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| Cliveden: The Chew House. Image courtesy of Cliveden, a National Trust Historic Site, Philadelphia, PA. |
Cliveden
Website: Cliveden
The Treasure: Dating
back nearly 250 years, this handsome Georgian estate encompasses a wealth of
stories that illuminate centuries of American history, including a critical
role in the Battle of Germantown during the American Revolution.
Accessibility: Cliveden
is open for tours from April through December, Thursday through Sunday from
noon to 4 p.m.
Background: As
Philadelphia ’s
Centennial Exposition approached in 1876, the country’s understanding of historic preservation began to change. Previously, preservation
was mainly associated with holding onto the family hand-me-downs and treasured items associated
with the great men of history. The Centennial Exposition provided impetus for
new movements that celebrated American origins through the systematic
preservation of our material past. Directly involved with planning the
Centennial Exposition, Samuel Chew III became so associated with a commitment
to preservation that he earned the nickname “Centennial” Sam.
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| Cliveden's parlor. Image courtesy of Cliveden, a National Trust Historic Site, Philadelphia, PA. |
The American heritage of “Centennial” Sam Chew was broad and
deep. In 1876, he could trace his American ancestry back more than 250 years to
the 1622 arrival of John Chew in Jamestown .
A century and a half later, his ancestor Benjamin Chew built Cliveden to serve
as the family’s summer retreat, safely distant from the frequent yellow fever
epidemics that broke out during Philadelphia ’s
hottest months. During the Revolutionary War, Cliveden stood at the center of
the important Battle of Germantown, an event that led to Washington ’s
iconic winter at Valley Forge .
“Centennial” Sam and his wife Mary placed a new emphasis on
recovering and saving the historic artifacts of the Chew family, from the
buildings to the furniture to the paper documents. Part of their effort was
family pride but it was also based in the new national interest in claiming and
understanding our American identity. Their work was continued by other Chew
family members, eventually leading to the decision to transfer ownership of the
historic house, 5.5 acres of surrounding parkland, and a collection of artifacts to the
National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1972. Ten years later, the Chew
family papers were given to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
Thanks to this far-sighted approach to preserving a family’s
heritage, Cliveden has become a window onto the past for the public and researchers alike, providing insight into life
within a wealthy and influential family, the key role of the house during the
Battle of Germantown, and the day-to-day lives of the generations of African
slaves and Irish servants who worked on the property. The Chew papers at the
Historical Society of Pennsylvania offer an unusual level of detail concerning
the family’s slaves, indentured servants, and the paid staff, with records that
supply important genealogical information and letters describing the working
conditions.
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| Through the grant, an enormous amount of equipment was installed in the cellar. Image courtesy of Cliveden, a National Trust Historic Site Philadelphia, PA. |
The building itself is a classic example of Philadelphia
Georgian architecture—stately and symmetrical. The Save America’s Treasures grant was used to install a new climate
management system to ensure the long-term preservation of the interior and its
collections. To complement this work, drainage and plumbing projects were implemented
to reduce water infiltration into the building. With a little help from 21st century technology, the long-standing commitment to preservation at Cliveden continues.
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| The air handler intalled as part of the new climate management system. Image courtesy of Cliveden, a National Trust Historic Site, Philadelphia, PA. |
Other Recommended
Sites: Scroll down the Historic Germantown website to the map of
historic sites located either along Germantown
Avenue or in the immediate neighborhood. There’s
Wyck, Johnson House, Stenton, and many more. Historic Germantown proposes visiting them all with
their HG Passport!
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| New ductwork was run through Cliveden using the closets to hide the modern climate management system. Image courtesy of Cliveden, a National Trust Historic Site, Philadelphia, PA. |
Tour America's History Itinerary
Friday: Delaware Canal State Park
© 2013 Lee Price
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