Discovering Chestnut Hill with George McNeely

As a follow-up, we’re sharing the video recap of the lecture, pictures from the tour, along with information about our upcoming fall events, including the Preservation Awards (nominations due by 5:00 PM on Thursday, October 3!) and the beloved Night of Lights, running from Thursday, October 3 to Wednesday, October 9, with the dynamic and interactive opening night as we “Flip the Switch” on Friday, October 4. Don’t miss out on this unique experience, which wraps up with Trivia Night at Chestnut Hill Brewery on Wednesday, October 9!

In addition, Chrissy is in need of volunteers for Night of Lights, particularly for the soft opening on Thursday, October 3, and opening night on Friday, October 4, for setup and during the event. If you’re available, we’d love your help!

For more details and to watch the event recap, please read below and reach out if you can volunteer. We hope to see you soon!

“Awbury Arboretum – The Historic Landscape” lecture and walking tour

Dear Kate,

Thank you for registering for the Chestnut Hill Conservancy’s Discovering Chestnut Hill programs, Awbury Arboretum – The Historic Landscape with George McNeely. Whether you attended the virtual lecture, the walking tour, or both, we greatly appreciate your interest and support.

If you missed the lecture or would like to revisit it, you can click HERE or the button below to view the recording.

Following the lecture on Wednesday, tour attendees were treated to a sold-out, in-person walking tour with George McNeely at Awbury Arboretum on a beautiful Saturday. Scroll down to view some of the stunning images captured during the tour.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to George McNeely for leading such an engaging and insightful lecture and tour. It was also a pleasure to be joined by so many friends and supporters, including representatives from our Lead Sponsor, Chubb, and our Discovering Chestnut Hill event sponsor, John B. Ward Arborists (special thanks to Ken for adding some fun with his stories during the tour). Additionally, Shanna Halpern, Board Chair at Awbury Arboretum, joined us and brought further depth to our exploration of this beautiful historic landscape.

Please consider filling out our brief three-minute survey. Taking this survey will significantly assist us in gathering vital metrics to ensure the future impact of this valuable educational program.

Awbury Arboretum is a vibrant landscape with a rich history. Whether you attended the virtual lecture or the walking tour, we hope you enjoyed learning more from George’s presentation. Awbury Arboretum is a special place where nature, history, and community come together, and we encourage you to continue exploring this extraordinary space. It’s conveniently accessible by public transportation, and as a reminder, the Arboretum is free and open to the public every day from dawn to dusk.

To explore the Arboretum online, sign up for their newsletter, or plan your next visit, please click HERE.

Preservation Awards: Nominations Due on Thursday, October 3

Calling all rehab professionals, architects, historic homeowners, and skilled craftsmen! The Chestnut Hill Conservancy, the area’s trusted leading preservation advocate invites you to showcase your expertise and commitment to preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, sensitive new construction, and sustainable preservation by submitting a nomination for the 2024 Preservation Recognition Awards.

Are you an architect who has undertaken a restoration or adaptive reuse project? Are you a general contractor experienced in historic construction methods and materials? Or perhaps you’re a skilled artisan with expertise in restoring historic finishes, color schemes, plumbing, heating, and electrical systems and integrating modern upgrades into historic structures? We invite you to be recognized for your craftsmanship and dedication to preserving history.These awards honor outstanding projects in Chestnut Hill and surrounding areas of the Wissahickon watershed for projects completed in the past five years. They celebrate projects that are a lasting gift to the neighborhood and inspire future caretakers of our historic and architectural resources. Past winners have included remarkable projects like the restoration of the stone and half-timbered residence “Krisheim,” a 2020 Preservation Award winner for Stewardship. Designed by Peabody and Stearns in 1910, Krisheim underwent an extensive restoration, overseen by Dennis F. Meyer Inc. and John Milner Architects, to return the building to its original use as a single-family residence. The project is a shining example of how stewardship, determination, and vision can preserve historic structures for future generations.

Award winners will receive public recognition through various media outlets and will be celebrated at the Conservancy’s first annual Preservation Party on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at the historic Venetian Club, where the 2024 Architectural Hall of Fame winners will also be inducted.

The deadline for nominations is Thursday, October 3, at 5:00 PM. Click the button below to learn more and submit your nomination.

Night of Lights: Opening Night on Friday, October 4

Join us for the Flip the Switch ceremony at Night of Lights, where we officially kick off a week-long public exhibition celebrating the rich history and architecture of Chestnut Hill.

The evening begins with the “Flip the Switch” ceremony on Friday, October 4, from 6:45 to 7:00 PM near 8328 Germantown Avenue. Afterward, enjoy a night of festivities lasting until 9:00 PM, including themed slideshow storytellers, live music, and more.

Although the slideshows will be running nightly from Thursday, October 3, to Wednesday, October 9, for two hours each evening, opening night is special, with live slideshow interpreters available to enhance your experience.

Click HERE to download this years event map.

📍 A Soup to Nuts History of the Wissahickon Valley – Created by Alex Bartlett of the Chestnut Hill Conservancy, this slideshow showcases the history of the Wissahickon Valley, from the days of the Lenape Nation to the present, while also celebrating the centennial of the Friends of the Wissahickon.
Fairmount Park and in particular, the Wissahickon Valley, received much publicity during the Centennial Exposition of 1876, with the Valley and its beautiful features becoming much more popular as a result. Reflecting this, an elaborate system of walkways, fences, and gazebos was constructed around Devil’s Pool, visible in this c.1900 postcard view, with the bridge of the City’s gravity sewer looming large above. With the arrival of the Great Depression, the area around Devil’s Pool entered a long period of neglect, and the walkway system slowly rotted away, with the wooden walkways and gazebo being removed in the late 1970s. Photo courtesy of Chestnut Hill Conservancy Archives.

In addition to our Lead Sponsor, Chubb, and our General Sponsors, Night of Lights is made possible through our members and the support of our event projections sponsors: Chubb, The Sivel Group, Chestnut Hill Hotel, 8th District Councilmember Cindy Bass – The City of Philadelphia, Kurtz Construction, Friends of the Wissahickon, George Woodward Co., MIS Capital, Bowman Properties, and Electrical Wizardry Inc., presenting sponsors: Ace Hardware Home Services, Johnson, Kendall & Johnson, Robertson’s Flowers & Events, and MidAtlantic FX, and our supporting event sponsors: Chestnut Hill Business District, Chestnut Hill College,  Heiler Painting, and Garden State Tile.

We are also grateful for the ongoing support from our generous community partners and local businesses. Night of Lights event partners proudly include Archives Month Philly and DesignPhiladelphia.

Thank you for joining us in September, and we hope to see you again in October.

Chrissy Clawson
Programs and Communications Manager
Chestnut Hill Conservancy

Support the Conservancy

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

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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Great architecture is in our nature.

215-247-9329 | 8708 Germantown Avenue, Phila., PA 19118 | info@chconservancy.org