Preservation Awards

Starting with Charles Knox Smith’s decision to publicly share his collection in a converted 19th century mansion rather than a new Center City building, Woodmere’s enduring and creative dialog of nature with art, industry, history, and life can be considered the very essence of sustainable stewardship.

The Woodmere building, the 6 acres on which it sits, and the core of its art collection stand as a “remarkable testament to its founder’s vision of connecting art and nature, with profound reverence for both.” In line with this vision, Woodmere recently secured the most economical and sustainable way to increase capacity when it bought St. Michael’s Hall from the Sisters of St. Joseph last year. The Hall could have been torn down and its 4 acres filled with more than 20 homes, but will instead represent an exquisite balance between serving the needs of a growing institution and respect for the spirit and assets of the community in which it sits.

Anyone familiar with the institution will know that this is just Woodmere’s most recent achievement in a long tradition of sustainable stewardship. In addition to the adaptive reuse of historic buildings, Woodmere protects the environment with a pollinator garden, monumental heritage trees, and contemporary stormwater-management features such as green parking, a bioswale, and step pools. Art and nature are playfully and effectively connected with projects like their La Cresta hugel mound project, the mulch-covered “rot road” walking path meandering down the back slope behind the museum through future art installations, and their wonderfully creative hay mazes.

The Conservancy is proud to have helped with the acquisition of St Michael’s Hall, and deeply impressed and grateful for Woodmere’s spirit, energy, and creativity under the bold leadership of Dr. William Valerio and Woodmere’s Board and supporters. This is the first time that the Conservancy has appreciated sustainable stewardship with a Preservation Recognition Award.

320 West Willow Grove Avenue
The team includes SEPTA and the St. Martins Station Committee

St. Martins was a thriving station for decades, but as the economy slumped in the early 1970s, basic maintenance essentially ground to a halt. Pipes rusted, froze, and burst. Roof leaks rendered the upstairs apartment uninhabitable, forcing tenants to move out. With the building unoccupied, vandalism became rampant. By 1982, the Chestnut Hill Local described its deteriorated conditions as “cumulative and devastating.”

As St. Martins station approached its centenary anniversary in 1984, a group of civic-minded Chestnut Hill neighbors led by Alston Jenkins, a prominent Philadelphia conservationist and business leader, formed the St. Martins Station Committee to reverse the station’s decline. The founders chartered the Committee as a not-for-profit organization to raise funds to restore the station and its grounds, stabilize its finances, and negotiate an agreement with SEPTA to provide for the building’s ongoing maintenance. Through a pioneering agreement with the transit authority, the Committee concluded a long-term agreement designating it as the master tenant of the property and giving it primary authority for maintenance of the structure’s interior and landscaping, while SEPTA would continue to maintain the station’s exterior, platform, and public access.

To fund the building’s restoration, the Committee set a goal to raise $100,000 to refurbish the upstairs apartment and ground-floor waiting room with new floors, lighting, plumbing, heating, wall plaster, and painting throughout. Securing $50,000 in commitments from major local benefactors, the Committee kicked off a broad annual fundraising appeal to raise the balance. With Committee board member John Todd donating his services as architect for the renovation, the rehabilitative work—including a fresh coat of paint restoring the station’s original Victorian colors—was completed in time for the celebration of the station’s 100th anniversary in 1984.

The Committee’s accomplishments over the past several decades demonstrate what the motivation and hard work of dedicated volunteers can do to preserve our architectural heritage.

The Morris Arboretum, established as the official arboretum of Pennsylvania, was created by siblings John and Lydia Morris in 1887 as a spring retreat. Their landscaping efforts were influenced by English and Asian gardening styles, with contributions from renowned gardener Y. Muto. The property was gifted to the University of Pennsylvania in 1932 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Today, it serves as an interdisciplinary research center with over 13,000 plants, focusing on Asian species, many collected by famed explorer Ernest Henry Wilson.

One notable feature of the arboretum is the Step Fountain, designed in 1916 by architect Robert Rodes McGoodwin, who was influenced by French neoclassicism. McGoodwin’s architectural contributions to the University of Pennsylvania and Chestnut Hill are notable, with residential projects reflecting his classical training at the École des Beaux-Arts and the American Academy in Rome.

A recent conservation survey highlighted deterioration in the fountain’s limestone and bluestone elements, including cracking, biological growth, and outdated plumbing. The recommended restoration plan includes cleaning and repairing original stonework, replacing damaged cheek walls and water steps, waterproofing, and overhauling the plumbing system. Modern upgrades will include a new circulation and filtration system with UV sterilization, while maintaining the historic integrity of the fountain.

