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by Betty J. Burdan*
Wren's Mansion has been a part of the landscape of Douglass Township for at least the last 110 years and quite possibly as long as 135 years.
It was in 1872 when Col. James Wren came to area. They purchased a temporary home on East Philadelphia Avenue that is now Nyce Law Offices. His wife Clara (John) Wren purchased the tract of land in Douglass, Berks, where their mansion, known as "Willow Grove," would be built on. It isn't known. The mansion was likely built by 1874 when they sold their home in Boyertown to Julias Pusch. It was stately to say the least, with 3 stories, mansard roof, twin turrets, 20 rooms, built at a cost of $11,000 overlooking a woolen mill and dam, with various out buildings.
Here in the mansion Clara and Col. James raised their family. It was a mixed family as Col. James was previously married to Sarah Mortimer and they had two sons, William W. Wren and Andrew W. Wren. He next married Clara John and they had children: George W.; Charles J.; James J.; Guy, J. and Norman J.; Walter J., Carrie Wren and Emma Wren. Five of the children, James, Emma, Guy, Norman and Walter, were born here.
William W. Wren was a postmaster in Boyertown for more than 20 years and his brother Andrew was a jeweler in Boyertown. Son Charles was a cigar maker in Pottstown. Charles purchased the mansion, when his father died, demolished the woolen factory, built an ice house in its place and went into the ice business. He married Olivia Houck and remained in the mansion until shortly before his death in 1925.
From 1926 to 1946 the mansion belonged to a Ralph Dierolf and for some years operated it as a place of business managed by a Mrs. Borrell. In 1938 it was advertised that a Jack Ridgeway would be taking over management and the Chateau, as it was called then, was to be renovated into a summer hotel catering to dinner parties, social gatherings and dances.
In 1946 Francis and Anne Brady bought the Chateau and it has remained in the Brady family until the present. The Bradys were very inventive in finding uses for the mansion. It was converted into apartments in the early 1950s; for a while it was an old folks' home and still later a rooming house.
Upon the death of Francis and Anne Brady, the mansion was inherited by sons Bill Brady and Richard Cook, in equal shares. Sadly, Richard Cook and his wife perished in a small plane crash in 1989. Their half was vested in their three children who later sold their half to Uncle Bill. Bill conducted a number of business enterprises on the premises and established the Brady Trust in 1991, which was in control of the mansion. Upon his death in 2006 it went to his two daughters, Patricia L. Graber and Suzanne G. Aquiar, Trustees of the Brady Trust. The property remains in the hands of the family.
*Betty J. Burdan, historian extraordinaire writes for pleasure, shares with other publications. Climbed the family tree in 1990 and got hooked on local history Has a special interest in WWII and local veterans. Willing to share.
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