As we savor the close of the 2024 summer, the Chestnut Hill Conservancy extends heartfelt thanks to all our supporters—members, partners, business sponsors, and the entire community—for your unwavering dedication to celebrating and sustaining our irreplaceable community. We’re pleased to share some recent highlights that reflect the impact of your support.
Chestnut Hill Hospital CEO Rich Newell (second from left) celebrates the protected Chestnut Hill Women’s Center at 8811 Germantown Avenue with Bill Webster, Eileen Javers, Councilperson Cindy Bass, and Lori Salganicoff in May.
As aSave the TrainCoalition leader, the Conservancy shared histories, encouraged appreciation, and raised $2,000 from two Discovering Chestnut Hill spring programs to support the Save the Train efforts.
Continuing the work in our archives with a celebration of our local history and the collection of items documenting this remarkable community’s architectural and social history. Recently, we welcomed the addition of over 3100 new photographs to our Chestnut Hill Local collection and have cataloged and scanned 22 of 26 albums of the Wissahickon Garden Club to date, from 1932 to 2014. These and much more are all available on our searchable archival photo collection webpage.
Informing collaborative discussions and providing support to neighbors to balance preservation and development at 208-210 Rex Avenue, following the protection by the Conservancy shortly before a demolition permit was sought for the historic mansion.
Planting a beautiful Lois Magnolia in Pastorius Park, supported by Apiary Studios (pictured on the right) and Friends of Pastorius Park, will enhance the newly accredited Arboretum. This initiative honors our Spring Gala honoree, conservationist Charlie Dilks.
Advancing conservation efforts and our ability to protect our 52 conservation and preservation easements by acquiring new Landscape Conservation Software.
Providing thought leadership and professional guidance to neighbors and organizations in Chestnut Hill and surrounding communities in the Wissahickon watershed.
Additionally, a heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who took the time to complete our anonymous community survey—whether online, by filling out the ad in the Chestnut Hill Local, or by mailing or dropping it off at the Conservancy’s headquarters. Your input is invaluable as we shape our 3-5 year strategic plan.
We’re excited to announce that Ellen L. Goodwin, of Berkshire Hathaway Fox Roach Real Estate, was randomly selected from the survey participants and has received a $100 raffle prize to enjoy at Chestnut Hill’s many fine restaurants and businesses within our commercial corridor!
Ellen, a neighbor, realtor, and supporter, shared, “I felt it was important, as is all feedback, to fill out the survey for the Chestnut Hill Conservancy. We are very lucky to have such a fine and caring organization in our community that benefits us all. All communities need change, and the Conservancy works hard to find the balance between preservation and positive change.”
Mark Your Calendars for the Conservancy’s Night of Lights!
The Chestnut Hill Conservancy is excited to announce the return of the beloved Night of Lights, which will run from Thursday, October 3, to Wednesday, October 9, 2024. We will once again transform Chestnut Hill’s Germantown Avenue into a vibrant outdoor gallery for a week-long free public exhibition.
Historical images and films from the Conservancy’s archives and partners, including the Springfield Township Historical Society and Historic Germantown, will illuminate storefront windows over seven nights. The avenue’s historic buildings will also be bathed in colorful lights, enhancing the architectural beauty of Chestnut Hill.
The event starts with a soft opening and preview night on Thursday, October 3, and the excitement will peak on Friday, October 4, with our ‘Flip the Switch’ opening ceremony. This dynamic evening will feature interactive live elements from past events, setting the stage for a week filled with discovery and engagement through slideshows, storytellers, and musicians. The exhibition will be open for self-guided tours and repeat visits, enriched by new elements designed to engage a diverse audience.
This year’s slideshows showcase some incredible local history and community stories. This year, you’ll see:
A slideshow on the Venetian Club, delving into its cultural significance over the past 100 years.
A spotlight on the Wissahickon that highlights Friends of the Wissahickon, who are also celebrating their centennial this year.
Woodmere Art Museum is highlighting past local northwest artists, offering a rich glimpse into our region’s artistic heritage.
Our own Alex Bartlett is focusing on transportation to help support the ongoing efforts of Save the Train—a cause the Conservancy is proud to be part of through the coalition.
Contributions from Historic Germantown and the Springfield Township Historical Society add depth and diversity to our historical narratives throughout the Wissahickon watershed.
We’re also featuring the Conservancy’s Chestnut Hill Architectural Hall of Fame with a public voting initiative that ties into our first annual Preservation Party on December 3.
Stay tuned for upcoming announcements, including sneak peeks, additional activities, community partnerships, and more. Details on the event map, ‘Pastport’ locations, and local business participation will also be shared soon. Please save these dates for a unique and immersive experience as we celebrate the rich history and architecture of Chestnut Hill together! Chrissy Clawson, our Programs and Communications Manager, is directing this year’s event and is actively seeking volunteers. For more information, please email Chrissy at Chrissy@CHConservancy.org.
Awbury Arboretum-photo courtesy of George McNeely.
