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Community Public Program Brainstorming Session

Registration Link – Click Here

Date: Tuesday, April 22, 2025 | 6:00 – 8:00 PM
Location: The Venetian Social Club
Cost: Free

Join us on Tuesday, April 22 (Earth Day) from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Venetian Social Club in Chestnut Hill for a community brainstorming session.

Timed with Earth Day—a day rooted in action, advocacy, and local engagement—this session is a chance to share your ideas for programs focused on history, architecture, open space, and community life. Your feedback will help shape the next season of Ask the Experts and Discovering Chestnut Hill, building on what we heard in last year’s strategic planning survey.

You’ll also be invited to vote on program ideas developed by staff and our Program Committee. Depending on interest and feasibility, we expect to move forward with one Ask the Experts and one Discovering Chestnut Hill program this fall, based on the results.

Registration is not required, but appreciated.

Take a Walking Tour of Tourison

Date: May 10, 2025, Saturday from 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Location: Meet outside at Lovett Library, 6945 Germantown Ave
Registration Fee: $34.00

Ashton Tourison, Sr., was born in Mt. Airy in 1851 to a former captain in the Civil War. Beginning in the 1870s, he had a grand vision for and confidence in the future of Cresheim, which was eventually renamed Mt. Airy. In approximately 1904, he purchased 125 acres between Chew and Stenton Avenues, from E. Durham Street to Meehan Avenue, and advertised his plan for Sedgwick Farms as “stone-built homes, planned on an architectural idea that makes each different from the other, yet in perfect harmony with all.” Along with creating timeless beauty, he provided practical houses that incorporated the core values of space, air, light, comfort, and good taste. With these core values in mind, this walking tour will tell the story of Ye Sedgwick Farms Company, comprised of Tourison, together with his four sons. This singular family’s vision has provided us with a legacy of beautiful, enduring architecture, consisting of a variety of designs primarily in the Tudor Revival, Colonial Revival, Neo-Georgian, and Victorian styles.

Elise Rivers, Esq., M.Ac worked in the field of historic preservation as Assistant Director of Preservation Worcester in Massachusetts and Executive Director of Landmark West, a historic preservation non-profit advocating for the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Her passion for beauty in architecture has never waned, and she was inspired to put together this walking tour after living in and loving her own Tourison home.

“Private Gardens of Philadelphia – Lost and Found” lecture with Nicole Juday

Date: Wednesday, April 9, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM
Location: Hybrid (Limited in-person seating in Chestnut Hill, virtual attendance available)
Registration Link: Click HERE for virtual registration
Registration Fee: $15 for Conservancy Members, $25 for Non-Members

Join us for the first installment of our 2025 Discovering Chestnut Hill series on Wednesday, April 9, for “Private Gardens of Philadelphia: Lost and Found,” featuring author and garden historian Nicole Juday.

This hybrid event will take place on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, offering both limited in-person seating and virtual attendance. The in-person program will run from 6:30 to 9:00 PM, while the lecture will begin at 7:00 PM for all attendees. It will be followed by a moderated Q&A led by Conservancy Board Member and landscape architect Rob Fleming. The Q&A will begin around 8:00 PM.

The Philadelphia region is home to more historic private gardens than any other part of the United States. In this engaging talk, Nicole Juday will explore remarkable gardens featured in her recent book, Private Gardens of Philadelphia, highlighting those that have survived against the odds and what they reveal about Philadelphia’s rich social and cultural history. These gardens—hidden behind tall hedges, nestled in bustling neighborhoods, or tucked away down quiet lanes—reflect generations of stewardship, dedication, resilience, and horticultural artistry.

The event will feature breathtaking photography by Rob Cardillo, showcasing the beauty and diversity of these private landscapes, from meticulously maintained estates to gardens that have adapted to environmental and urban challenges such as development pressures, flooding, and deer.

Registration:
Advance registration is required. In-person attendance is limited and expected to fill quickly. Virtual registrants will receive a link to join the event remotely approximately one day in advance of the program.

Space is limited for the in-person attendees; sign up today!

The Chestnut Hill Conservancy’s public programming is made possible through the generous support of our Lead Sponsor, ChubbGeneral Sponsors, Event Sponsors, and membersJohn B. Ward proudly serves as the 2025 Discovering Chestnut Hill Event Sponsor, while E.G. Rall Landscape Design is our 2025 Supporting Event Sponsor.

For more information, please get in touch with Chrissy Clawson at Chrissy@CHConservancy.Org or 215-247-9329 x 108.

Conservancy Strikes Compromise on Historic Women’s Center

Julia Hebard Marsden House has been altered and expanded over the years. It is now owned by Chestnut Hill Hospital. In 1977, it became the Chestnut Hill Health Care Women’s Center—Chestnut Hill Conservancy Archives. 

