Colonial Germantown Historic District

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The Colonial Germantown Historic District is a designated National Historic Landmark District in the Germantown and Mount Airy neighborhoods of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania along both sides of Germantown Avenue. This road followed a Native American path from the Delaware River just north of Old City Philadelphia, through Germantown, about 6 miles northwest of Center City Philadelphia, and on to Pottstown. Settlement in the Germantown area began, at the invitation of William Penn, in 1683 by Nederlanders and Germans under the leadership of Francis Daniel Pastorius fleeing religious persecution.[1][2][3]

Colonial Germantown was a leader in religious thought, printing, and education. Important dates in Germantown's early history include:[4]

  • August 16, 1683, Pastorius arrives in Philadelphia
  • October 25, 1683, Lots are drawn for land among Pastorius's followers and settlement begins
  • 1688, first American anti-slavery protest published
  • 1690, first paper-mill built in America is built near Germantown
  • 1705, possibly the first portrait painted in oil in America painted by Christopher Witt in Germantown
  • 1708, first Mennonite Meetinghouse in America built in Germantown
  • 1719, first Dunkards in America arrive in Germantown
  • 1743, first Bible printed in America in any European language (in this case German), printed by Christoph Sauer
  • 1760, Germantown Academy founded
  • February 1764, the Paxton Boys enter Germantown but disperse after meeting with a delegation headed by Benjamin Franklin
  • 1770, first American book on pedagogy written by Christopher Dock and published in Germantown
  • October 4, 1777, Battle of Germantown
  • 1793, during the Philadelphia Yellow Fever Epidemic, President Washington and his cabinet move to Germantown
  • 1794, Washington spends two months in Germantown to avoid the heat in Philadelphia
  • July 20, 1825, General Lafayette visits Germantown
  • June 6, 1832, railroad from Philadelphia to Germantown opens

Historic designation and extent

The district was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1965 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. The original district included the 4500 to 6600 blocks of Germantown Avenue (between Windrim Avenue and Sharpnack Street). In 1987 the district was expanded north to the 7600 block of Germantown Avenue (up to Cresheim Valley Drive), which is the southern boundary of the Chestnut Hill Historic District. The district's two parts contain 579 properties, of which 514 are considered contributing, and only 65 non-contributing. The northwest Philadelphia area, which promotes itself as "Freedom's Backyard,"[5] contains 11 historic districts listed by the National Register of Historic Places, as well as 58 separately listed properties.[6] Eight state historical markers are located on Germantown Avenue. Nearly complete inventories prepared for the National Register of Historic Places, both for the original district and for the expanded area are available.[7][8] A 1907 inventory of historic buildings in the area was printed in the "History of Old Germantown."[9]

Selected contributing properties

Template:Side box Contributing properties in the district include the following. Even street numbers are on the west side of Germantown Avenue, odd numbers on the east. Original construction dates may be approximate. Many properties have been recorded by the Historic American Buildings Survey, as indicated in the table below.

