Right along the Delaware River, stands a historic estate known as Andalusia. It has been owned by the very prestigious Biddle family since 1811 when Nicholas Biddle began to expand on the house that had been there. The Biddle family can be traced back to the Revolutionary War.

Ever since I can remember, I have heard stories about The Biddle Family. In 1963, my grandparents bought a house in the Andalusia section of Bensalem, PA. They lived there for the rest of their lives. My family grew up there and it is a huge part of our family. When my grandfather and I would go down to The River, we would drive past the estate and he used to tell me all the stories about The Biddles. When I began working at Fort Mifflin, The Biddles were donators. I remember a member of the Biddle Family attending the annual reenactment each year that I worked there. Now, as an adult with my own family, we regularly drive past the estate.

One day While driving past, I noticed something that I hadn’t before. In the middle of the woods, amongst the trees, three pillars stand alone. I pointed them out to my daughter. It has become a regular game each time we drive by to see if we can spot them from the road. It’s much easier in the winter. They look as though there once was a house built on that spot and the only thing left are these pillars. My curiosity got the best of me and I had to find out.

I had tried to research it, but came up short. I knew someone that worked there, so, I asked her about them. She couldn’t answer me. Then a ray of hope came. The Andalusia Estate were opening for a garden and grounds tour. I thought, who better to ask then the people working the event. When I asked, they knew nothing about them, despite them being on the map handed out to tourists.

Next, I took to the people of the area. I figured that someone, somewhere, would surely have heard a story, a legend, or could even point me in the right direction. I asked Local historians but to no avail. No one could tell me anything about these mysterious pillars.

Finally, a local resident gave me the name of a person they heard had the pillars built. After all this time, a lead I could run with. I began researching the name. That one name led me to three other names. I contacted all three and finally got my answer.

According to Jamie Biddle, it was his father Jimmy who is responsible for the mysterious pillars.

James “Jimmy” Biddle served as president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation for 12 years. In that time, he saved the original exterior of the Untied States Capitol Building while also awarding grants to historical preservation projects from New York to California and everywhere in between.

Paul Bridgewater was the curator of the art collection at Andalusia and a close friend of Jimmy Biddle for a long time. He now owns Bridgewater Fine Arts in New York City. According to Paul, Jimmy was always trying to improve Andalusia and was very proud of all his work there. He would regularly boast about a tree that he had planted or a building that he preserved. Rightfully so. I have walked the grounds and they are absolutely beautiful.

Jamie Biddle stated that the pillars were not part of anything built on site. Jimmy Biddle rescued them from another site that was being torn down. He had them moved to their current location as a focal point to the mansion, known as The Big House, down the original Biddle Lane.

“My father was a leader in the historic preservation movement and was regularly saving architectural remnants and moving them to Andalusia. There are many examples throughout the property. He loved to create vistas in the garden.” Said Jamie Biddle.

So, the next time you drive past Andalusia, take a look in the woods and you may see this very bold memorial to a very hardworking and proud man now known simply as The Pillars Of Andalusia”.

Many thanks to Paul Bridgewater for our lovely conversation and his enthusiasm for helping tell this story. You can find his gallery online at:
https://bwfinearts.com/

Special thanks to The Biddle Family for aiding me in my research. Be sure to visit the breathtaking grounds at Andalusia.
https://andalusiapa.org/

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“The Pillars Of Andalusia”

“RAW Power”