Stonebridge
Chadds Ford, PaStory by John Werry
Oldhouse Tours
Stonebridge is a ca. 1914 7,400 square foot mansion on 7.2 acres in Chadds Ford, PA built by John Scheidt, a wealthy Philadelphia brewer at the time. The name Stonebridge comes from the stone bridge built over the creek that runs through the property.
The chief carpenter on the home at the time of construction was said to have described Scheidt as a stickler for details who inspected every piece of wood that went into the house.
What follows is an architectural review provided to me by Donald J. Weiss, Esq., who is offering the home for sale for $1.3 million, which for the area and property is very reasonable. I thank Donald for the opportunity to tour and photograph Stonebridge. The video tour of the home will be available in the coming weeks, so please check back. Click on the photo above for the tour when you are ready.
Stonebridge is an imposing 5 bay, 2 1/2, story Georgian Revival house of gray coursed cut stone. There is matching stonework in the wall surrounding the house, in the stepped gateposts at Webb Road and Route 1 entrances and the bridge crossing the stream. Stone is worked in arch radiating voussoirs with keystones over all windows, even basement windows. The three exterior chimneys on gable ends and interior chimney on “L” are of the same stone.
Front (south facing) facade has a high style entranceway: a 2 story, 1 bay portico with dental-work trim, fluted Ionic columns, and a balustrade flanked by 2-story Ionic columns. Formal centered doorway has leaded glass Sidelights and a Palladian window in story above.
More Information
Board approves Stonebridge for B&BPa Historical Resource Survey Form
Plot Plan Rendering
Sellers Property Disclosure
Subdivision Plan Set
Conditional Use Order
The 2-story portico is repeated, this time 2-bay, on West side of house. Room below is enclosed with small paned windows. 1 story flat roofed sun porch with modillioned cornice is on West side of house. Three dormer windows break the roofline on South facade. Central one has paired windows with dental-work in pediment and modillioned cornice. Flanking hipped dormers repeat the cornice detail.
Two dormers on North facade: 1 hipped, 1 pediment with wide window and sidelights. 1 story, 1 bay entrance on North facade has one Ionic column on Northeast corner, again, modillioned cornice. Leaded glass stairwell window above has 2-light half-elliptical transom and 2-light sidelights. “L” wing, projecting to North, has a pedimented gable with dental-work and half rounded window. Modillioned cornice and a decorative frieze wrap house. Proportion of rooms and interior details are very impressive.
A 2 1/2 story carriage house (garage/apartment) North of driveway carries out the high style elements. The south facing carriage house has an apartment over the two-car size garage (driveway level) and two on the lower level (entrance from North). To the left of the South facade is an old stone stairwell leading to the back lower level garage and a second building (60 x40).