Here’s a Sneak Peek at Auction Items
For the Architectural Hall of Fame Celebration!
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The online auction for this year’s virtual Celebration (the Conservancy’s only fundraiser for 2021) opens this Saturday, May 15th. The auction’s online format is open to all, even if you can’t join us for the celebration. Here’s a sneak peek of two of the items on offer this year!
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One Week’s Stay on Nevis
Enjoy a week for two on the lush and unspoiled island of Nevis!
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Relax and renew the spirit and soul at this charming, most casual, 55-year-old traditional West Indian-style cottage 1,000 feet up from sea level at the edge of the rain forest in the Leeward Island chain of the British West Indies.
Suitable for up to 2 guests. Take advantage of the constant Leeward breezes instead of central air!
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Arbor Legacy Walking Tour with Paul Meyer
Learn about Chestnut Hill’s unique urban forest
(tour for 6 with reception)
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Trees are essential to Chestnut Hill’s sense of place. Our community has inherited a bounty of special trees, both large and small, common and obscure. Join Paul W. Meyer, Conservancy Board Member and Morris Arboretum’s Retired F. Otto Haas Executive Director, for a walking tour highlighting some of the special trees in our community.
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Once you’ve created your account, visit https://www.32auctions.com/chc2021 on the device you will use for bidding. You will see a red button labeled View All Items below the virtual celebration logo. Click this button to see all auction items available for bidding or check out the featured items on the main page! NOTE: There is no downloadable mobile app or text bidding feature. Instead, the 32auctions site is completely mobile-friendly without the headache of installing an application. Simply view the auction on your device (phone, tablet, etc) using any browser.
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Yes, Tickets Are Still Available!
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Be There for the Big Reveal!
Join Master of Ceremonies and architectural historian George McNeely on Saturday, May 22 at 7 pm for an evening celebrating the places, spaces, and landscapes that are at the heart of our irreplaceable community. The program includes the Hall of Fame’s 2021 finalists and unveils the newest inductees–chosen by you! We’re also thrilled to share a behind-the-scenes tour of Louis Kahn’s Esherick House (a 2015 AHoF inductee) to celebrate the 120th anniversary of his birth, introduced by his son, filmmaker Nathaniel Kahn! If you’ve already purchased a ticket, thank you! We hope you’ll share this with your neighbors and can’t wait to see you on May 22nd!
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‘Then and Now’ Activity
History at Home jigsaw puzzles!
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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 the Woodward Community Centre (aka Redheffer House), one of this year’s finalists in the Architectural Hall of Fame!
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Click on images below to link to each puzzle!
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During the 1918 pandemic and World War I, the Chestnut Hill Community Center at 8419 Germantown Avenue became an especially important resource, with offices of the National League of Women’s Service located there. In upstairs rooms, League members made bandages, sewed uniforms, sold vegetables and preserves, and held sewing classes. This circa 1918 photograph shows the League’s trucks in front of the building. As an aside- the large tree visible immediately to the left of the building is an ailanthus tree- often referred to as the “tree of heaven.” The tree shown in this photograph is still there today. It is the largest ailanthus tree in Pennsylvania.
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Local legend has it that in 1812, Charles Redheffer of what is now 8419 Germantown Avenue began to charge male patrons five dollars and female patrons entered for free to see his “perpetual motion machine.” After a city council investigation, the machine was declared to be a hoax and Redheffer fled to New York. Shown here is 8419 Germantown Avenue as it appeared in March 1969. Though this building was erected in the mid-19 th century, it has been said that a smaller, earlier core may still exist, dating to Redheffer’s time. Look for more Then and Now jigsaw puzzles in future editions of our History at Home emails. Enjoy!
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Discovering Chestnut Hill: WPA Structures in the Wissahickon
Virtual Lecture on June 2
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Virtual Presentation on Zoom
Wednesday, June 2, 7pm
During the Great Depression, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) funded a three-phase project to improve the Wissahickon Valley. One of many WPA projects in Fairmount Park, this particular work included the construction of outbuildings along the Wissahickon Creek including shelters, guardboxes, comfort stations, and concession stands.
Join architect Kate Cowing to learn more about the history, restoration, and reuse of these structures and the WPA’s legacy in the Wissahickon Valley Park. This virtual lecture is co-sponsored by Friends of the Wissahickon. Kate Cowing, AIA, is an architectural conservator and principal of Kate Cowing Architect, LLC (wbe). Her graduate school thesis, “The Analysis and Restoration of the WPA Outbuildings in the Wissahickon Valley,” is the basis for this illustrated lecture.
Tickets: $10/CH Conservancy or FOW members, $20/non-members
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May 18th, CHCA Development Review Committee Meeting, 7:00pm. Register for this Zoom meeting and see submissions HERE
As a Philadelphia Registered Community Organization, the Conservancy’s Historic District Advisory Committee holds a seat on CHCA’s Development Review Committee
Current Agenda
- 540 W. Moreland Ave (Keewaydin) – Variance request for subdivision of one lot into two;
- 215 E. Evergreen Ave – Variance request for erection of semi-detached single home on existing lot;
- 8224 Germantown Ave – Preliminary review for demolition of existing single-family home and new construction (note – the project has not yet been submitted to the city)
May 22 – Architectural Hall of Fame Celebration
June 2 – Discovering Chestnut Hill Virtual Lecture: WPA Structures in the Wissahickon
June 3 – Historic District Advisory Committee Public Meeting 6:30pm REGISTER HERE for the Zoom link to attend
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Thank You!
in the coming year!
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2021 CHESTNUT HILL CONSERVANCY LEAD SPONSOR
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2021 CHESTNUT HILL CONSERVANCY GENERAL SPONSORS
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2021 CHESTNUT HILL CONSERVANCY PROGRAM SPONSORS
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Always feel free to contact us with any questions about the Conservancy, our programs and events, or your membership at info@chconservancy.org
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