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Product Description Explore the building, heyday and eventual demise of Whitemarsh Hall, once considered the "Versailles of America." Whitemarsh Hall was one of the largest and most exquisite estates in North America. Edward Townsend Stotesbury, one of the wealthiest Philadelphians in the early 20th century, commissioned renowned architect Horace Trumbauer to build the 147-room mansion in 1916 on 300 acres just outside Philadelphia. Whitemarsh Hall, which took five years to build at an estimated cost of $10 million with all the furnishings, was a wedding present for his second wife. This book explores Whitemarsh Hall's construction, its prime in the 1920s, the multiple impacts of the Great Depression, Stotesbury's death, and subsequent ownership over the next four decades, culminating in its eventual submission to decay, vandalism, and the wrecking ball in 1980. About the Author The Springfield Township Historical Society was established in 1985, in large part as a result of the township and its interested residents losing battles to save significant historical buildings, including Whitemarsh Hall. Board members Charles G. and Edward C. Zwicker actively research Springfield Township history and conduct presentations on topics of local interest. They also authored Springfield Township, Montgomery County with the historical society.