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West Mt. Airy stone home lists for first time in 30 years

It’s known as Froheim, or “House of Joy”

A large stone home.
Froheim was built in 1920 and designed by Robert McGoodwin.
Photos by Scott Laughlin

It’s not a surprise whenever a Robert McGoodwin-designed Philadelphia home hits the market. After all, the Penn-taught architect designed dozens, if not hundreds, of homes in the Chestnut Hill and Mt. Airy neighborhoods throughout his career, which spanned from the early- to mid-1900s. But what makes this home so special is that it’s being offered for the first time in nearly 30 years—and it comes with its own horse stable.

Called Froheim, or House of Joy, McGoodwin designed this Cotswold Revival-style mansion in 1920 for a Hollis Wolstenholme, the treasurer of Alfred Wolstenholme & Son, a wool-making company.

It sits on 2.3 acres in West Mt. Airy, placed specifically on an elevated site to take advantage of the views of nearby Fairmount Park. McGoodwin also designed the home to be south-facing, allowing for plenty of natural light and cross-breeze throughout the day.

The 9,243-square-foot home is definitely impressive in size: There are seven bedrooms, five full, and two half baths. Scattered throughout the home are seven wood-burning fireplaces, found in the dining room, multiple bedrooms, the library, foyer, and family room. The seven bedrooms include one in the in-law suite that’s in a separate wing of the home. That comes with its own bathroom and efficiency kitchen, too.

The home’s separate horse stable was built on the property in 1995 for the current owner, who is a horse breeder, according to listing agent Scott Laughlin. The owner no doubt took advantage of the home’s location: It sits down the road from a horse-friendly trail into Fairmount Park.

The asking price of Froheim is $1,350,000.