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Excerpt from Nicholas Biddle's Personal Memoirs
Columns
Melmar's 4 magnificent 3 story fluted Greek ionic columns were relocated from Sarah Biddle's childhood home "Oak Hill"
Excerpt from Nicholas Biddle's Personal Memoirs
The "Oak Hill" Columns were relocated to "Melmar"
Sarah Biddle’s childhood home, the "Oak Hill” mansion, was given to her parents, J. Bertram Lippincott and Joanna Wharton Lippincott, as a wedding gift by her grandfather Joseph Wharton, the founder of the Wharton School of Business and Bethlehem Steel. Oak Hill was previously owned by other prominent Philadelphian’s Seth Craige and Joseph S. Lovering. The entry featured 4 magnificent 3 story fluted Greek ionic columns that were later relocated to Sarah's estate in Huntingdon Valley, Pa, "Melmar".
Below is a photo of what The Columns look like today at "Melmar"
Pergola
Sarah Biddle's grandfather Joseph Wharton originally imported the "Melmar" Pergola from Rome to "Ontalauna"
Excerpt from Nicholas Biddle's Personal Memoirs claims
The Pergola was originally used by Roman Senators...
Joseph Wharton's daughter, Catharine Wharton 's
1920 painting "The Pergola, Ontalauna"
Joseph Wharton’s "Ontalauna" Pergola was
relocated to "Melmar"
The Italian Marble Pergola depicted in Catharine Wharton Morris Wright's (cousin of Melmar's Sarah) painting above, was relocated from Joseph Wharton's "Ontalauna " estate to "Melmar", a property owned by Wharton’s granddaughter Sarah Wharton Lippincott Biddle in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania.
Below is a photo of what The Pergola looks like today at "Melmar"
Other Period Relevant Photos
Rumor that president dwight d eisenhower hunted with General Biddle in the Melmar woods!!!?? - Lippincott Dr listing...
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