Rathalla- A Gilded Age Mansion now a part of Rosemont College

January 15, 2023

Rathalla- A Gilded Age Mansion now a part of Rosemont College

This stunning Gilded Age beauty is called Rathalla and is now a part of Rosemont College. In Gaelic Rathalla means "Home of the Chieftain upon the Highest Hill." Philadelphia architects Hazlehurst and Huckle designed the house and it was completed in 1889. The firm built a range of buildings including Churches, factories, large mansions and sprawling suburban homes. While they were prolific, only a few of their buildings still stand. This house has 32 rooms and at the time of occupancy required 7 servants. It was built for Joseph F. Sinnott who had a fascinating life. Starting out as a penniless Irish immigrant, he became extremely wealthy and very philanthropic sharing his wealth with many organizations. In 1854, he arrived in Philadelphia at the age of 17. His plans were to continue on to South Carolina, to join family there. However, upon coming to the U.S. he learned those family members had died of Yellow Fever. It was then that he decided to stay in Philadelphia and it seems that worked out quite well for him. At the age of 20 he went to work for Gibson Distillery as a bookeeper. Owned by a fellow Irishman, Henry C. Gibson, one speculates that he was helping out a fellow Irishman. Through the years, Joseph worked his way up within the company, and when Gibson retired, he and Andrew Moore became business partners and owners. When Joseph F. Sinnott was 51, Moore died, and he then became the sole owner of one of the largest distilleries in the U.S. He and his family, including his wife and their 9 children, moved into Rathalla in 1889. While the business was highly successful, it was forced to close due to Prohibition. He lived there until his death in 1906, at the age of 69. At that time, his estate was worth over $ 2 Million dollars. This manion is located just a few miles from Maybrook, the home of Henry C. Gibson.