The Phila-Darby Story
THE PHILA-DARBY STORY: Compiled by Jan Haigis
Philadelphia socialite Helen Hope Montgomery grew up at Ardrosson, the huge Edwardian mansion in Radnor her
father had designed for him by Horace Trumbauer in 1910. Edgar Scott, Jr. was born and grew up in France where
his father, Edgar Scott, Sr., was Secretary to the US Ambassador. But his father also had a summer home for the
family designed by Trumbauer, called Woodburne, built in Darby Borough in 1906.
The beautiful Miss Montgomery made her debut in Philadelphia society in 1922 and promptly received 4 marriage
proposals, which she declined. The next year the young woman met Edgar Scott, Jr. who was six years her senior
and quickly decided she had met her true match: "We both had the idea that a marriage should last forever."
Her father, banker Robert L. Montgomery, insisted that they wait for nine months to get better acquainted and then
they were wed in the society wedding of the year which joined the daughter of Colonel Robert L. Montgomery with
the Grandson and heir of the late Pennsylvania Railroad President, Thomas Scott.
During the Civil War, Grandfather Thomas A.Scott had been Assistant Secretary of War in President Abraham
Lincoln's Cabinet. Scott acquired the land in Darby and built a summer home where his son Edgar later built
Woodburne on Springfield Road in Darby.
The newlyweds lived in a 1720 cottage on the Ardrossan estate, called Orchard Lodge, a present from Hope's
father. They rode horses, went fox hunting, traveled abroad, dined with royalty and movie stars, and gave lavish
parties. Although a debutante, Hope enjoyed and interacted with people in all walks of life, making everyone feel
special and welcome.
While in College, Hope's future husband was a classmate of Philip Barry, who became a well known Broadway
playwright. They remained friends and when Philip decided in the late 1930's to write a play for Broadway based on
the life of a lively, free-spirited Philadelphia socialite, he used the joie de vivre, humor, wit and intelligence of Hope
Montgomery Scott as the model for his character Tracy Lord in The Philadelphia Story.
Katherine Hepburn and the play were so successful on Broadway in 1939 that several movie companies vied for
the film rights. Miss Hepburn chose MGM studios with George Cukor as Director. Although she wanted Spencer
Tracy and Clark Gable in the lead roles, both were committed to other projects, so Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart
were cast.
Hope's spousal instincts were accurate. Their marriage was forever. She and Edgar would spend some 70 years
together as man and wife, with Hope living to celebrate her 90th birthday before passing away and Edgar living only
6 months more, dying at age 96.
Philadelphia socialite Helen Hope Montgomery grew up at Ardrosson, the huge Edwardian mansion in Radnor her
father had designed for him by Horace Trumbauer in 1910. Edgar Scott, Jr. was born and grew up in France where
his father, Edgar Scott, Sr., was Secretary to the US Ambassador. But his father also had a summer home for the
family designed by Trumbauer, called Woodburne, built in Darby Borough in 1906.
The beautiful Miss Montgomery made her debut in Philadelphia society in 1922 and promptly received 4 marriage
proposals, which she declined. The next year the young woman met Edgar Scott, Jr. who was six years her senior
and quickly decided she had met her true match: "We both had the idea that a marriage should last forever."
Her father, banker Robert L. Montgomery, insisted that they wait for nine months to get better acquainted and then
they were wed in the society wedding of the year which joined the daughter of Colonel Robert L. Montgomery with
the Grandson and heir of the late Pennsylvania Railroad President, Thomas Scott.
During the Civil War, Grandfather Thomas A.Scott had been Assistant Secretary of War in President Abraham
Lincoln's Cabinet. Scott acquired the land in Darby and built a summer home where his son Edgar later built
Woodburne on Springfield Road in Darby.
The newlyweds lived in a 1720 cottage on the Ardrossan estate, called Orchard Lodge, a present from Hope's
father. They rode horses, went fox hunting, traveled abroad, dined with royalty and movie stars, and gave lavish
parties. Although a debutante, Hope enjoyed and interacted with people in all walks of life, making everyone feel
special and welcome.
While in College, Hope's future husband was a classmate of Philip Barry, who became a well known Broadway
playwright. They remained friends and when Philip decided in the late 1930's to write a play for Broadway based on
the life of a lively, free-spirited Philadelphia socialite, he used the joie de vivre, humor, wit and intelligence of Hope
Montgomery Scott as the model for his character Tracy Lord in The Philadelphia Story.
Katherine Hepburn and the play were so successful on Broadway in 1939 that several movie companies vied for
the film rights. Miss Hepburn chose MGM studios with George Cukor as Director. Although she wanted Spencer
Tracy and Clark Gable in the lead roles, both were committed to other projects, so Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart
were cast.
Hope's spousal instincts were accurate. Their marriage was forever. She and Edgar would spend some 70 years
together as man and wife, with Hope living to celebrate her 90th birthday before passing away and Edgar living only
6 months more, dying at age 96.
Edgar T. Scott Sr graduated from the Groton School 1889, graduated from Harvard in 1893, studied law at
the University of Pennsylvania until 1895 and served as Second Secretary to the United Stares Embassy in
Paris 1898-1899
the University of Pennsylvania until 1895 and served as Second Secretary to the United Stares Embassy in
Paris 1898-1899
Edgar T. Scott Jr was born January 11, 1899 in Paris and In 1916 served as a volunteer ambulance driver
for the Norton-Harjis American Volunteer Motorized Ambulance Service.
for the Norton-Harjis American Volunteer Motorized Ambulance Service.
