Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens Essential Facts

Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens Essential Facts

Question: Why is it called Stan Hywet?

Answer: Stan Hywet derives its name from its pre-history, the site of an old stone quarry. It is pronounced “stan HEE'wit” and is Old English for stone quarry.

Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens (70 acres) is a historic house museum in Akron, Ohio. The estate includes gardens, a greenhouse, a carriage house, and the main mansion, one of the largest houses in the United States.  A National Historic Landmark, it is nationally significant as the home of F. A. Seiberling, co-founder of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company.

The estate was built between 1912 and 1915 for F. A. Seiberling, co-founder of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, and his wife, Gertrude Penfield Seiberling. They named their "American Country Estate" Stan Hywet, loosely translated from Old English meaning "stone quarry" or "stone hewn," to reflect the site's earlier use and the abandoned stone quarries located on the grounds of the Aveill Dairy estate.

F.A. and Gertrude hired three professionals to shape the outcome of this home building project: Boston landscape designer Warren Manning, New York City interior designer Hugo Huber, and Cleveland architect Charles Schneider. Schneider originally pitched his design as an employee of George Post & Sons, a New York City architectural firm. Schneider left the company in 1913 but retained creative control and oversight of the building project.

In April 1912, the Seiberlings, with oldest daughter Irene and architect Schneider, traveled to England to tour approximately 20 manor homes to gather inspiration for the home's design. Three English country homes served as the inspiration for Stan Hywet: Compton Wynyates, Ockwells Manor, and Haddon Hall.

The long, sprawling Manor House encompasses 64,500 square feet and includes four floors and a lower-level basement. In conceiving their dream home, the Seiberlings asked each family member what he or she desired. Gertrude requested a large music room, the boys requested an indoor swimming pool and a private office for F.A. The house included a formal dining room that would seat up to 40 people, five guest bedrooms with adjoining full bathrooms and walk-in closets and eight live-in servants' bedrooms.

*This information comes from Wikipedia's page on this old Akron mansion.

Read more at > Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens

If you are unable to visit, you're still in luck as you can see this sprawling estate inside and out with the photos below.

and finally a waterfall

There is much more to this estate to see than I was able to show you here. So if you're able to visit I highly recommend this as a must-see place. The luxury this family enjoyed at a time when others couldn't even imagine such a lifestyle even existed is amazing.