Beaumont News begins its next decade with 40th Edition, Number One - March 2026. It’s come a long way from a three-page typed-byhand introduction to the new community in 1988. Under the guidance of many editors before me, it has reported on activities, new residents, changes in management over the years, the dedication of our staff, and the physical growth and renovations centered around Liseter Hall. I hope everyone celebrates this milestone and continues to enjoy what we have all come to love here at Beaumont - fun, friendship, and community - with a slightly new look!
Catherine Wylonis, Editor
Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow…
Two weekends in January and February brought over 14" of snow, sleet, and freezing rain to keep us all inside for several days. While lovely snow-covered trees and lawns beaconed the intrepid few outdoors, most of us found activities inside to keep us occupied and well fed. A trivia contest, football watch parties, card games, movies, and sumptuous lunch and dinner buffets in the Music Room got us out from under our blankets.
A huge thanks goes out to our management and staff who braved the elements with shovels, plows, and trucks outdoors and who kept us fed from the kitchen, who found activities to keep us moving and socializing, and who kept us healthy and safe indoors. Over 20 of our team stayed for two overnightsbunking in offices or sharing cots in the hallways.
A Lasting Legacy: Gilded Age Designer’s Work at
Beaumont
Imagine arriving in 1914 at Liseter Hall (now our Beaumont) and being welcomed by William and Mary Austin at their front door facing the long drive down the hill to Gulph Road. Entering the mansion, one went through a small anteroom with a delicate tile floor mosaic that remains today. From there into the spacious formal entrance hall where the hostess stand is now, one faces a dramatic two-story stairwell flanked by sturdy fluted columns and flooded with light from a tall wall of multipaned windows reaching to the third floor. (The present glass enclosure was added as a safety feature and is removable.) The hall itself has an ornate gilded fretwork ceiling and oak paneling, decorative carving, and architectural elements that set the tone for the entire house. Wide doorways opening to the right and left give access to the mansion’s interior. A rear door leading outside to the back garden was designed with an elaborate iron grille, just recently located, cleaned, painted, and reinstalled. The most interesting feature of the hall is the inglenook to the right of the entrance framed by a broad archway with an inviting fireplace between windows fitted with window seats.
While we know that much of the crisply carved decorative woodwork from the Austins' previous home of 1902 on County Line Road was moved to and reused at this location, we do not know if each room was the same size or if the decoration was placed exactly as before. However, as one would expect from an academically trained artist like George Herzog, the classical architectural elements such as pilasters and engaged columns would be
repeated through the hall, as are classical motifs in the carvings: acanthus leaves, laurel branches, palmettos, rosettes, pomegranates, naturalistic flower garlands, and winged cherub heads.
On the contrary, the two male figures carved in high relief fitted into spandrels of the archway introduce a playful, non-classical theme. Their hats and costumes identify them as jesters - the one on the left holds a stick topped with a hat; the one on the right holds an owl and is identified more specifically as Till Eulenspiegel, the medieval German folk hero and trickster (eule, owl; spiegel, mirror). The choice of this character must have been linked to Richard Strauss’s popular 1895 Tone Poem “Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks.” In March 1904, Strauss, the renowned composer and conductor, had led the young Philadelphia Orchestra at The Academy of Music, the first international figure to do so, as part of his United States tour. Both Herzog and the Austins would have been aware of Strauss’s Philadelphia visit since Strauss, like Herzog, was born in Munich, and the Austins enjoyed music as listeners and as amateur performers. As such, the figure of Till clearly reflects a contemporary reference and the individualized character of Herzog’s designs.
George Herzog’s design for the entrance hall is a good introduction to his work throughout the mansion, which combines carefully rendered classical elements and motifs with some topical and personal references specific to the Austin family.
This is the second of several articles by Martha Mel Edmunds about the work of George Herzog, Gilded Age Interior Designer of Beaumont.
The prankster Till Eulenspiegel, depicted with owl and mirror (title page of the Strasbourg edition of 1515)
Fun and Fitness Winter Activities and Well-Being
Team Beaumont - Diana DiMeglio, Amy Singh, Dorothy Raimondo, Sharon Anderson, Melanie Manning - have been really busy in the Fitness Center these past months keeping us healthy and active.
In December, residents and staff joined in the Jingle & Mingle Holiday event with prizes for winning the Duck Races, Trivia, and Gift exchanges.
In January, we got a list of things to do to help with mental health awareness (get some sunshine; move your body; brighten your space; check in with someone you care about; add a pop of seasonal flavor; have things to look forward to).
In February, residents and staff strengthened personal connections in the Heart-to-Heart speed friending event and social. Weekly classes to Move Better & Live Better, Sit & Be Fit, or Chair Dance continue to get us to move and be active.
In the months ahead, residents will be signing up and training for the October Friendship Games competition sponsored by the local Senior Exercise Professionals of Pennsylvania. So, join in any time, any activity, any day of the week to be part of our fantastic fitness program.
Life is a great big canvas. Throw all the paint you can on it.
Danny Kaye
Holidays Bring Us Together in Joy and Celebration
A festive spirit of friendship filled the hallways of Beaumont during December with decorations, social activities, music, and fine dining.
Staff Appreciation
Holiday parties, retirements, and hard work during the snowstorms kept the Beaumont staff and management team quite busy and active around the campus this winter. Let’s give a big THANK YOU, but hope for a few less-demanding spring months ahead.
Thank You!
Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow… (continued)
Open Mic Night brought out a great crowd of residents who applauded and cheered our own performers in a variety show featuring stand-up comedians, musicians, poets, storytellers, and a dog!
Residents joined one another in the Beaumont room to watch the Opening Ceremonies and daily competitions of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Italy.
The Elderly Brothers and the DePue Brothers Band were among the many musicians who performed and kept our feet tapping.
Winter Etching
An etching now, My garden lies Primly aware Of winter skies. As autumn gold Blurs into gray Shadows are sharp Across the day.
Traced with a new Austerity I know the strength Of stone and tree.
Color is gone From the design, Leaving the fact Of mass and line.
Beauty is more Than leaf and light; It can be caught In black and white.
By Bette Keck Peterson
IN MEMORIAM
Barbara Ladd
December 5, 2025
Marian Lockett-Egan
December 8, 2025
Jean Yarnell
December 9, 2025
A. Carl Helwig
December 12, 2025
Alida Lovell
December 14, 2025
Leonard Dubin
January 5, 2026
John Krause
February 4, 2026
Linton Whitaker
February 14, 2026
Jean Homeier
February 20, 2026
Edward (Ted) Madara, Jr.
March 6, 2026
A lot of people like snow. I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water. Carl Reiner
Beaumont News
The Beaumont News is published by the residents and staff of the Beaumont Retirement Community, 601 N. Ithan Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