Monday, May 13, 2024
By Chrissy Clawson, Programs and Communications Manager

Amid the backdrop of Historic Preservation Month, Chestnut Hill celebrates a significant victory—an outcome of collaborative efforts between the Chestnut Hill Conservancy and Temple Health – Chestnut Hill Hospital. At its May 10 meeting, the Philadelphia Historical Commission unanimously voted to list the Chestnut Hill Hospital’s Women’s Center at 8835 Germantown Avenue in the Philadelphia Register. Formerly known as the Julia Hebard Marsden House, the Chestnut Hill Hospital Women’s Center is a testament to the community’s resilience, having been crafted through the adaption of a former historic home.

This victory marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing journey to preserve our community’s architectural and cultural legacy. Congratulations to both organizations and the Chestnut Hill community for this preservation win. The conservancy expresses deep gratitude to Councilperson Cindy Bass’s office and the Philadelphia Historical Commission for their ongoing involvement in the negotiations.

Designed in a Georgian-influenced Colonial Revival style by the accomplished and prolific architect Charles Barton Keen (1868-1931), the former Julia Hebard Marsden House is listed on the Chestnut Hill National Register Historic District as a significant architectural resource. Built in 1903 for Julia Hebard Marsden and her husband, Dr. Biddle Reeves Marsden, the house is a distinctive and characteristic example of the Colonial Revival style. Reusing the former home and doctor’s office into the Chestnut Hill Women’s Center is an excellent example of an institution evolving to benefit itself and the greater community’s needs. This transition from residential to institutional use is important for this building.

The Women’s Center, the last intact historic building on the hospital’s campus, enjoys a rich historical narrative. However, in 2021, discussions emerged about replacing this architectural landmark, prompting the conservancy to swiftly nominate it for preservation. A delicate negotiation ensued between hospital representatives and the conservancy, aiming to balance preservation concerns with the hospital’s operational needs.

Ultimately, a compromise emerged to protect the main building’s most visible parts while allowing for future growth by excluding the rear ell and carriage house from the designation.

Although the carriage house was excluded from the designation boundaries as part of the compromise, the commission encouraged collaboration between the conservancy and the hospital to document the Carriage House’s legacy for posterity.

The agreed-upon boundary, coinciding with the southern section of a larger parcel known as 8811 Germantown Avenue, encompassed the main block of the house along with its east and west wings. Notably, the rear wing lay outside the designated boundary, while the west wing, having undergone alterations, retained the potential for future modification or removal.

Future alterations or additions within the delineated boundary will undergo scrutiny by the Historical Commission, ensuring the property’s historical integrity for generations to come.

In navigating preservation challenges, the Chestnut Hill Hospital Women’s Center emerges as a success, where compromise facilitates the harmonious coexistence of heritage and progress. The compromise by the Chestnut Hill Conservancy and Temple Health ensures that the legacy of the Julia Hebard Marsden House endures as a testament to the community’s ability to grow and evolve and the preservation of its architectural heritage. 

Ask the Experts – Window Restoration

Join us for a captivating afternoon of historic preservation at the Chestnut Hill Conservancy’s Ask the Experts “Window Restoration Workshop” on Saturday, September 23, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM.

The Chestnut Hill Conservancy hosts this free event in collaboration with the Chestnut Hill Community Association. This workshop offers a unique opportunity to delve into the art of window restoration. Discover the secrets of reviving timeless windows while maintaining their historical charm.

The workshop will be led by two distinguished experts: Ray Tschoepe and Andrew Staples.

Ray Tschoepe’s rich background encompasses both academic achievement and practical expertise. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Master’s program in Historic Preservation, Ray’s career path includes serving as an independent restoration contractor and later as the Director of Conservation at the Fairmount Park Historic Preservation Trust, which later became the Conservancy. With nearly three decades of experience in the field, Ray brings a wealth of knowledge to the workshop.

Ray’s co-expert, Andrew Staples, brings invaluable insights to the event. Andrew is the Conservation Supervisor at the Fairmount Park Conservancy. Having been brought up around the trades, he developed an interest in the history and development of construction techniques and technologies.  Andrew holds an MA in Archaeology of Buildings from the University of York in the UK.

The workshop will begin with an interactive workshop followed by a brief Q&A session, offering attendees the chance to interact directly with these seasoned professionals. Whether you’re a preservation enthusiast, homeowner, or simply curious about historic architecture, this workshop is a must-attend event.

Take advantage of this opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of window restoration and contribute to preserving Chestnut Hill’s architectural legacy. Mark your calendar for September 23, 1:00 – 3:00 PM, at 8708 Germantown Avenue. We look forward to welcoming you to this enriching and educational event.

Registration is required, and space is limited.

REGISTER HERE: https://chconservancy.app.neoncrm.com/eventReg.jsp?event=63&

A free program for the community, Ask the Experts addresses a featured topic by an expert on prevalent issues relating to historic home and landscape care, with free access to the Archives. Ask questions; get solutions!

Organized by the Chestnut Hill Conservancy and co-sponsored by the Chestnut Hill Community Association.The 2023 Ask the Experts Series is made possible through the generous support of sponsor Wallace Landscaping Associates and our supporting businesses.