Fall Discovering Chestnut Hill Tour and Lecture Series
Join us this fall for an engaging two-partDiscovering Chestnut Hillevent exploring the rich history, architecture, and stunning landscapes of Awbury Arboretum, guided by the knowledgeable George McNeely, a local architectural historian, lecturer, and writer of the “Our Town” column in The Chestnut Hill Local.
Conservancymembers enjoy discounts on tickets for these and other special events.
Discovering Chestnut Hill:
Virtual Lecture: “Awbury Arboretum: The Historic Landscape” with George McNeely Date: Wednesday, September 11, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM Registration Fee: $15 for Conservancy Members, $25 for Non-Members Registration Link: Click HERE Location: Virtual, via Zoom
Walking Tour: “Awbury Arboretum: The Historic Landscape” with George McNeely Date: Saturday, September 14, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM Registration Fee: $15 for Conservancy Members, $25 for Non-Members Registration Link: ClickHERE Location: Philadelphia, PA 19138. The exact meeting location for tour attendees will be emailed to registrants. Space is limited; sign up today! Please note that the tour will take place rain or shine. Due to uneven terrain and the possibility of encountering poison ivy, wear waterproof shoes and consider wearing pants.
Ask the Experts, a free program presented in collaboration with the Chestnut Hill Community Association, offers an opportunity to ask questions and get expert solutions on issues related to historic homes and landscape care.
Wednesday, October 23: Join Apiary Studio, a design-build landscape firm specializing in regenerative landscapes, for a virtual lecture on using repurposed and recycled materials in landscape design and construction.
Tuesday, October 29: Attend a hybrid lecture featuring Kate McDougall of Chubb Insurance and Shawn Swanson of Pinemar, discussing important considerations for insuring and maintaining historic homes.
Mark your calendars for these upcoming free public programs—additional details and registration information will be available soon! This free program is made possible through the generous support of the event sponsor Harth Builders and supporting sponsor Wallace Landscape Associates and the Conservancy’s Lead Sponsor, Chubb, and our General Sponsors, and members.
Welcome Kevin Chung to the Board of Directors!
Sarah Mazzie and Kevin Chung of Chubb Insurance with Catie Schwartz at the Conservancy’s Night of Lights “Flip the Switch” in 2023.
We are thrilled to announce that Kevin Chung has joined the Chestnut Hill Conservancy’s Board of Directors! Kevin, who moved to Chestnut Hill with his partner, Catie Schwartz, in the spring of 2024, brings a wealth of expertise and a deep passion for our community.
With a Risk Management and Insurance degree from Temple University’s Fox School of Business, Kevin currently serves as the Agency Relationship Manager at Chubb, overseeing production results and communications for over forty agencies in the tri-state area. His commitment to preserving the history, green spaces, and unique charm of Chestnut Hill is evident in his active involvement with the Conservancy.
As a new resident, Kevin has quickly embraced the character of Chestnut Hill. He often volunteers and engages in community efforts that promote preserving our neighborhood’s rich heritage. You might spot him walking his dog, Junior, around town or in Pastorius Park.
To learn more about Kevin and the other fantastic members of our Board of Directors, click HERE.
Staff News: Farewell to Tatiana Paden and a Welcome to Nate Max!
The Chestnut Hill Conservancy bids a heartfelt farewell to Tatiana Paden, our Executive Office Assistant and Archives Coordinator, who left the Conservancy in July to further her education. During her nearly two years with us, Tatiana played an integral role in our team, bringing her enthusiasm and dedication to every project she was involved in.
Alex Bartlett, our Curator and Archivist, noted that Tatiana’s time at the Conservancy was marked by her proactive approach to challenging tasks and initiative in launching significant projects, such as processing key collections like the Friends of Chestnut Hill Library. He noted, “Tatiana has filled our building with her positive energy and enthusiasm… She has been an invaluable asset to our Archives, helping us complete the processing of several important collections.”
This fall, Tatiana will begin her master’s in Historic Preservation at Tulane University on a full scholarship. While she looks forward to this new chapter, she expressed how much she will miss the wonderful community she found at the Conservancy.
As we wish Tatiana all the best in her future endeavors, we are also excited to announce that the Conservancy has hired an Office Coordinator, who we look forward to introducing a new team member in our September monthly newsletter.
Please join us in welcoming our new Associate Archivist!
Nate Max joinedour teamas our new Associate Archivist at the end of July. Nate works with us every Tuesday for eight hours, taking over work previously done by Tatiana, who also dedicated eight hours weekly to Archives projects. A Chestnut Hill College graduate with a history degree, Nate lives in Oreland and is well-acquainted with our local geography.
He previously completed internships in our Archives as part of his education and has volunteered periodically since then. Nate is familiar with PastPerfect [cataloging software] and will assist Alex with research requests. In addition, he will catalog collections, contribute to social media content, and more. Currently, Nate is organizing and reviewing the Chestnut Hill Local subject photographs we received last summer, with plans to catalog them once the review is complete. Please stop by to welcome Nate to our organization—we are fortunate to have him on board! Stop by and say hi or email him at Nathan@CHConservancy.Org.
Exciting Summer Progress in the Archives: Thanks to Our Volunteers!
