The Council of Independent Colleges: Historic Campus Architecture Project

Mansion

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Mansion (view from the northwest), Georgian Court University

Mansion (view from the northeast), Georgian Court University

Mansion (front facade), Georgian Court University

Mansion (detail, entrance), Georgian Court University

Mansion (detail, staircase in Great Hall), Georgian Court University

Mansion (detail, frieze in Great Hall, Canterbury Pilgrims), Georgian Court University

Mansion (Music Room at Christmas), Georgian Court University

Mansion (piano in Music Room), Georgian Court University

Mansion (Formal Garden, view to the north), Georgian Court University

Mansion (Gate Lodge), Georgian Court University

Institution Name: Georgian Court University
Original/Historic Place Name: Mansion
Location on Campus: SE corner of campus
Date(s) of Construction and Designer(s):

1897-1898	original construction Price, Bruce
1924	purchase by Sisters of Mercy Unknown

Type of Place: Individual building
Style(s): (Glossary)
Materials:

Foundation: hard New Jersey brick; cement mortar

Walls: brick; marble; terra cotta; stucco

Roof: slate (original); shingle (current)

Function:

ca. 1898-1923	private residence
ca. 2004-present (2007)	other (special events and social gatherings)
ca. 2004-present (2007)	residence hall (Georgean Court College Residence)

Significance: architecture, culture
Landmark designation:

National Register

Georgian Court (1978)

Narrative: see below
References: see below

Narrative:
The Mansion was designed by New York architect Bruce Price in the English Georgian style. The four-story building has a French Chateau roof, pedimented dormers, balustrades, and ball and urn finials. Creamy terra cotta quoins adorn and emphasize the corners of the building. The north entrance is indicated by a handsome port-cochere with low hip roof supported by eight marble colonettes with Ionic capitals. The colonettes support a two-part wooden architrave separated by a space adorned with six pairs of dolphin forms. The large double entrance doorway is made of heavy glass and picturesque wrought iron grillwork. The south side is flanked by a full length verandah. There are two arched entrance doorways set beneath large windows that are elaborately pedimented and emphasized by curvilinear wrought iron balconies.

In designing the mansion, Price was faced with a difficult problem. For George Gould, a railroad magnate of considerable means, Price had to create in the midst of a pine forest a house that was to be commodious and attractive without undue grandeur or display. Gould's original intention had been to spend approximately $70,000. But as work on the plans progressed, the architect's attempt to keep within the budget encountered some obstacles, and a revision of the plans delayed the groundbreaking. Apparently realizing that none of the features typical of a large country residence should be sacrificed, Gould directed Price to incorporate them.

Gould and his family occupied the Mansion from 1898-1923. The estate was purchased in 1924 by the Sisters of Mercy to become the new site of the Georgian Court College, which was originally founded in 1908 as Mount Saint Mary College in Plainfield, New Jersey. The entire campus, along with the Mansion, has been maintained and beautified as a place where students live and learn.

The Mansion houses beautiful art treasures, most impressive of which is "The Canterbury Pilgrims," a frieze painted by Robert Van Vorst Sewell in 1897. Other artistic and ornamental features include ceiling and decorative wall paintings, bas relief ceiling decoration, ornamental stucco-work, handsome marble fireplaces, cast brass, a gilded balcony railing, and wood carvings-- all executed with exquisite craftsmanship. The historically significant rooms of the Mansion are currently used for cultural events, musical recitals, and social entertaining.

References:

I. Bibliographic sources:

Geis, M. Christina. Georgian Court. National Register of Historic Places designation report. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior/National Park Service, 1978.

Geis, M. Christina. Georgian Court: An Estate of the Guilded Age. Philadelphia: Philadelphia Art Alliance Press, 1983.

H2L2, LLP. Campus Master Plan [Georgian Court University]. [Philadelphia: H2L2], April 2003.

II. Location of other data:

University: Library, Special Collections

SHPO

Government Offices