Chestnut Hill is a living experiment in sustainability, a place that has greatly changed while keeping its distinctive character as a historic urban village with a vibrant main street, Germantown Avenue. In his talk, Miles Orvell will define the character of Chestnut Hill as a place somewhere between the ordinary and the extraordinary. He’ll consider questions such as: Why is the idea of history so important in Chestnut Hill? How has our thinking about Germantown Avenue changed since the “colonialization” of its buildings in the 1950s and 60s? How does a community sustain its essential character as it grows – celebrating the past while meeting present and future needs in changing environments? A resident of Chestnut Hill for more than thirty years, Miles Orvell teaches American studies at Temple University and has written several books about American culture including The Death and Life of Main Street.

In addition to our generous sponsors and supportive businesses, Discovering Chestnut Hill Tour and Lecture Series: Sustaining Main Street: Chestnut Hill in the 21st Century is sponsored by John B. Ward & Co. Arborists.

PLEASE REGISTER AT THE WEBSITE LINK BELOW!