United States of America -- Pennsylvania -- Montgomery -- Lafayette Hill
Scope and Contents:
The folder includes worksheets, photocopies of articles and other information.
General:
The original tract containing Erdenheim Farm has a long history of ownership dating back to William Penn, the founder of the Pennsylvania colony, but the landscape design and architecture of the house and outbuildings date back to circa 1916-1971 when the property was owned by George D. Widener, Jr. In 2011 and 2012 the current owners restored sunken formal gardens and stone walls designed by Percival Gallagher, lead designer for Olmsted Brothers, with new plantings of iris, herbs and peonies, removing two rows of conifers that obscured the cascade (designed by Jacques Greber) leading from the greenhouse (designed by architect Horace Trumbauer). Gallagher (1874-1934) also designed the roadway system within the farm, the grass tennis court, a woodland walk and original plantings around the main house. Trumbauer (1868-1938) also updated and enlarged the original farmhouse in the Colonial revival style, working from 1916-1932, and designed the main entrance gate, outbuildings including workmen's cottages, three barns and a riding stable and a five arch stone bridge similar to those on English country estates.
Alongside the house there is a new bluestone terrace with cutouts for magnolia trees and a small fountain with planted metal containers. The gardens at the main house were redesigned in 2011 and 2012 and axial views to outlying gardens were reinforced. Ornamental gates designed by Samuel Yellin in the 1920s were attached to new iron fences that surround the house gardens. The current owners restored buildings, landscape and hardscape following the original designs, as stewards of an historical property, and made changes that enhance the sustainability of a working produce and livestock farm. Wildflower meadows were planted with grasses, sedges, rushes, lobelia, rudbeckia, asters and solidago in 2009 to provide habitat for birds and wild life and to reduce erosion into Wissahickon Creek, which traverses the property. An orchard with apple, apricot, peach, pear and plum trees also was planted in 2009. The Trumbauer-designed greenhouse and cold frames now grow micro greens, camellias and orchids. A three-acre organic vegetable garden and berry patch has been added near the Trumbauer sheep barn where produce is offered for sale in season. Livestock raised at Erdenheim Farm include cheviot sheep, Black Angus, belted Galloway and Scottish highland cattle.
Erdenheim means earthly home in German, the property was named by former owner Johannes George Hocker in the 18th century. The original substantial acreage has been reduced in size with much of it is being conserved by the Natural Lands Trust and the Whitemarsh Foundation. Also easements have been granted for public trails that are part of the Montgomery County Green Ribbon trail and the Whitemarsh township trail system.
William Penn (former owner, 1683); Jasper Farmer Jr. and members of the Farmer family (former owners, 1683-1745); Peter Robeson and Jonathan Robeson (former owners, 1745-1755); William Streper, Nathan Sheppard, Anthony Williams, Sr., Isaac Williams (former owners, 1755-1760s); Johannes George Hocker (former owner, 1763-1823); Caspar Schlater (former owner, 1823); Major General Henry Scheetz and family (former owners, 1823-1842); William W. Longstreth (former owner, 1842-1849); Dr. James McCrea (former owner, 1849-1855); Atherton Blight (former owner, 1855-1862); Aristedes Welch (former owner, 1862-1882); Norman W. Kittson and Louis Kittson (former owners, 1882-1896); Robert N. Carson (former owner, 1896-1916); George D. Widener, Jr. (former owner, 1916-1971); Fitz Eugene Dixon, Jr. and Edith Dixon (former owners, 1971-2009); Horace Trumbauer (architect, 1917-1932); Percival Gallagher of Olmsted Brothers (landscape architects, 1924-1931); Jacques Henri Auguste Greber (landscape architect, 1918); Samuel Yellin (1885-1940) (ornamental ironwork designer, 1920s); Charles Gale (garden designer, 1972-1973); Larry Weaner (landscape designer, 2009-2010); Christina Reeves (landscape architect, 2011); Nina Schneider (garden designer, 2012- ); Glenn Keys (architect, 2009-2010).
Related Materials:
Erdenheim Farm related holdings consist of 2 folders (4 35mm slides; 40 digital images)
Collection Restrictions:
Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Topic:
Gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Lafayette Hill Search this
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America collection.
Sponsor:
A project to describe images in this finding aid received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.
