China Hall and White Hall

Croydon, Pa.
 1796 -

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NOTE - White Hall looked similar in style to the White House in Washington, DC. Two of these pictures are NOT of White Hall. The first one is of the White House, the second of Stotesbury Mansion (Whitemarsh Hall) which used to stand in Chestnut Hill, Pa. They are here to give you an idea of what White Hall looked like. The rest actually are of White Hall.

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China Hall and White Hall were two mansions standing alongside the Delaware River in Croydon, Bucks Co., Pa.

Their histories have become intertwined over the years, and are now difficult to separate.

China Hall was demolished years ago, but some of White Hall still remains. What is left of White Hall gives no hint of the grandeur of the original mansion.

China Hall -

Andreas Everardus Van Braam Houckgeest, or Van Braam, as he was known, was born in the Netherlands in 1739. For most of his life, Van Braam traveled the world. He especially enjoyed his days and experiences in China.

China Hall
In 1796, Van Braam came to the United States and purchased an estate along the Delaware River in Croydon, Pa. He designed and built an elaborate new house. It had a copper-covered roof, and was crowned by a pagoda-like cupola containing silver bells that tinkled in the wind.

The kitchens, servants' quarters, dairy, wine cellars, storerooms and pantry were in the basement. The basement was lined in blue marble. There were also a ballroom and a music room in the house. Outside was a stable large enough for 18 horses, a carriage house that would hold 12 carriages, a barn, an ice house, and various other outbuildings. There were also extensive gardens and orchards.

Because of his enjoyment of his years in China, Van Braam decorated his new house with his Chinese memorabilia and named it "China's Retreat".

After only two years of living at his new mansion, Van Braam sold it to a Captain Walter Sims in 1798. Captain Sims was also enamored of the country of China, so he, too, enjoyed the exotic atmosphere of the mansion. His only change was to rename it "China Hall".

In 1806, after eight years of living in the house, Captain Sims sold it. After that, the property was sold numerous times, seemingly losing acreage and deteriorating after each sale.

Eventually, China Hall was demolished and the oil tanks of the Phila. Suburban Water Co. now stand on the site.

White Hall -

(White House, Wash., DC)
The White Hall estate has a diverse history.

It is rumored to have been part of the 'Underground Railroad' with tunnels leading out to the river.

During the Civil War, the house was used as a military hospital.

After the war, the estate was part of Bristol College, a military school. The college lasted about three years before it was transferred to Harrisburg.

Later, Galilee Mission used the mansion for a little while.

Sometime along the way, the land of the estate was sold off. Many houses were built on what used to be one large estate. The gardens and orchards were gone now. Houses surrounded the once grand mansion where it once stood alone, making it seem out of place.

(Whitemarsh Hall, Chestnut Hill, Pa)
More recently, the two wings of the mansion were converted into four apartments each. The center section, between the wings, was left - abandoned and empty.

Today, the main section with its three-story-tall Grecian pillars and pediment is gone. The victim of much deterioration, it was finally demolished about eight years ago, after standing empty for many years.

But the two wings of the mansion still stand - as apartments.

Please Remember - This is Private Property
Please Respect the Owners' Privacy
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Center Section of White Hall
before being demolished		 Bristol College - 1909
( White Hall )

White Hall Today

North Wing of White Hall The Center Section with the Six Columns
Used to Stand in the Open Area

South Wing of White Hall Center Section Used to Stand Here The Rear of White Hall

White Hall Today

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Created- Tues, Dec. 21, 1999
Revised- Tues, Feb 15, 2000
crc1123@voicenet.com