Colonial Germantown Historic District

Historic district in Pennsylvania, United States

The Colonial Germantown Historic District is a designated National Historic Landmark District in the Germantown and Mount Airy neighborhoods of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania along both sides of Germantown Avenue. This road followed a Native American path from the Delaware River just north of Old City Philadelphia, through Germantown, about 6 miles northwest of Center City Philadelphia, and on to Pottstown. Settlement in the Germantown area began, at the invitation of William Penn, in 1683 by Nederlanders and Germans under the leadership of Francis Daniel Pastorius fleeing religious persecution. Colonial Germantown was a leader in religious thought, printing, and education. Important dates in Germantown's early history include:
August 16, 1683, Pastorius arrives in Philadelphia
October 25, 1683, Lots are drawn for land among Pastorius's followers and settlement begins
1688, first American anti slavery protest published
1690, first paper mill built in America is built near Germantown
1705, possibly the first portrait painted in oil in America painted by Christopher Witt in Germantown
1708, first Mennonite Meetinghouse in America built in Germantown
1719, first Dunkards in America arrive in Germantown
1743, first Bible printed in America in any European language (in this case German), printed by Christoph Sauer
1760, Germantown Academy founded
February 1764, the Paxton Boys enter Germantown but disperse after meeting with a delegation headed by Benjamin Franklin
1770, first American book on pedagogy written by Christopher Dock and published in Germantown
October 4, 1777, Battle of Germantown
1793, during the Philadelphia Yellow Fever Epidemic, President Washington and his cabinet move to Germantown
1794, Washington spends two months in Germantown to avoid the heat in Philadelphia
July 20, 1825, General Lafayette visits Germantown
June 6, 1832, railroad from Philadelphia to Germantown opens

The district was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1965 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. The original district included the 4500 to 6600 blocks of Germantown Avenue (between Windrim Avenue and Sharpnack Street). In 1987 the district was expanded north to the 7600 block of Germantown Avenue (up to Cresheim Valley Drive), which is the southern boundary of the Chestnut Hill Historic District. The district's two parts contain 579 properties, of which 514 are considered contributing, and only 65 non contributing. The northwest Philadelphia area, which promotes itself as "Freedom's Backyard," contains 11 historic districts listed by the National Register of Historic Places, as well as 58 separately listed properties. Eight state historical markers are located on Germantown Avenue. Nearly complete inventories prepared for the National Register of Historic Places, both for the original district and for the expanded area are available. A 1907 inventory of historic buildings in the area was printed in the "History of Old Germantown."

