Chestnut Hill Conservancy History at Home Jigsaw Puzzle

‘Then and Now’ Activity

History at Home jigsaw puzzles!

In our History at Home Then and Now series of jigsaw puzzles, we pair two images, offering different levels of difficulty, Beginner and Expert. For this month’s Then and Now puzzles, we’re featuring two images of William A. Kilian Hardware Co., one of this year’s Architectural Hall of Fame Inductees!

Click on images below to link to each puzzle!

Expert Level

Today’s Then and Now images include a photograph which perhaps illustrates that in some cases, area buildings and landscapes have remained largely unchanged, even after 50 or 75 years have passed. Such is the case with Kilian’s Hardware at 8450 Germantown Avenue. This photograph shows the storefront as it appeared perhaps around 1945. The one significant difference in terms of the building’s façade involves the signage. In the early 1950s, the vertical Du Pont paints sign mounted onto the building was removed, during a Chestnut Hill Development Group (now the Chestnut Hill Business Association) program to beautiful Chestnut Hill’s business district and unify its storefronts into a “horizontal department store.” The program continued through the 1950s and into the 1960s, in which neon signs and visual “clutter” were removed from the facades of many area businesses.

The second image is how it looks today.

Beginner Level

Look for more Then and Now jigsaw puzzles in future editions of our History at Home emails. Enjoy!

It’s Not Too Late to Sponsor

2021 Night of Lights!

Fall is around the corner, and with it 2021’s Night of Lights (October 8-17), a public art installation up and down Germantown Avenue featuring interactive history and architecture exhibits. This is the fifth year of this free and accessible opportunity to learn about the history and landscapes of the community–while becoming active participants in documenting history now.

Interested in reaching a broader audience in the Chestnut Hill area and surrounding communities? Night of Lights is an amazing opportunity to connect with neighbors and visitors from around the region!

Over one and a half weeks, sponsor logos will be shared thousands of times with participants, on our banner across Germantown Avenue and via our projected slideshows, posters, and the expanded virtual experience. Sponsors also have opportunities for high-level public recognition during our Flip the Switch event to open the exhibition, and to make new connections during private tours with community VIPs!

We’re looking forward to our best turnout yet over this nine-night event, with additional activities with partners to encourage neighbors and visitors to enjoy this interactive exhibition of local history and architecture.

Interested in sponsorship? Find full details of our Projection and Event Sponsorship levels on our website, or contact Heather Bowlan, Development Manager, at heather@chconservancy.org. But hurry, the deadline to be included on our banner and all marketing materials is this Friday, August 13th!