VISITING THE CAIRNWOOD ESTATE

The CAIRNWOOD ESTATE outside of Philadelphia is only an hour from me, yet I knew NOTHING about it, until my Aunt suggested I visit it - particularly at CHRISTMASTIME. I'm so glad I did!!

There are 3 important buildings, which compose the ESTATE - CAIRNWOOD on the right in the above photo, GLENCAIRN on the left and the CATHEDRAL.

CAIRNWOOD - completed in 1895, was the original home of SCOTTISH immigrant, JOHN and GERTRUDE PITCAIRN, and their 6 children.

• John was a wealthy industrialist who co-founded PITTSBURGH PLATE AND GLASS and made his fortune in the 1870's by investing in PENNSYLVANIA coal, oil and natural gas
• Their home included a CHAPEL for the family and a wing to house 7 employees in 5 bedrooms, with one bathroom, a sewing room, a nursery a butler's pantry and a linen closet.
• John and Gertrude began buying up surrounding land to develop a community where "their children could attend church and school in an ideal environment surrounded by nature and farmland".
• Today, wedding receptions and other public events are held here.

GLENCAIRN - a home built by the oldest child, RAYMOND - completed in 1939, housed RAYMOND, his wife MILDRED PITCAIRN and their 9 children. 

Their second oldest child, GABRIELE PITCAIRN married Rev. Willard Pendleton in 1934. They had 6 children and lived here from 1945 - 1980. Today it serves as a MUSEUM, sharing with the community what life was like in this spectacular home.

THE BRYN ATHYN CATHEDRAL has the largest NEW CHURCH congregation. The building was dedicated in 1919.

Inside the CATHEDRAL are beautiful STAINED GLASS WINDOWS, shown here reflecting their colors across the front altar.

This CHRISTMAS BOUQUET in the CATHEDRAL hallway gives you a taste of what I'll share in my next BLOG POST........ photos of the PITCAIRN FAMILY'S hand-carved NATIVITY SCENES, GLASS BLOWN CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS, books, candies and additional TREASURES from the EARLY 1900's.

JOAN