WOOTTON MANSION: Home of the IHM Conference Center
THE DREXEL CONNECTION
Mr. George W. Childs, owner and publisher of The Public Ledger newspaper, purchased a tract of land in Bryn Mawr which he called "Wootton," an old English term meaning "Woodland." By 1880 the lovely Queen Anne style mansion became the "between seasons" residence for him and his wife, Mary, and a place for gracious entertaining.
Throughout his life, George Childs maintained a strong friendship with Anthony J. Drexel, a Philadelphia banker. Mr. Drexel asked George to be godfather and namesake to his fourth son. When Childs died in 1894, the estate passed to his godson, George William Childs Drexel. The friendship between the two men extended into family relationships as well. While growing up, Katharine Drexel (now St. Katharine Drexel) was very fond of both her Uncle Anthony and her "Uncle" George and loved to visit at Wootton.
George William Childs Drexel died in 1944 and Mary in 1948. Since they were childless, the property and furnishings were sold at auction. The proceeds went to the Drexel Institute, now known as Drexel University.
THE IHM CONNECTION
The Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary have engaged in the apostolate of Catholic Education from the time of their foundation in Monroe, Michigan in 1845.
A boarding school for small boys was opened at the Motherhouse in West Chester, PA in 1895 and named St. Aloysius Academy. In the ‘40s the large number of students were crowding the Motherhouse, and superiors began looking for an alternate site. Cardinal Dougherty knew the Drexel Estate was up for auction and suggested the community try for it. A successful bid of $140,000 transferred Wootton into the hands of the Sisters.
After considerable refitting, the Academy moved to the Bryn Mawr location in 1950. More than a hundred boys, plus Sisters to care for them, lived in the mansion. Ten years later a new school building was erected on the grounds. The Academy prospered as a day school, but by the mid ‘80s the number of boarders began to dwindle.
After much reflection, the Sisters decided in 1995 to discontinue the boarding students and to convert some interior spaces into areas suitable for small conferences, meetings and retreats. In September, 1996, the IHM Conference Center opened it doors as a day facility, thus continuing the tradition of hospitality of the first owner and the IHM Congregation. The Wootton Mansion is now the convent residence of the IHM Sisters who teach in the Academy, direct the Retreat and Conference Center, or serve in other works of the Congregation.
The Sisters of IHM rejoice in extending hospitality to all who come to enjoy the peace and beauty that Wootton provides.
THE DREXEL CONNECTION
Mr. George W. Childs, owner and publisher of The Public Ledger newspaper, purchased a tract of land in Bryn Mawr which he called "Wootton," an old English term meaning "Woodland." By 1880 the lovely Queen Anne style mansion became the "between seasons" residence for him and his wife, Mary, and a place for gracious entertaining.
Throughout his life, George Childs maintained a strong friendship with Anthony J. Drexel, a Philadelphia banker. Mr. Drexel asked George to be godfather and namesake to his fourth son. When Childs died in 1894, the estate passed to his godson, George William Childs Drexel. The friendship between the two men extended into family relationships as well. While growing up, Katharine Drexel (now St. Katharine Drexel) was very fond of both her Uncle Anthony and her "Uncle" George and loved to visit at Wootton.
George William Childs Drexel died in 1944 and Mary in 1948. Since they were childless, the property and furnishings were sold at auction. The proceeds went to the Drexel Institute, now known as Drexel University.
THE IHM CONNECTION
The Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary have engaged in the apostolate of Catholic Education from the time of their foundation in Monroe, Michigan in 1845.
A boarding school for small boys was opened at the Motherhouse in West Chester, PA in 1895 and named St. Aloysius Academy. In the ‘40s the large number of students were crowding the Motherhouse, and superiors began looking for an alternate site. Cardinal Dougherty knew the Drexel Estate was up for auction and suggested the community try for it. A successful bid of $140,000 transferred Wootton into the hands of the Sisters.
After considerable refitting, the Academy moved to the Bryn Mawr location in 1950. More than a hundred boys, plus Sisters to care for them, lived in the mansion. Ten years later a new school building was erected on the grounds. The Academy prospered as a day school, but by the mid ‘80s the number of boarders began to dwindle.
After much reflection, the Sisters decided in 1995 to discontinue the boarding students and to convert some interior spaces into areas suitable for small conferences, meetings and retreats. In September, 1996, the IHM Conference Center opened it doors as a day facility, thus continuing the tradition of hospitality of the first owner and the IHM Congregation. The Wootton Mansion is now the convent residence of the IHM Sisters who teach in the Academy, direct the Retreat and Conference Center, or serve in other works of the Congregation.
The Sisters of IHM rejoice in extending hospitality to all who come to enjoy the peace and beauty that Wootton provides.