Ok, I will give the first answer... This is the story of Edward T. Stotesbury. and his Whitemarsh Hall. Mr. Stotesbury made his fortune under J.P.Morgan and other holdings and directorships of several railroads. By the time WW1 hit he had amassed a fortune said to be approximately 100 million. He married for the second time in 1912, some 29 years after his first wife died. They built a summer home in florida during which time they decided to relocate to Wyndmore Pennsylvania, so in 1916 they started building Whitemarsh hall. They hired famed architect Horace Trumbauer to design and over see the construction of this 100,00 sq. ft. neo-georgian masterpiece. The mansion had 150 rooms and was 6 stories, 3 of which were built underground to keep the perspective of the style. The house was completed in 1921 and enjoyed a dozen or so years a lavish parties and high society domination. Eva Storesbury had most definitely "Arrived". The estate and its gardens is what most architectural historians believe to be the most opulent and grand of any home built in the U.S. and is the second largest home ever built in this country. In 1938 Edward passed away and Eva discovered the true meaning of the "gilded age", she was basically broke and couldn't keep up with the maintenance of the estate. The doors to Whitemarsh were shut and Eva returned to the Miami home. The house sat empty and after some 40 years of neglect, vandals and mother nature taking their toll, the house was demolished in 1980... We will not be remembered for the monuments we build, but for those we destroy The front columns and and some garden remnants still remain as well as the pillars to the front gates.
We have a Cathedral here that has been around for over a hundred years. It is in disrepair an it would be too expensive to repair. They are going to raze it soon.
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