Molly Murphy (left) while interviewing Charlie Dilks for his oral history in May.
Working with Alex Bartlett, our dedicated volunteers—Katie Worrall, Dan Preston, Kitty Kaar, Nancy Dickson, Hannah Ward, Sarah Spector, Molly Murphy, and Oliver Ruth—have done an outstanding job processing our collections. Together, they digitized over 3,200 photographs from our Chestnut Hill Local collections, making these publicly available in our online photo collection.
Alex and the volunteers have also scanned and digitized all Wissahickon Garden Club albums. The first 22 are now online, featuring content up to early 2014. Five more albums will be added to our online collection, with one album available each year.
We extend our deepest thanks to our volunteers for their incredible contributions! From May 16 to July 31, they donated 153 hours, bringing our year-to-date total to 416 hours.
In other news, Conservancy Board Member and Collections Chair Scott Hanson generously donated his Epson Expression 1600 scanner to our Archives! Although it’s 20 years old, it works perfectly and will be invaluable in helping us process the thousands of photographs we received from The Local last summer. Thank you, Scott!
2024 Preservation Recognition Awards: Call for Nominations
Calling all rehab professionals and historic homeowners! The Chestnut Hill Conservancy wants to showcase and celebrate your talents and stewardship in preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, sensitive new construction and additions, and sustainable preservation by submitting a nomination for the 2024 Preservation Recognition Awards.
The Conservancy’s Preservation Recognition Awards honor outstanding projects within Chestnut Hill and surrounding areas in the Wissahickon watershed. Each award recognizes a project that is a striking gift to the neighborhood today – and far into the future — and an inspiration for others as they care for their buildings. These awards also help to express our gratitude to those who cherish the community’s historic and architectural resources. Award winners will be recognized publicly through various media and at the Chestnut Hill Conservancy’s first annual Preservation Party on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at the historic Venetian Club in Chestnut Hill. In addition to the Preservation Recognition Awards, The Preservation Party will also induct and celebrate the 2024 class of Architectural Hall of Fame winners. Mark your calendars for Tuesday, December 3 – tickets will be available later this year.
The nomination form for the Preservation Recognition Awards is now live at the link below.
The Preservation Recognition Award categories include:
Historic building or structure restoration, rehabilitation and/or adaptive reuse
Historic substantial feature restoration or rehabilitation (e.g., stone wall, roof, windows)
Exemplary stewardship of important sites
Sensitive new construction/additions
Sustainable preservation – sensitive retrofits to reduce energy use in a historic resource
The deadline for nominations is Friday, September 26, at 5:00 PM.
Should you have any questions about the nomination form or the Preservation Party, please contact Awards@CHConservancy.Org.
In addition to our Lead Sponsor, Chubb, and our General Sponsors, 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.
PA Historic Tax Credit Legislation Success! Annual cap raised to $20 million
On Thursday, July 11, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed the FY25 budget, which includes raising the annual cap for the historic tax credit program to $20 million. Although this is lower than the PA Historic Tax Credit Coalition’s original request of $50 million, it represents an impressive quadrupling of available funding.
This bill also extends eligibility to nonprofit partnerships and increases funding for the Department of Community and Economic Development and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC). The PHMC’s support helps fund the Conservancy’s professionally curated archival collection.
The Conservancy is part of the small coalition led by the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia and Preservation Pennsylvania that advocated for this result. This coalition is dedicated to strengthening this vital preservation economic development tool. The increased funding will enable the completion of more projects that preserve and repurpose historic structures throughout Pennsylvania.
Welcome to Our New General Sponsor: E.G. Rall Jr. Landscape Design Services!
We are thrilled to welcome E.G. Rall Jr. Landscape Design Services as a new General Sponsor of the Chestnut Hill Conservancy! E.G. Rall Jr. shares our commitment to protecting and preserving the area’s natural beauty and ecological integrity.
In the words of E.G., Rall Jr., “The Chestnut Hill Conservancy’s mission to protect the Wissahickon watershed aligns seamlessly with E.G., Rall Jr. Landscape Design Services’ approach to sustainable landscape design. By controlling erosion and recharging aquifers, E.G. Rall helps maintain the health of local ecosystems. As a proud General Sponsor of the Conservancy, E.G. Rall underscores a shared dedication to preserving the region’s natural beauty and ecological integrity.”
Find out more about their services and experience by clicking HERE.
Executive Director Search Update
The Chestnut Hill Conservancy, through Disston Search, is actively accepting applications and nominations for the Executive Director position. This role involves leading the organization to ensure alignment with its mission and long-term sustainability.
The ideal candidate will have a passion for preservation, conservation, and archives and proven experience in these areas. Key responsibilities include strategic leadership, operations management, team leadership, fundraising, financial oversight, relationship building, and effective communication.
Click the button below for the full job listing, including detailed responsibilities and qualifications.
In addition to supporting our work, did you know that members receive special benefits like discounted admission to programs and free research in the archives? Join today!
Your support is a commitment to celebrating and sustaining the history, architecture, and open green space of Chestnut Hill and surrounding communities in the Wissahickon Watershed.
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