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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. |
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Friday: Delaware Canal State Park
© 2013 Lee Price
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