Queen Anne In Bellefonte Area Open Sunday 1-4

This fabled Historic Home, the Chambers Mansion, was built c. 1894 for Miss Marion Clark on 16 acres is in an area named Gordon Heights by an earlier landowner from Scotland, Elliot McNair. The Clark land had been a park with a picnic area, situated high above the Delaware River. It was a lovely spot to build her Queen Anne home with not only 2 balconies and turrets, but also a widow’s walk accessed through the attic with a view of the land extending down to the River. At the turn of the last century, the Delaware River shoreline was a popular area to swim, and there were trolley lines bringing people from Wilmington and as far away as Downingtown, Pennsylvania to this idyllic spot.

A later owner of this Historic Home was Arthur Chambers, PhD, who bought the house in 1920. He enjoyed a long and successful career with DuPont, which he helped convert from a producer of explosives to a manufacturer of chemical dyestuffs. When he retired in 1944, the DuPont dye works on the east bank of the Delaware River at Deepwater, New Jersey, were named The Chambers Works in his honor.

From 1962 to 1968, the house was used as the Wilmington Christian School, which explains the slate walkways once installed outside the house using old blackboards. An elevator was installed in the original front foyer, meaning the porte cochere was then used as the main entrance. The elevator was removed by later owners. The third floor has a massive Mercer Tile fireplace, and the English Gothic style room was once used as a performance space.

The next 4 owners of this Historic Delaware home continued restoration efforts, resulting in the beautiful home you see today.The home is located 2 blocks from the charming town of Bellefonte, with its eclectic shops and the Bellefonte Cafe'. 

Looking for older or historic homes in Delaware or Southern Chester County, Pennsylvania? Contact Carolyn Roland