The George and Iva Olmsted Family
George Welsh Olmsted was born in 1874, in Ridgway, Pennsylvania, to Fannie Frances and Samuel Ashbel Olmsted, the first sawmill owner in Elk County. In 1901, George Olmsted, and six others, bought the J.G. Curtis Leather Company in Ludlow, PA. He served as secretary of the tannery for the remainder of his life. On June 17,1904, he married Iva Catherine Groves, daughter of Mary Angeline Pendleton and the Reverend Anthony Groves. Miss Groves was a graduate of Clarion State Teacher’s College. Their first child, Robert, was born in 1908 and his sister, Elizabeth (Betty), in 1912. Mr. Olmsted’s interest in the power industry led to his purchase of three small electric companies in New York and quickly expanded as he organized the Long Island Lighting Company. Through some 50 purchases and mergers, the company grew rapidly over the next 20 years and eventually furnished electricity and gas to almost all of Long Island east of the New York City line. During his lifetime, George W. Olmsted, served as trustee of Allegheny College in Meadville, PA, and was a trustee of the First Methodist Episcopal Church in Kane. He was deeply involved in the Boy Scout movement. He developed the Boy Scout camp, Camp Olmsted, located north of Warren, Pennsylvania, and later became chairman of the National Camping Committee. At one time there were thought to be more Eagle Scouts per capita in Ludlow than anywhere else. George Olmsted died in 1940. Iva Catherine Olmsted, was an avid gardener and oversaw the care of the landscaped grounds and gardens. At one time, the Olmsteds employed up to 14 full-time gardeners. She was an active, lifelong member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and facilitated the building and remodeling of the parsonages in her father’s former parishes. Mrs. Olmsted lived on the estate until 1960 when she moved to a nursing home in the Chicago area. She and her daughter, Elizabeth, began the process of turning the estate over to the United Methodist Church before she died in 1970. Robert Groves Olmsted, graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy, received his bachelor of arts degree from Yale and his masters in business administration from Harvard. Robert served as vice president of business and finance for Columbia University and as president of Adelphi University. He remained interested in the work of Olmsted Manor Retreat Center until he died in 2003. Elizabeth Olmsted Wakefield, graduated from Walnut Hill School in Massachusetts and attended Vassar College. She was an expert equestrienne and held annual horse shows at Wildcat Park in Ludlow. Elizabeth was married in September of 1933, in a ceremony held on the grounds of Olmsted Manor, to an Olympic skater, Lyman Wakefield. Elizabeth died in 1971. |
The Manor Estate
In 1916, Mr. Olmsted contacted architect Albert Bodker of Philadelphia to design his home in Ludlow, PA. Arguing that a community like Ludlow would not justify such a mansion, Bodker initially refused. Mr. Olmsted issued an ultimatum to Bodker to design the house where he worked and lived or return to Philadelphia. Relenting, Bodker spent the year on site, overseeing the completion of the Tudor mansion in 1917.
The mansion, built by Hyde-Murphy Company of Ridgway, contained such wonders as oak paneling, a Steinway piano, family crests worked in stained glass on the main stairwell, a private two lane bowling alley, plasterwork coats of arms for both the Olmsted and Pendleton families, and a cork-floored game room.
Alling S. DeForest of Rochester, New York, served as landscape architect. In 1912, five years before the Manor was completed, DeForest designed the cascade and other stone work to channel water off the spring-laden hillside. The springs still provide water for the retreat center and 60 other families in Ludlow. The beautiful gardens appeared in two magazines, “House and Garden” and “Garden Magazine.” In 1923, “Garden Magazine” depicted the water as “smoothly falling from one level to another in an interestingly designed series of basins.” The “sunken gardens,” another interesting sight, included 12,000 red, white, and blue tulips along with a myriad of other flowers. The 325 acre estate also contained lily ponds, cascading fountains, tennis courts, terraced flower gardens, a swimming pool, a stable of thoroughbred horses, a carriage house, a picnic area with outside fireplace, a putting green, and a gazebo used for afternoon tea.