Name Image Address Date Note HABS No.
Loudoun Mansion File:4650 Germantown Loudon.JPG 4650 Germantown Ave.
Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 		1801 Built by Thomas Armat, additions 1829, 1850, 1888, rehab 1864. Stucco on rubble with wood trim. Federal style. PA-1705
C. W. Schaeffer Public School File:Schaeffer School 1876.JPG 4701 Germantown Ave.
Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 		1876 Listed separately on NRHP. Three stories in stone with wood trim. Designed by L. Esler in the Italianate style.
Mehl House File:Mehl-House-HABS PA,51-GERM,6-1.jpg 4821 Germantown Ave.
Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 		1744 Stone with wood trim in the Federal style. Brick ell built in 1933. PA-1706
Ottinger House File:4825 Germantown.JPG 4825 Germantown Ave.
Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 		1748 Colonial and Federal styles.
Lower Burial Ground File:4901 Gate.JPG 4901–21 Germantown Ave.
Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 		1692 Now called Hood Cemetery.
Baroque Revival style entry gate designed in 1849 by William L. Johnston. 		PA-1697
Baynton House File:5208 Germantown Boynton.JPG 5208 Germantown Ave.
Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 		1798 Two and one-half stories. Brick with stone and wood trim in the Federal style. PA-1694-A
Conyngham-Hacker House File:5214 Germantown Ave.JPG 5214 Germantown Ave. 1796 Listed separately on the NRHP. Two and one-half stories. Stone with wood trim in the Federal style. PA-1694-B
Howell House File:5218 Germantown Ave.JPG 5218 Germantown Ave. 1798 Listed separately on the NRHP. Built for William Forbes. Two and one-half stories. Stone with wood trim in the Federal style. PA-1694-C
Theobald Endt House File:5222 and 5226 Germantown.JPG 5222 Germantown Ave. 1730
Rebuilt 1802 		AKA Handsberry House; built by Theobald Endt. Two and one-half stories. Stucco on stone with wood trim in the Federal style.
Bechtel House File:5222 Germantown.JPG 5226 Germantown Ave. 1730
Rebuilt 1802 		Once the home of Rev. John Bechtel. Two and one-half stories. Stone with wood trim in the Colonial style.
Grumblethorpe File:Grumblethorpe Front.JPG 5267 Germantown Ave.
Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 		1744 Listed separately on NRHP. Additions in 1750, 1799, 1806, 1819. Owned by John Wister, an important site during the Battle of Germantown. Stone with wood trim in the Colonial style. PA-7-1
Wistar's Tenant House File:Grumblethorpe Tennant.JPG 5269 Germantown Ave. 1745 Listed separately on NRHP. Addition in early nineteenth century. Stone with wood trim in Colonial style. PA-7-6
Clarkson–Watson House File:Clarkson Watson House.JPG 5275 Germantown Ave.
Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 		1745 Additions/alterations in 1775, 1825, 1870, 1910. Stucco on stone with wood trim in Federal style/Colonial style. PA-1681
Germantown Friends School
and Meeting House 		File:GermantownFriends.jpg 5400 Germantown Ave.
Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 		1869 Meeting founded 1690. This parcel acquired 1693 and used as a burial ground. Previous meeting houses built 1705, 1812. School founded 1845. Several school buildings on site. PA-6654
Masonic Temple of Germantown File:5425 Germantown.JPG 5423–27 Germantown Ave. 1873 Additions/alterations 1915, 1920. Three stories, stone with wood trim in the Gothic Revival style
A previous house on this site was the birthplace of Louisa May Alcott.
Germantown White House
Deshler–Morris House 		File:28-5442GTA-DeshlerMorris.jpg 5442 Germantown Ave.
Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 		1772 Listed separately on the NRHP. Additions/alterations 1840, 1856, 1868, 1887, 1898, 1909.
Headquarters of General Sir William Howe during October 4, 1777 Battle of Germantown.
Temporary residence of President George Washington, November 1793 (yellow fever epidemic), and Summer 1794.
Stucco on stone with wood trim in the Federal style. 		PA-1683
National Bank of Germantown File:5500 Germantown Bank.JPG 5500–04 Germantown Ave.
Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 		1868 J. C. Sidney original architect. Additions/alterations 1890, 1907, 1930. Stone with wood trim in the Renaissance Revival style.
John Fromberger House File:5501 Germantown HABS Boucher.jpeg 5501 Germantown Ave.
Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 		1796 Multiple renovations; now houses the Germantown Historical Society. Brick with stone and wood trim in the Federal style. PA-1690
S. S. Kresge Store File:5549 Germantown Kresge.JPG 5549-53 Germantown Ave.
Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 		Georgian Revival style
Loyal Order of Odd Fellows File:5619 Germantown.JPG 5615 Germantown Ave.
Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 		1860 New facade 1940. Three stories in brick with stone and pressed metal in the Georgian Revival style.
C. A. Rowell Department Store File:5627 CA Rowell Germantown.JPG 5627 Germantown Ave. 1949 Rear section originally Germantown Trust (1929). Georgian Revival style by architect Herbert Beidler.
First Presbyterian Church
in Germantown 		File:5700 Germantown Cheltan.JPG 5700 block Germantown Ave.
(35 West Chelten Ave.)
Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 		1871+ Attributed to architect T. Roney Williamson, Richardson Romanesque style
Vernon-Wister House File:5700 Germantown.JPG 5708 Germantown Ave.
Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 		1803 Federal style, purchased by John Wister, grandson of Wister at Grumblethorpe PA-7-2
Vernon Park branch
