Drew Brennan

Solidly built from the finest materials, this gracious Haverford home welcomes the family that values fine craftsmanship. Original owner, Hugh McIlvain, a hardwood lumber merchant and philanthropist, oversaw all details when this house was built in 1921, from selecting the mahogany used for the grand front staircase, to choosing the glittering Wissahickon schist that constitutes the thick walls. Two acres of lovingly tended landscape – complete with a small pond, garden plots, and seating areas – create an outdoor haven to surround this seven-bedroom home and carriage house. Mahogany doors and a true through-center hall greet the visitor, whose eye travels up to a Palladian window on the landing. French doors lead into the large living room with its oak floors, deep sills, sub-floor firewood storage, and fireplace with mahogany mantel. Across the hall is a dining room with built-in corner cabinets, wainscoting, and a brick fireplace surrounded by dental molding. Also off the entry hall is a library with built-in bookcases, a fireplace with original millwork, and a wide window seat. A butlers pantry with handsome kitchen dressers connects the dining room to the functional kitchen, with its brick chimney and generous pass-through to a bright breakfast room and exposed schist arch. Two powder rooms and plentiful closets with solid, snug-fitting doors and original hardware complete the first floor. The second-floor master bedroom has a peaceful windowed seating area, four large closets, a fireplace with decorative mantel, and an attached bath. Also accessed from the second-floor hall: a princess suite with bath, a third well-scaled bedroom, and a hall bath with original hexagonal floor tile. Set apart, next to an enclosed back staircase, is a charming small study or bedroom with a marble fireplace. Attached is a sleeping porch with beadboard and attractive, horizontally-hinged windows on three exposures. The third floor features three spacious bedrooms with substantial baseboards, garret ceilings, and treetop views as well as a large hall bath. Two additional bonus rooms – one with double cedar closets – could be used as den, billiards, or office spaces. Outdoor features of the home include a covered open-air porch with original O.W. Ketcham Old Dutch terra cotta tiles and a wooden deck. The original window sills are Indiana limestone and the gutters and downspouts are aluminum. The nearby carriage house offers space for five cars and garden equipment. Above the garage are three+ bedrooms, two baths, and a rustic kitchen. A recent inspector called 526 College Avenue the most solidly built house he had seen in his long career. Perfectly proportioned, this home and property offer both beauty and superior quality to the discerning buyer.