Hello, Beauties🌸 Today’s post, my daughter and I spent time at Chanticleer Gardens, a tremendous natural beauty elixir in Wayne, Pennsylvania.
By now, you know part of my self-care is taking time to smell more than roses. But remember my tiptoeing through the tulips at the 2018 Philly Flower Show? And most recently, I experienced the cherry blossoms at the Shofuso Japanese House in Fairmont Park.
A planned visit to Chanticleer’s historic botanical sanctuary is relaxing, inspiring, and educational. The Chanticleer Story: In 1912, Adolph G. Rosengarten, Sr., and his wife Christine Penrose chose the Wayne—St. David area to build their forty-seven-acre summer retreat. How did Adolph acquire his wealth to purchase Main Line property? The family’s Philadelphia-based pharmaceutical firm was founded in 1822 to produce Quinoline, a drug used to treat Malaria.
The Chanticleer Foundation owns 47 acres, 35 open to the public. How about a fancy French name for their estate? The Rosengartens named their home after “Chanticiere” in William Thackeray’s 1855 novel The Newcomers.
After a slow walkthrough, you quickly notice the many spring-blooming gardens and the delightful fresh aromas — a fabulous way to reconnect with nature is in a botanical garden. There are strategically placed picnic tables and benches to enjoy lunch or relax.
The beautiful main house was completed in 1913. A 1924 addition converted the summer home into a year-round residence, and the family moved there permanently.
Adolph and Christine gave their two children homes on the grounds as wedding gifts. A neighboring property went to son Adolph, Jr. and his bride Janet Newlin in 1933. Daughter Emily’s house, located at the visitor’s entrance, was built for her in 1935 when she married Samuel Goodman. That residence now has administrative offices and educational classrooms.
The son, Adolph Jr., bought the sister’s estate portion following her death in the 1980s. He didn’t move into the main house, now open for tours by reservation, but entertained there and kept it.
Adolph, Jr., the last private owner of Chanticleer, was heir to the family’s pharmaceutical firm merged with Merck & Company in 1927. Rosengarten left a generous endowment, administered by the Chanticleer Foundation, to preserve the estate, open it as a public garden, and the main house as a museum.
His will did not stipulate the preservation of the property in any particular historical or aesthetic fashion, “This beautiful countryside should be treasured.”
This post makes me want to see more of Chanticleer Gardens. Being there in heels didn’t allow my daughter and me to cover the entire grounds.
There isn’t much biographical information about Adolph G. Rosengarten, Sr.’s birth and death. I did find the senior Mr. Rosengarten was an attorney and a successful businessman. Also, Director of Merck & Company chemists. What about the connection to manufacturing Quinine?
Chanticleer is open April through October, Wednesday through Sunday. Admission is $10. What is your favorite natural beauty elixir? Do share in the comments section.
As always, thank you for reading. Have a wonderful week.
P.S. Photos of my daughter and I – Face Forward Photography