In 2021 Friends of Pastorius Park (FOPP), led by Tracy Gardner, embarked upon an ambitious plan to restore the plantings and vistas of Pastorius Park. They did so with the goal of not only preserving Frederick Peck’s original Olmsted-inspired Pastorius design, but also to expand the diversity and resilience of the park’s trees and shrubs for the future.

FoPP replaced the old upper boundary hedge, 195′ of overgrown and bare space (primarily invasives) with 65 Sweetbay Magnolias. The other old moat hedge was an overgrown and leggy mix of boxwood and inkberry. FoPP had Belk Gardens replace this mixed hedge with a uniform hedge of Summersweet – native hedges that will be pruned and maintained by FoPP, contribute seasonal interest with fragrant flowers, seed pods, and changing leaf color, and will benefit pollinators, birds, and other wildlife in the park.

Additionally, to restore the amphitheater as a more formal space (an ‘outdoor room’) as it was originally designed to be, FoPP had Laurel Hill Gardens install flanking perimeter beds of a Wissahickon style mix of broadleaf evergreens and flowering shrubs and trees. this planting plan reflects the stylization found in landscapes designed by Frederick Peck. the new perimeter beds replace previously ‘wooded’ areas in the amphitheater that were in poor shape.

In May, in consultation with Paul Meyer and Rob Fleming, FoPP began a pilot project in the ongoing restoration of Pastorius at the Roanoke/W. Abington entrance to the park. Large islands of invasive plants that had long blocked original park vistas and created an unsafe, tunnel-like entrance to the park here were removed by FoPP arborist Erik Werner (The Hedgerows Arborist Services). FoPP volunteers created new planting beds and ultimately installed 29 new native shrubs in this area as well as at the Lincoln Dr. entrance to the park. After encouraging fundraising by FoPP, and matching grants from CHCA’s Greenspace committee, 39 diverse new trees were planted in the pilot project vicinity and at the Lincoln Dr. entrance this fall.

Throughout 2021 FoPP volunteers regularly stepped up to remove invasive plants, establish planting beds, weed, and knock back large areas of knot weed in the park. Philadelphia Parks and Recreation reliably removed large piles of plant material that volunteers brought street-side, and installed an outside faucet at the warming hut that provided water for new plantings. FoPP did not lose a single new plant, though they experienced 4-5 heatwaves this summer.

The participation of 2 local garden clubs (the Wissahickon Garden Club & Garden Club of Philadelphia) in October achieved a great deal in just 2 days, including opening up another vista into the park in the corner woods at Millman St. and Sunrise Ln.

Wild American Chestnut Orchard: In May FoPP partnered with the NY chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation to participate in the ‘Darling 58’ transgenic project to develop and propagate blight-resistant American chestnut trees. FoPP cleared a massive stand of euonymus in the NW meadow of the park to accommodate the new chestnut orchard. As a result of this clearance, the NW woods corner was opened up to reveal a nice grove of mature trees in the overgrown ‘bird sanctuary’ portion off the park, in effect expanding the accessibility and size of the park.

Further clearance of euonymus and invasive plants in this section of the park bodes well for the future landscape here, as this area, currently a food desert for wildlife, can be replanted with native understory plants to provide food and shelter for birds and other wildlife.

This addition project was born by the need for a larger family gathering area that matched the detail and craftsmanship of the 1883 Queen Anne house.

Krieger + Associates Architects were retained to design a space that would satisfy modern living needs while maintaining as much as possible of the historic detail that adorned the main house. Dennis F. Meyer, Inc. was contracted to realize this vision and execute the traditional building practices needed to build it. Meyer Woodworks was responsible for all the millwork and cabinetry.

Nearly all of the architectural elements of the new addition were traced back to the main house for replication or inspiration. The new wood windows were selected to match the original first floor windows of the main house. Care was taken down to the size and profile of the muntins and materials used. Wissahickon schist stone and bluestone wrap around the base of the entire addition and are toothed into
the original house creating a seamless transition. A wrap around “built-in” copper gutter with full cornice and modillions were replicated from the main house, Sepele Mahogany railings cap off the rooftop deck.

Going inside, the interior floor consists of quartersawn white oak and the walls are completely panelized in wood. Custom millwork and cabinetry fill the walls and give the room its desired purpose. The existing schist wall was blasted with baking soda to clean off layers of paints. All the mortar joints were ground out and repointed to match the ribbon of the exterior.

