Renting Fairwold Mansion
Or Hadash is a beautiful and historic building.
Fairwold Mansion was built by the Heberton family atop a wooded hill in Fort Washington in 1888. The house, which sits on land that George Washington used as an encampment for his troops during the revolutionary war, was then a weekend and summer home for the Cadwalader family.
Although Fairwold Mansion is close to major highways and hotels, guests will feel removed from the hustle and bustle of modern life. Today Fairwold Mansion is owned by Or Hadash, which fluidly shares its home with renters looking for a distinct ambiance for their events. The property is surrounded by gracious landscaping and multiple outdoor event options.
THE GRAND HALL
The Grand Hall (which is used as a sanctuary by the congregation), is the mansion’s former ballroom. It was added to the building in 1922 and has magnificent acoustics for vocal and instrumental music and a picturesque balcony and (non-working) organ. The hardwood floors, which are in an elegant herringbone pattern, serve as a readymade dance floor. The space is replete with walnut wainscoting and hand-carved trim. This room also features beautiful leaded glass windows and an ornamental plaster ceiling.
It also features a raised stage for speakers or performers. The stage, which is accessible both by stairs and a ramp, is home to a grand piano and a handsome, movable hand-crafted wood podium.
While most components of the room reflect the elegance and craftsmanship of a bygone era, the Grand Hall also features a newer public address system and wifi, a projector and a large screen suitable for presentations and hybrid events.
This room offers a distinctive environment for weddings, graduations, funerals, anniversary celebrations, concerts, workshops and trainings.
DIMENSIONS: approximately 35 ft. x 70 ft.
The stage adds approx. 15 ft. of depth.
BANQUET SEATING ESTIMATE: Seating at 12 60” round tables for 96
(Allows for Dance Floor)
THEATER SEATING ESTIMATES 300
COCKTAIL FORMAT (standing room with some seating and Dance Floor) 250
THE SOCIAL HALL
The Social Hall, which is part of the original mansion (150 years), is another refined space suitable for a wide variety of programs in tandem with the Grand Hall or by itself. The Social Hall has a decorative fireplace and mantel, tall walnut wainscoting, hardwood floors in an elegant herringbone pattern, and an ornamental ceiling. The hardwood floors serve as a readymade dance floor. These features compliment a wall of French doors that open onto a covered porch that runs the length of the room.
DIMENSIONS: approximately 21 ft. x 40 ft. (840 square feet)
The covered porch adds 40 ft. x 9 ft (360 square ft)
BANQUET SEATING ESTIMATE: 7 60” round tables for 56
THEATER SEATING ESTIMATES 75 folding chairs (50 of our larger, upholstered chairs)
COCKTAIL FORMAT (standing room with some seating) 120
THE LIBRARY
The Library is a striking room with built-in floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and leaded grass windows that peek out on picturesque views. The room is anchored by a decorative fireplace and mantel, tall walnut wainscoting, hardwood floors in an elegant herringbone pattern, and an ornamental ceiling. It is ready for board meetings and training sessions, with a built-in whiteboard, wifi and a screen suitable for both presentations and hybrid events.
DIMENSIONS: 24 ft. x 18 ft. (432 square feet)
BANQUET SEATING ESTIMATE: 2 60” round tables for 16
2 60” rectangular tables (72×36) for 16
SEATING IN THE ROUND ESTIMATE: 25 chairs
OUTDOOR AREAS
We have a covered porch and two lovely stone patios on which people host gatherings.
We have two propane outdoor heaters and a newer portable fire pit that renters are welcome to use
COVERED PORCH
The covered porch is 40 ft. x 9 ft (360 square ft). It is accessible from the front yard, the Social Hall and the Vestibule entrance. The porch can comfortably hold 3 60 inch round tables for 24 people. Although steps must be navigated from every direction, a portable ramp is always available in the Vestibule.
THE PORCH PATIO
The Porch Patio is accessible from the Solarium, the Social Hall and the covered Porch. There is a portable ramp to help people navigate the short steps from the vestibule to the porch and the porch to the Healing Garden patio. The Porch Patio can be tented (tent must be rented from an external source).
