A Study and Interpretation of the Deshler-Morris Landscape in Historic Germantown
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University of Pennsylvania ScholarlyCommons Theses (Historic Preservation) Graduate Program in Historic Preservation January 2007 A Study and Interpretation of the Deshler-Morris Landscape in Historic Germantown Alexis Chantel Stephens University of Pennsylvania Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.upenn.edu/hp_theses Stephens, Alexis Chantel, "A Study and Interpretation of the Deshler-Morris Landscape in Historic Germantown" (2007). Theses (Historic Preservation). 89. https://repository.upenn.edu/hp_theses/89 A Thesis in Historic Preservation Presented to the Faculties of the University of Pennsylvania in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Historic Preservation 2007. Advisor: Randall Mason This paper is posted at ScholarlyCommons. https://repository.upenn.edu/hp_theses/89 For more information, please contact [email protected]. A Study and Interpretation of the Deshler-Morris Landscape in Historic Germantown Comments A Thesis in Historic Preservation Presented to the Faculties of the University of Pennsylvania in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Historic Preservation 2007. Advisor: Randall Mason This thesis or dissertation is available at ScholarlyCommons: https://repository.upenn.edu/hp_theses/89 A STUDY AND INTERPRETATION OF THE DESHLER-MORRIS LANDSCAPE IN HISTORIC GERMANTOWN Alexis Chantel Stephens A THESIS In Historic Preservation Presented to the Faculties of the University of Pennsylvania in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE IN HISTORIC PRESERVATION [2007] ______________________________ ______________________________ Thesis Advisor Thesis Reader Randall Mason David G. De Long Associate Professor of Architecture Professor Emeritus of Architecture ______________________________ Program Chair Frank G. Matero Professor of Architecture Dedication To Helen Audrey Stephens and Carla Renee Stephens, with love. ii Acknowledgements I would like to thank Professor Randall Mason, for his constant support and encouragement throughout this process and throughout graduate school. I also would like to thank Professor David G. De Long for his guidance and instruction. Other people who have assisted me with this project and given me encouragement are: Susan Edens, John Groff, Lucianne Beard, Sandra Mackenzie Lloyd, Anne Coxe Toogood, Richard Vogel, Theresa Durkin, John Hinchman, Karen Stevens, and Stephen Hague. Special thanks to my mom, Carla Stephens, for sharing this higher education experience with me and taking time to give me feedback. I would also like to thank my classmates and my friends for maintaining my sanity, giving me focus, making me laugh, and inspiring me. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................. 1 HISTORICAL OVERVIEW AND PROJECT SCOPE.............................................................................................1 FORMAT AND METHODOLOGY ....................................................................................................................2 CHAPTER ONE: C. 1740-1948....................................................................................... 5 1740-1792: DAVID DESHLER AND GERMANTOWN IN THE 18TH CENTURY..................................................5 1792-1801: ISAAC FRANKS’OCCUPATION INCLUDING WASHINGTON'S VISIT IN 1793 AND 1794 .............14 1802-1948: THE PEROT-MORRIS FAMILY RESIDENCE ..............................................................................19 CHAPTER TWO: 1948-2007 ........................................................................................ 26 1948-1951: TRANSFORMATION BY THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ...........................................................27 1951-1984: MANAGEMENT BY THE DESHLER-MORRIS WOMEN’S COMMITTEE .......................................30 1984-PRESENT:THE DESHLER-MORRIS HOUSE COMMITTEE....................................................................39 CHAPTER THREE: CURRENT FEATURES AND LANDSCAPE INVENTORY46 LANDSCAPE SETTING:SITE IDENTIFICATION.............................................................................................46 LANDSCAPE SETTING:GENERAL ORGANIZATION .....................................................................................48 LANDSCAPE SETTING:SPATIAL ORGANIZATION/LAND USE......................................................................50 THE FRONT SECTION .................................................................................................................................53 THE ASHMEAD SECTION............................................................................................................................56 THE REAR SECTION...................................................................................................................................62 SURROUNDING THE OUTHOUSE.................................................................................................................65 GROUND COVER ADJACENT TO HOUSE .....................................................................................................67 LANDSCAPE SETTING:CIRCULATION ........................................................................................................69 CHAPTER FOUR: VALUES AND SIGNIFICANCE................................................ 72 LANDSCAPE VALUES.................................................................................................................................72 SWOT ANALYSIS......................................................................................................................................76 STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE ..................................................................................................................81 CHAPTER FIVE: COMPARABLES........................................................................... 84 DESHLER-MORRIS LANDSCAPE’S CONTEXT WITHIN GERMANTOWN.........................................................84 COMPARABLE 1: CLIVEDEN.......................................................................................................................86 COMPARABLE 2: WYCK.............................................................................................................................91 COMPARABLE 3: GRUMBLETHORPE...........................................................................................................98 CONCLUSION ...........................................................................................................................................105 CHAPTER SIX: TREATMENT AND RECOMMENDATIONS............................ 107 TREATMENT ............................................................................................................................................108 RECOMMENDATIONS ...............................................................................................................................110 CONCLUSION ...........................................................................................................................................117 BIBLIOGRAPHIC RESOURCES.............................................................................. 119 iv APPENDIX A. EXISTING PLAN............................................................................... 129 APPENDIX B. HISTORIC FIRE INSURANCE MAPS .......................................... 131 APPENDIX C. HISTORIC PLANTING PLANS...................................................... 141 APPENDIX D. HISTORIC PHOTOS ........................................................................ 145 APPENDIX E. EVOLUTIONARY DIAGRAMS...................................................... 167 APPENDIX F. VEGETATION ................................................................................... 176 INDEX............................................................................................................................ 183 v TABLE OF FIGURES FIGURE 1. LOCATION OF DESHLER-MORRIS PROPERTY IN PHILADELPHIA ......................... 47 FIGURE 2. VIEW AFTER ENTRANCE FROM STREET GATE. .................................................... 49 FIGURE 3. ORIENTATION MAP OF DESHLER-MORRIS LANDSCAPE ...................................... 52 FIGURE 4. A VIEW OF THE FRONT SECTION, FACING NORTHEAST........................................ 53 FIGURE 5. TREES AND BUSHES IN THE ASHMEAD SECTION OF THE PROPERTY, FACING SOUTH. ....................................................................................................................... 56 FIGURE 6. ~250 YEAR OLD BEECH TREE, POSSIBLY STRUCK BY LIGHTNING, FACING NORTH. ................................................................................................................................... 58 FIGURE 7. SICK ENGLISH BOXWOOD, FACING NORTH. ....................................................... 60 FIGURE 8. ~250YR OLD GINKGO TREE, FACING SOUTH....................................................... 61 FIGURE 9. THE COLD FRAME,ENGLISH YEW AND WHITE OAK, FACING NORTHWEST. ....... 64 FIGURE 10. THE OUTHOUSE AND THE KOREAN DOGWOOD TREES, FACING NORTHWEST.... 65 FIGURE 11. THE HERB GARDEN, FACING SOUTHWEST........................................................ 66 FIGURE 12. WEEPING CEDAR AND ROSE GARDEN BEHIND IT, FACING NORTH..................... 68 FIGURE 13. GRAVEL DRIVEWAY ........................................................................................ 71 FIGURE