Contributing properties in the district include the following. Even street numbers are on the west side of Germantown Avenue, odd numbers on the east. Original construction dates may be approximate. Name Image Address Date NoteLoudoun Mansion4650 Germantown Ave.1801Built by Thomas Armat, additions 1829, 1850, 1888, rehab 1864. Stucco on rubble with wood trim. Federal style. C. W. Schaeffer Public School 4701 Germantown Ave.1876Listed separately on NRHP. Three stories in stone with wood trim. Designed by L. Esler in the Italianate style. Mehl House 4821 Germantown Ave.1744Stone with wood trim in the Federal style. Brick ell built in 1933. Ottinger House 4825 Germantown Ave.1748Colonial and Federal styles. Lower Burial Ground 4901–21 Germantown Ave.1692Now called Hood Cemetery. Baroque Revival style entry gate designed in 1849 by William L. Johnston. Baynton House 5208 Germantown Ave. 1798 Two and one half stories. Brick with stone and wood trim in the Federal style. Conyngham Hacker House 5214 Germantown Ave.1796Listed separately on the NRHP. Two and one half stories. Stone with wood trim in the Federal style. Howell House 5218 Germantown Ave.1798 Listed separately on the NRHP. Built for William Forbes. Two and one half stories. Stone with wood trim in the Federal style. Theobald Endt House 5222 Germantown Ave.1730. Rebuilt 1802. AKA Handsberry House; built by Theobald Endt. Two and one half stories. Stucco on stone with wood trim in the Federal style. Bechtel House 5226 Germantown Ave.1730Rebuilt 1802Once the home of Rev. John Bechtel. Two and one half stories. Stone with wood trim in the Colonial style. Grumblethorpe 5267 Germantown Ave.1744Listed separately on NRHP. Additions in 1750, 1799, 1806, 1819. Owned by John Wister, an important site during the Battle of Germantown. Stone with wood trim in the Colonial style. Wistar's Tenant House 5269 Germantown Ave.1745Listed separately on NRHP. Addition in early nineteenth century. Stone with wood trim in Colonial style. Clarkson Watson House5275 Germantown Ave.1745Additions/alterations in 1775, 1825, 1870, 1910. Stucco on stone with wood trim in Federal style/Colonial style. Germantown Friends Schooland Meeting House 5400 Germantown Ave.1869Meeting founded 1690. This parcel acquired 1693 and used as a burial ground. Previous meeting houses built 1705, 1812. School founded 1845. Several school buildings on site. Masonic Temple of Germantown 5423–27 Germantown Ave.1873Additions/alterations 1915, 1920. Three stories, stone with wood trim in the Gothic Revival styleA previous house on this site was the birthplace of Louisa May Alcott. Germantown White HouseDeshler Morris House 5442 Germantown Ave.1772Listed separately on the NRHP. Additions/alterations 1840, 1856, 1868, 1887, 1898, 1909. Headquarters of General Sir William Howe during October 4, 1777 Battle of Germantown. Temporary residence of President George Washington, November 1793 (yellow fever epidemic), and Summer 1794. Stucco on stone with wood trim in the Federal style. National Bank of Germantown 5500–04 Germantown Ave.1868J. C. Sidney original architect. Additions/alterations 1890, 1907, 1930. Stone with wood trim in the Renaissance Revival style. John Fromberger House 5501 Germantown Ave. 1796Multiple renovations; now houses the Germantown Historical Society. Brick with stone and wood trim in the Federal style. S. S. Kresge Store 5549 53 Germantown Ave. Georgian Revival styleLoyal Order of Odd Fellows 5615 Germantown Ave.1860New facade 1940. Three stories in brick with stone and pressed metal in the Georgian Revival style. C. A. Rowell Department Store 5627 Germantown Ave.1949Rear section originally Germantown Trust (1929). Georgian Revival style by architect Herbert Beidler. First Presbyterian Churchin Germantown 5700 block Germantown Ave.(35 West Chelten Ave.)1871+Attributed to architect T. Roney Williamson, Richardson Romanesque styleVernon Wister House 5708 Germantown Ave.1803Federal style, purchased by John Wister, grandson of Wister at GrumblethorpeVernon Park branchThe Free Library of Philadelphia 5708 Germantown Ave.1907Now housing the Center in the Park. org. A Carnegie Library; designed by Frank Miles Day & BrotherGermantown Townhall 5900 block Germantown Ave. Never actually served as the town hall Wyck House 6026 Germantown Ave.1690 (part)Listed separately as a National Historic Landmark. 1824: remodeled by William StricklandMennonite Meetinghouse 6119 Germantown Ave.1770Listed separately on the NRHP. Congregation established in 1688 as first Mennonite church in America. One and one half stories, stone with wood trim in the Colonial style. John Johnson House 6306 Germantown Ave.1768Listed separately as a National Historic Landmark. A stop on the Underground Railroad. After 1918, home of the Women's Club of Germantown. Concord School House 6309 Germantown Ave.1775Possibly built by Jacob Knor. Two and one half stories, stone with wood trim. Upper Burial Ground 6311–17 Germantown Ave.1693"Axe's Cemetery," land donated by Paul Wolfe, wall built 1777. Cliveden 6401 Germantown Ave.1763 67Listed separately as a National Historic Landmark. Estate of Benjamin Chew, an important site during the Battle of Germantown. Built by William Knor. Two and one half stories with wood trim in the Colonial style. Upsala 6430 Germantown Ave.1798Listed separately on the NRHP. Two and one half stories with wood trim in the Federal style. Rear sections perhaps built earlier. Daniel Billmeyer House 6504 Germantown Ave.1793Listed separately on the NRHP. Stone with wood trim in the Federal style. Michael Billmeyer House 6505 Germantown Ave.1727Listed separately on the NRHP. Stone with wood trim in the Federal and German colonial styles. Church of the Brethren 6611 Germantown Ave. 1770First Church of the Brethren (Dunkards) in AmericaWinston Commons 6620–24 Germantown Ave.1895Architect William Lightfoot PriceSt. Michael's Lutheran Church in Germantown 6671 Germantown Ave.1896 97The congregation has used this site at least since 1728 until the church closed in 2016. Beggarstown School 6669 Germantown Ave.1740Listed separately on the NRHP. Mt. Airy Presbyterian Church 7108 Germantown Ave.1880Sedgwick Theater 7133 41 Germantown Ave.1926 1928Art Deco. William H. Lee architect. Tourison Building 7200 06 Germantown Ave.1920sArt Deco. Tunis and Baker, architects. Store 7203 Germantown Ave. Mt. Airy Agricultural School 7331 Germantown Ave.1792Cresheim Cottage 7402 04 Germantown Ave.1804?Bockius House 7413 Germantown Ave.1790 1800

Germantown History, 2010, VisitPhilly, YouTube. Down Germantown Avenue, Part One, 2007, James Flatley and Etienne Jackson with Robert Wood, YouTube. Student film travels from Chestnut Hill south. Down Germantown Avenue, Part Two, 2007, James Flatley and Etienne Jackson with Robert Wood, YouTube. From Chelten Avenue south