BANQUET SEATING
(without Tent) at 8 60” round tables for 64 in folding chairs
(with Tent*) at 6 60” round tables for 48 in folding chairs
THEATER SEATING
(without Tent) 75 folding chairs
(with Tent*) 50 folding chairs
COCKTAIL FORMAT (standing room with some seating)
(without Tent) 120
(with Tent*) 50
BOARD MEETING STYLE SEATING (connected rectangular tables)
(without Tent) 50-75
(with Tent*) 30
THE HEALING GARDEN PATIO
is outside the main entrance to the Solarium and Sanctuary. It is level with the entrance and fully accessible. There is an enclosed circular Healing Garden with benches at the far end. The flexible portion of the Healing Garden Patio is quite a bit smaller than the Porch Patio. It is ideal for a cocktail hour before an event in the Grand Hall.
We do require that catered affairs are either dairy or vegetarian, or that you use a certified kosher caterer.
Member Rental
You can read the rental detail information here including pricing, and a sample contract here. Here is our complete Community Kashrut Policy (How we keep kosher), and details on our kosher policies for caterers.
Non-Member Rental
Visit our Rental Listing for non-members to rent Fairwold Mansion.
Please contact our office at 215-283-0276 or email office@orhadash.com for building availability.
Testimonials From Renters
Our organization had the pleasure of utilizing event space at Or Hadash for a professional development training on “Using your Outdoor Classroom.” The indoor space was well-equipped with tables, chairs and audio-visual equipment (projector and screen), and is a beautiful environment to spend time in. The outdoor patio space and its stunning natural surroundings were the perfect backdrop for exploring and inspiring outdoor learning!
KIM FOLLETT
Chief Executive Officer
Play & Learn
Fort Washington
It has been our privilege to call Or Hadash our home for more than 12 years. The Congregation has been incredibly generous in opening its beautiful sanctuary to us, providing an exceptional venue for both rehearsals and performances. The spacious, open sanctuary is remarkably adaptable, allowing us to configure the space to suit a wide variety of rehearsal and concert needs. The available furnishings and equipment—including a baby grand piano—have consistently met our requirements. The convenient location and ample parking are also a tremendous benefit for both our musicians and the audiences we serve. The elegance and warmth of the sanctuary make it a pleasure to gather for rehearsals each Sunday evening, creating an inviting atmosphere for our members. The excellent acoustics, enhanced by the soaring ceilings, are especially well suited to the size of our orchestra and the breadth of our repertoire.
KEVIN W. AIRES
Board President
Independence Sinfonia
Our organization had the pleasure of utilizing event space at Or Hadash for a professional development training on “Using your Outdoor Classroom.” The indoor space was well-equipped with tables, chairs and audio-visual equipment (projector and screen), and is a beautiful environment to spend time in. The outdoor patio space and its stunning natural surroundings were the perfect backdrop for exploring and inspiring outdoor learning!
LINDA PODEITZ
My organization was looking for a space to have a 2-day retreat. We had been working with another space that suddenly fell through. Or Hadash met all of the criteria we needed, and more! I am so glad that we held our retreat there… the main meeting space was incredible, with lots of light in the room, and the other rooms available to us allowed us to spread out as needed. If it had not been so hot, we would have used the outdoor space as well. The congregation was so kind in helping us run a successful retreat, from the president getting there at 6:30am to make sure that we had what we needed, to the rabbi ensuring that all of the A/V equipment we needed to use was ready for us to use.
SARAH FOX
Moving Traditions
Director of Programs & Partnerships
For the past few years, the Vintage Israeli Dance class that I lead has taken place at Or Hadash. The space is beautiful, and the wooden floor makes it so comfortable when dancing. In the winter, it’s nicely heated and in the summer, it’s easy to adjust the air conditioning. We dancers feel very fortunate to have this wonderful space in which to carry on our Jewish heritage through dance.
DONNA HENDEL
A great backdrop for your event.
Please contact our office at 215-283-0276
or email office@orhadash.com for building availability.