The project consisted of the restoration of five carriage doors and two large arched window panels at the Fairelawn Manor Carriage House.

Fairelawn Manor and its carriage house were commissioned by a wealthy industrialist as a wedding present for his daughter in 1903 and designed by George and William Hewitt in the Tudor revival style.

After their original use as stable doors, the doors were relocated to enclose the porch in front of the carriage house. During this time, they were pinned in place by 4 inches of concrete on the outside and finished floors on the inside. The bottom thirds of all the panels were starting to rot from the bottom up. If it were not for the old growth wood from which the doors were constructed, there would not have been any chance at saving them.

Dennis F. Meyer Inc. and Meyer Woodworks’ approach to the project was to strip all the paint off the doors and windows and assess everything thereafter. After assessment, they determined all the panels had to come back to the workshop to be restored. Due to the increased height in the outside elevation, and the rotting wood, they shortened up all the raised panels and bottom rails of each door to accomodate the new height. This enabled them to keep all the original detailing and and rail to stile proportions, while also adding the protective measure of keeping the panels off the ground.

The center operable door was beyond repair and needed to be rebuilt. They refurbished all the existing hardware and kept all the door details exact. Each carriage door has a set of operable casement windows that were all refitted and adorned with new hardware to resemble the originals.

Foxlea is a 4 1/2 acre portion of a 31 acre estate called “Lane’s End” that was later renamed “Wharton Sinkler Estate” by the University of Pennsylvania. The University sold the estate in 2000 in 7 parcels and all of the land is protected from further development with a conservation easement.

Lane’s End was developed in the mid 1920s by the Rotans. Alethaire Rotan, an enthusiastic Anglophile, retained Robert McGoodwin as the architect. In addition to the main house and other buildings, he designed the “English Village”, a collection of Tudor style buildings that include a 16th century cottage from Frimley, a village in Surrey. Many other architectural components were purchased in England and transported to Wyndmoor. The period timbers, windows, doors, and roof material help make this vernacular group of buildings seem like a village transported right from the English countryside.

The Laphams retained Bonitatibus Architects and a team of local contractors and craftsmen to carefully fashion a residence connecting three of the buildings. A small conservatory links the 16th century cottage to a former wood shed, four-bay garage, and workshop/tractor shed. All of the period steel casement windows with a lattice pattern were restored and new wood casement windows and millwork were made locally in Germantown. There is a commitment to retaining and preserving the details and sense of an English village.

The former stable was converted to a studio and an apartment. Other buildings include a sheep shed, a seed and feed house, an open shed, a garage, and a corn-crib chicken house. The buildings and enclosing walls create “rooms”, ideal for small gardens and part of the property was returned to a natural meadow with a walking trail through it to encourage wildlife.

The house was built in the Italianate Style in 1861. As such, it has large overhanging eves, large decorative brackets, and heavy crown moldings. Over time, small roof leaks and other problems deteriorated large areas of these wooden elements.

Since the work area was three stories up, the contractors could only surmise the actual damage from the ground. Each face of the house was scaffolded to assess all the damage in real time. Once it was determined what was needed for replacement, they took those pieces back to the shop so they could match them exactly.

All moldings were made by grinding cutting knives to the exact profile. We made a total of eight new brackets from scratch that were beyond repair. We repaired four with “Dutchmen” and consolidating epoxy. All materials used were Mahogany, which has excellent exterior properties. All wood was oil primed prior to installation.

In 1884, Henry Houston built the Wissahickon Inn, originally designed as a grand resort and now the architectural gem of Springside Chestnut Hill Academy’s 62-acre campus. The space immediately off the porch on the northeastern side of the building is known to the SCH Academy community as the Exchange. The name comes from the “exchange” of money that took place as hotel guests checked in and out.

The Exchange has always served as the main entrance to Chestnut Hill Academy and now SCH Academy students. Many of its original features are still in place including the rich dark wood paneling, ornate woodwork, bay windows, and fireplace. With the support of a grant from The William B. Dietrich Foundation, SCH Academy restored the Exchange to its original beauty and design.

Restoration work to retain historic elements included the restoration of the millwork; installation of period lighting; refinishing the original hardwood floors; reconstruction of the reception desk and the replacement of all doors matching the original design; and uncovering transom windows, which were hidden for many years. Other work included plaster repair, painting, and significant electrical work.

This project has resulted in a magnificent restoration to the original splendor of the main entrance to the Wissahickon Inn for all students, faculty, parents, alumni, and community to enjoy.