Upon entering the estate, visitors are greeted by large iron gates. Master craftsman Samuel Yellin constructed the gates. His intricate iron work can be seen at the entrances of the Sterling Memorial Library at Yale and the gateway at Washington’s National Cathedral. Yellin is know for designing works of art out of a single piece of iron, instead of tacking pieces together.
In 1916, Mr. Olmsted contacted architect Albert Bodker of Philadelphia to design his home in Ludlow, PA. Arguing that a community like Ludlow would not justify such a mansion, Bodker initially refused. Mr. Olmsted issued an ultimatum to Bodker to design the house where he worked and lived or return to Philadelphia. Relenting, Bodker spent the year on site, overseeing the completion of the Tudor mansion in 1917.
The mansion, built by Hyde-Murphy Company of Ridgway, contained such wonders as oak paneling, a Steinway piano, family crests worked in stained glass on the main stairwell, a private two lane bowling alley, plasterwork coats of arms for both the Olmsted and Pendleton families, and a cork-floored game room.
Alling S. DeForest of Rochester, New York, served as landscape architect. In 1912, five years before the Manor was completed, DeForest designed the cascade and other stone work to channel water off the spring-laden hillside. The springs still provide water for the retreat center and 60 other families in Ludlow. The beautiful gardens appeared in two magazines, “House and Garden” and “Garden Magazine.” In 1923, “Garden Magazine” depicted the water as “smoothly falling from one level to another in an interestingly designed series of basins.” The “sunken gardens,” another interesting sight, included 12,000 red, white, and blue tulips along with a myriad of other flowers. The 325 acre estate also contained lily ponds, cascading fountains, tennis courts, terraced flower gardens, a swimming pool, a stable of thoroughbred horses, a carriage house, a picnic area with outside fireplace, a putting green, and a gazebo used for afternoon tea.
Upon entering the estate, visitors are greeted by large iron gates. Master craftsman Samuel Yellin constructed the gates. His intricate iron work can be seen at the entrances of the Sterling Memorial Library at Yale and the gateway at Washington’s National Cathedral. Yellin is know for designing works of art out of a single piece of iron, instead of tacking pieces together.
A Brief History of the Retreat Center
Olmsted Manor Retreat Center has been operating since 1969, when the family of George W. Olmsted donated their family estate to the Western Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church. The Olmsted family began negotiations to transfer the estate to the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church in 1968. On November 1, 1969, Bishop Roy C. Nichols dedicated Olmsted Manor as an Adult Retreat and Renewal Center. On October 2, 1976, the dedication of Groves Lodge took place, providing modern accommodations and dining facilities. The Rev. Herbert E. Boyd was appointed the first resident director. Under his guidance and personal care, the property was returned to a place of activity and beauty. In June of 1976, the Rev. James M. Legro was appointed executive director and given broad responsibilities for developing programming. Rev. John Miller served as the director from 1979 to 2001 and was instrumental in the expansion of the facilities with the construction of Hickman Hall, the director's residence, and an accessible addition to Groves Lodge. A labyrinth has been constructed on the lower grounds in honor of Rev. Miller and his many years of service. The previous director, Jody Larson, served Olmsted for a total 41 years. He was involved in the facilities work of Olmsted Manor from 1979 on and became the executive director in 2001. Jody was instrumental in restoration and construction of many areas at Olmsted, including the 2018 completion of The Olmsted Campaign. Rev. Al Hammer began serving as the executive director of Olmsted in July 2019. The staff and board of Olmsted join Al in efforts to fulfill our vision: to provide sacred space for renewal in an atmosphere of Christian hospitality. |
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Olmsted is a retreat center providing sacred space for renewal
in an atmosphere of Christian hospitality. Olmsted Manor Retreat Center - 17 East Main St. - PO Box 8 - Ludlow, PA 16333 814-945-6512 - [email protected] - facebook.com/olmstedretreats |