electricity

7.6 mi Cliveden House - the site of the American Revolutionary War Battle of Germantown in 1777

8.0 mi Hope Lodge - used as George Washington Headquarters in 1777

8.3 mi ZII c1926 - world headquarters renowned diversified manufacturer​

9.4 mi Emlen House - used as George Washington Headquarters in 1777 before moving to his headquarters in nearby Valley Forge Pa

9.7 mi The Germantown White House - twice this house sheltered George Washington in 1793 and 1794 while he was President

9.8 mi Stetson Hat Company the largest hat factory in the world in the 1920's where John B Stetson invented the Cowboy Hat

10 mi The Bomb Shelter c1960s - cold war underground concrete bunker

  • Infamous high school party venue founded in 1983 and childhood home of "Herman the German" Coleman

12 mi Boathouse Row - the host location for several major regattas and the home of fifteen boathouses housing social and rowing clubs

12 mi President James Madison's House - home of the 4th President of the United States

12 mi Alexander Hamilton's House - Founding Father who served as the first U.S. secretary of the treasury under George Washington 

12 mi Benjamin Franklin's House - Founding Father, a drafter and signer of the Declaration of Independence; and the first postmaster general

12 mi Liberty Bell​ - nation's symbol of liberty and freedom

12 mi The President's House the original "White House" - the 1st two US Presidents resided here prior to the capital's move to Washington DC

12 mi Independence Hall​ - site where the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution were both signed

12 mi Christ Church c1744 - church of George Washington, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Betsy Ross, and other founding fathers

  • Cited as “our finest Early American church” and one of the finest Georgian structures in America

  • From 1754-1810 Christ Church was the tallest structure in North America

  • Melmar's current owners were married in Christ Church in 1993

12 mi The Library Company of Philadelphia - the nation’s first public library founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1731

13 mi Pennsylvania Hospital - the nation’s first hospital founded by Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Thomas Bond in 1751 

13 mi Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania - the nation’s first medical school founded in 1765

13 mi Hill-Physick House c1786 - home of "the father of American Surgery", Dr Philip Syng Physick

13 mi The First Bank of the United States - the nation’s first bank, founded in 1791

13 mi The First Mint of the United States - the nation’s first mint, founded in 1792

13 mi Pat’s King of Steaks - home of the world's first Cheesesteak, founded in 1930

13 mi Penn Cottage c1695 - one of the oldest homes in the state of Pennsylvania, and actress Kat Dennings childhood home

16 mi Pennsbury Manor c1683 - the country estate of the founder of Pennsylvania, William Penn 

  • In 1681 William Penn was granted a land charter by King Charles II for ~45,000 square miles of land which at the time was the largest colony in the New World

16 mi Summerseat - George Washington’s Headquarters in December 1776

  • Also owned by two signers of both the Declaration of Independence and the American Constitution Robert Morris and George Clymer

17 mi Site of George Washington crossing the Delaware River in December 1776

19 mi Point Breeze - the Estate of ex-King Joseph Napoleon Bonaparte the brother of Emperor of France Napoleon Bonaparte​

George Washington "Crossing the Delaware"

displayed at Washington Crossing Historic Park

“Napoleon Crossing the Alps”

 displayed at  Point Breeze & Andalusia

“Benjamin Franklin Electricity"

 displayed at Philadelphia Museum of Art

Philadelphia's Boathouse Row

Notable Golf Clubs near Melmar

Melmar is located near many top rated golf courses including Pine Valley Golf Club currently ranked by Golf Digest as the #1 course in America

2.0 mi Philmont Country Club

2.5 mi Huntingdon Valley Country Club #12 in Pa

  • Has had many prominent members including Melmar's Nicholas Biddle board President, and ET Stotesbury board VP

3.5 mi Topgolf Philadelphia - Philadelphia's premier multi deck driving range/entertainment center

5.1 mi Union League at Torresdale #41 in Pa

6.0 mi Manufacturers' Golf & Country Club #30 in Pa

7.4 mi Philadelphia Country Club: Spring Mill #13 in Pa

8.0 mi Philadelphia Cricket Club #5 in Pa, #120 in US

8.4 mi Commonwealth National Golf Club #36 in Pa

8.9 mi Whitemarsh Valley Country Club #13 in Pa

15 mi Merion Golf Club East - Ranked in America's 100 Greatest Courses every year since 1966, currently #2 in PA and #6 in USA

  • Has hosted has proudly hosted 19 USGA Championships and is the future site of the 2030, 2040, and 2050 U.S. Open

19 mi Aronomink Golf Club - Ranked in America's 100 Greatest Courses 56 out of 60 times, currently #3 in PA, and the site of the 2026 PGA Championships

22 mi Pine Valley Golf Club #1 rated golf course in the USA

22 mi Trump National Philadelphia #21 in Pa

28 mi Linfield National - home of PGA pro "Bobby K" Kleckner 

Notable Colonial Revival Mansions

"Melmar"

The "Fresh Prince of Bel Air"

Elvis's "Graceland"

Kid Rock's "White House"

"Melmar" Rear

The "Money Pit"

Gone with the Wind "Twelve Oaks"

The "Notebook"

The White House Front

The White House Rear

Disclaimer. All data and information is provided “as is” for informational purposes only, and is not intended for financial, investment, or any other purpose.  Contact us at Melmar Website Feedback with any recommended corrections along with supporting references and data sources.

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