C.H. Conservancy-Meet the Finalists!

Chestnut Hill Architectural Hall of Fame

Kate, meet the institutional finalists!

Explore each Hall of Fame nominee and cast your vote for your favorite residential, institutional, and commercial/public spaces – one in each category. Click HERE to explore the thirty treasures already selected by you and your neighbors for the Architectural Hall of Fame to see the distinguished company this year’s inductees will join.

8700 Germantown Avenue, Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill, Seventh-day Adventist Church
(1852-3; John Notman, Architect)Designed by John Notman, the current home of the Seventh-day Adventist Church [SDAC] was built as the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill in 1852-1853, with its parsonage, now the home of the Chestnut Hill Conservancy (8708 Germantown Avenue), being built five years later.

Upon the completion of its new sanctuary in 1950, the Presbyterian Church moved out of its then 100 year-old home and into that adjacent to Chestnut Hill Hospital. The SDAC then moved into 8700 Germantown Avenue; it removed the original church spire in the mid-1960s and has occupied the building to the present day.

	East Benezet Street Twins, Unit Block Worker Housing (1817, 1909-10; Duhring, Okie & Ziegler; Duhring)One of Dr. George Woodward’s earlier developments was built on the unit block of Benezet Street and consisted of a series of twin houses designed in different styles by Duhring, Okie & Ziegler; these were completed in 1909-1910.

According to his book, Memoirs, Woodward had intended the houses “to be rented to working people… at low rentals.” However, the new houses proved attractive to members of the middle class, and they quickly leased them. It should be noted that the twin house at 14-16 Benezet Street has a much deeper history, having its origins as a barn built in 1817 by Melchior Newman, who owned a house at 7921 Germantown Avenue. Dr. Woodward engaged H. Louis Duhring to design its conversion into a twin.

	John Story Jenks School, 8301 Germantown Ave (1922-3, 1968; Irwin Catherine)Named after local resident John Story Jenks, the Jenks School has its roots in the Harmony School, founded in 1794 as Chestnut Hill’s first public school. After several relocations, the school found a more permanent location at 212 West Highland Avenue and renamed the Josephus C. Gilbert School.

In 1924, after the closure of the Gilbert School, the Jenks School opened and received its students. Designed by Irwin T. Catharine and built by Cramp & Company in 1922-1923, the school and its retaining walls have been local landmarks for over 100 years, with a Day and Zimmerman-designed addition built in 1968.

Kate, cast vote today!

Choose your favorite institutional finalist and explore the residential and commercial/public nominees at the link below. Voting is open until Friday, November 15.

Architectural Hall of Fame Finalists

Preservation Party

Join us on Tuesday, December 3, for an evening honoring the dedicated stewardship behind Chestnut Hill’s architectural heritage at the Conservancy’s first-ever Preservation Party!

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This festive gathering will celebrate the 2024 Preservation Award winners and reveal this year’s Architectural Hall of Fame Inductees. It’s a wonderful opportunity to show your support for our community’s cherished landmarks, and we’re still welcoming sponsors to help make this event a memorable success!

Details:

• Date: Tuesday, December 3, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM
• Location: Venetian Club, 8030 Germantown Avenue
• Tickets: $45 per person – includes Italian dinner and drinks

Buy Tickets!

In addition to our Lead Sponsor, Chubb, and our General Sponsors, and members, the Preservation Party is made possible by the support of our event sponsor, Kurtz Construction Company, and our supporting event sponsor, Harth Builders.

For additional opportunities for organizations and businesses to sponsor the various award categories, please reach out to Ashley Maass, Development Manager, at Ashley@CHConservancy.Org to learn more.

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If you’re interested in volunteering for future Conservancy programs and events, contact Programs and Communications Manager Chrissy Clawson.

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