Drexel Hill in Delaware County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Residence of Anthony Joseph Drexel Jr.

Photographed by Kate Clifford, August 6, 2026

1. Residence of Anthony Joseph Drexel Jr. Marker

Inscription. Around 1889, Anthony J. Drexel Jr., son of the prominent banker, philanthropist, and founder of Drexel University, purchased 36 acres of land northeast of the Garrett Road and Lansdowne Avenue intersection from P. Garrett & E. Powell. Shortly after, A.J. Drexel Jr. commissioned the Architect Wilson Eyre Jr. to design a country house for him. The result was "Thurso," a house made of rough stone in the English cottage style with tudor accents, costing $30,000 at the time, equal to $1,050,000 in 2025.

In early 1898, a devastating fire consumed the mansion in its entirety, leaving only the gatehouse and stable intact. For nearly two decades, the land lay dormant.

Erected 2026 by Delaware County Community College.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture. A significant historical year for this entry is 1889.

Location. 39° 57.16′ N, 75° 16.968′ W. Marker is in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, in Delaware County. It is on Lansdowne Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 409 N Lansdowne Avenue, Drexel Hill PA 19026, United States of

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America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Pennsylvania and in Greater Philadelphia.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: St. Vincent's Orphanage (a few steps from this marker); Archbishop Prendergast High School/ Monsignor Bonner High School (a few steps from this marker); Thomas Garrett (approx. ¾ mile away); Henry Albertson Subdivision Historic District (approx. ¾ mile away); Lansdowne World War Monument (approx. 0.8 miles away); Abraham L. Pennock (approx. 0.8 miles away); Lansdowne Park Historic District (approx. 1.1 miles away); Clifton Heights (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Drexel Hill.

Photographed by Kate Clifford, August 6, 2026

2. Residence of Anthony Joseph Drexel Jr. Marker

Interpretive signs to north image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kate Clifford, August 6, 2026

3. Interpretive signs to north

Credits. This page was last revised on August 18, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 11, 2026, by Kate Clifford of Lansdowne, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 13 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 11, 2026, by Kate Clifford of Lansdowne, Pennsylvania. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.