The Free Library of Philadelphia 		File:Germantown Free Library.JPG 5818 Germantown Ave.
Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 		1907 Now housing the Center in the Park.org.
A Carnegie Library; designed by Frank Miles Day & Brother 		PA-6752
Germantown Town Hall File:5900 block Germantown Townhall.JPG 5928–30 Germantown Ave. Never actually served as the town hall[10] PA-6708
Wyck House File:6026 Gtown Wyck.JPG 6026 Germantown Ave.
Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 		1690 (part) Listed separately as a National Historic Landmark. 1824: remodeled by William Strickland PA-7-3
Mennonite Meetinghouse File:Germantown Mennonite Meeting.JPG 6119 Germantown Ave.
Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 		1770 Listed separately on the NRHP. Congregation established in 1688 as first Mennonite church in America. One and one-half stories, stone with wood trim in the Colonial style. PA-15
John Johnson House File:6306 Germantown J Jr.JPG 6306 Germantown Ave. 1768 Listed separately as a National Historic Landmark. A stop on the Underground Railroad. After 1918, home of the Women's Club of Germantown. PA-7-7
Concord School House File:Concord School Gtown.jpg 6309 Germantown Ave.
Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 		1775 Possibly built by Jacob Knor. Two and one-half stories, stone with wood trim. PA-12
Upper Burial Ground File:6311 Upper Burial Ground.JPG 6311–17 Germantown Ave. 1693 "Axe's Cemetery," land donated by Paul Wolfe, wall built 1777.
Cliveden File:Cliveden Mansion, Philadelphia, HABS PA-1184-88.jpg 6401 Germantown Ave.
Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 		1763-67 Listed separately as a National Historic Landmark. Estate of Benjamin Chew, an important site during the Battle of Germantown. Built by William Knor. Two and one-half stories with wood trim in the Colonial style. PA-1184
Upsala File:6430 Germantown.JPG 6430 Germantown Ave.
Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 		1798 Listed separately on the NRHP. Two and one-half stories with wood trim in the Federal style. Rear sections perhaps built earlier. PA-1718
Daniel Billmeyer House File:6504 Germantown D Billmeyer.JPG 6504 Germantown Ave.
Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 		1793 Listed separately on the NRHP. Stone with wood trim in the Federal style.
Michael Billmeyer House File:6505 Germantown M Billmeyer.JPG 6505 Germantown Ave.
Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 		1727 Listed separately on the NRHP. Stone with wood trim in the Federal and German colonial styles. PA-1677
Church of the Brethren File:6611 Germantown Brethren.JPG 6611 Germantown Ave.
Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 		1770 First Church of the Brethren (Dunkards) in America
Winston Commons File:6620 Germantown Philly.JPG 6620–24 Germantown Ave.
Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 		1895 Architect William Lightfoot Price
St. Michael's Lutheran Church in Germantown File:6671 Germantown St Mikes.JPG 6671 Germantown Ave.
Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 		1896-97 The congregation has used this site at least since 1728 until the church closed in 2016.
Beggarstown School File:Beggarstown School.jpeg 6669 Germantown Ave.
Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 		1740 Listed separately on the NRHP. PA-1675
Mt. Airy Presbyterian Church File:7101 Germantown.JPG 7108 Germantown Ave.
Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 		1880
Sedgwick Theater File:7135 Germantown.JPG 7133-41 Germantown Ave.
Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 		1926-1928 Art Deco. William H. Lee architect.
Tourison Building File:7200 Germantown.JPG 7200-06 Germantown Ave.
Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 		1920s Art Deco. Tunis and Baker, architects.
Store File:7203 Germantown.JPG 7203 Germantown Ave.
Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Mt. Airy Agricultural School File:7331 Germantown.JPG 7331 Germantown Ave.
Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 		1792
Cresheim Cottage File:7402 Gtown Cresheim Cottage.JPG 7402-04 Germantown Ave.
Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 		1804?
Bockius House File:7413 Germantown.JPG 7413 Germantown Ave.
Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 		1790-1800

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ Cite error: Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".
  2. ↑ [[[:Template:NRHP-PA]] NRHP 1966? Nomination Form] Enter "public" for ID and "public" for password to access the site.
  3. ↑ [[[:Template:NRHP-PA]] NRHP 1987? Nomination Form] Enter "public" for ID and "public" for password to access the site.
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". p. 7
  5. ↑ FreedomsBackyard.com accessed November 1, 2010.
  6. ↑ Philadelphia Historic Resource Survey Inventory, Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, January 2007, p. 42
  7. ↑ [[[:Template:NRHP-PA]] NRHP 1966? Inventory] Enter "public" for ID and "public" for password to access the site.
  8. ↑ [[[:Template:NRHP-PA]] NRHP 1987? Inventory] Enter "public" for ID and "public" for password to access the site.
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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Further reading

  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". Sociological study set on Germantown Avenue
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External links

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Videos

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