| In 1893, the mansion was purchased by Robert and Caroline Foerderer, who, some years earlier, (he had been nineteen and she had been eighteen years old) were rowing on the river. They were attracted by the steep banks which looked like bluffs from down in the boat. Upon seeing the dog, they became curious, and decided to mount the steps to investigate what lay beyond their view. They fell in love with the site, and young Robert promised Caroline that one day they would own it. |
 Robert was the son of a German immigrant who brought to this country a knowledge of processing goat skins, and he developed a very large "Morocco" leather shop. Robert left school early to begin in the business. The high fashion in leather in those late Victorian days was for a butter-soft kidskin, and the process for this was known only to the French, who monopolized the trade.
Foerderer suggested that his family try to discover this new process, but his father reprimanded him sternly for being an immature dreamer, who would eventually find that what had been good enough for his grandfather and his father, would most certainly suffice for him. Shortly after this exchange, Robert left his family’s firm, and the young couple were married. They started out in a modest way, with Robert experimenting with various processes, while his wife ironed out the skins. Then one day he achieved success. Triumphantly waving the iron in the air, he shouted, "Vici!" (I have conquered!) That word became his trademark, and thus began the rapid rise in his fortune. "Vici" kid made Robert a millionaire, and true to his word, in 1893 Robert Foerderer returned to the dream house, Glengarry, which was fortunately available, and purchased the estate. |
 In less than fifteen years after Foerderer had struck out on his own, his business had grown to employ 5,000 men and handled 9,000,000 skins a year. His company, now a major Philadelphia tanning plant, was known as "VICI KID". He also undertook the directorship of the Keystone Telephone Company, and was on the board of the Philadelphia Rapid Transit. His honesty and industry had attracted the attention of local Republicans, who finally succeeded in persuading him to run for Congressman-at-large. Before the next term, there was a re-districting, and he was elected to represent the fourth congressional district.
With his architect, Mr. McCawley, Foerderer, now United States Congressman and President of the Keystone Telephone Company, set about making vast improvements to the mansion. The house was enlarged in 1902-1903, and transformed into an Edwardian country house in the Classical revival architectural idiom. The transformation included the expansion of the grounds to an eighteen-acre estate landscaped in the English park tradition. He added a porte cochere, enlarged and glassed in part of the porch, and built a large addition, which included a huge dining room, with an art gallery above it. Ornate pillars took the place of wall supports, and the ceilings of the drawing rooms were elegantly stuccoed. A Haskell pipe organ, parquet floors, grand staircase, elaborate leaded glass skylights, and original rathskellar were added to enhance the uniqueness and beauty of the home. Everything was planned for entertainment on a grand scale. As a final touch, they changed the name of the estate to Glen Foerd. This change came about one evening at dinner when Mr. Foerderer asked his daughter, Florence, what name she might suggest. She replied, "Let’s take half of each name," and so they did. |
| During the alterations, a small house on the property which had belonged to the Borie family, was demolished, and the foundations were converted into a lily pond. At a visit to a sculptor friend in Boston, Florence was delighted to find that her friend, Mrs. Marquand Laird, had created a most unusual fountain which she called "The Spirit of Youth". Florence was so taken by the grace of it, that she bought it for her unique lily pond. |
 Because of the elaborate renovation design and labor delays, the Foerderers had not yet moved back into the mansion when Robert died in 1902. The Foerderers had two grown children at the time of his death, Percival and Florence. After Robert Foerderer died, which unfortunately occurred at the early age of forty-three, his widow, his daughter and his son-in-law (Mr. and Mrs. William Thomas Tonner), continued to live at Glen Foerd. The old gas cottage on the grounds of Glen Foerd was converted into a "Swiss Chalet" for the Tonners. Percival married and left Torresdale. His name is still well known, especially at the Percival Foerderer Pavilion at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, and in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, where he built an estate which he called, "La Ronda", which still stands today.
Caroline, who died on August 3, 1934, remained active, directing the addition of the apartment to the rear of the house to accommodate her housekeeper. She devoted much of her time and wealth to the Artman Lutheran Home (her second husband was Mr. Enos Artman), and was an avid supporter of the Philadelphia Orchestra. |
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