Eisner-Keilsohn House MIHP # PG:67- College Park, Prince George's County, MD 1952 Private

Capsule Summary

The Eisner-Keilsohn House is located at 6209 Pontiac Street in College Park, Maryland.

Constructed in 1952, it is a 2,397 square-foot two-story brick and frame dwelling of Modern or

Contemporary design. Although the architect of the building is not known, it exhibits many of

the signature features of the split-level subtype of Contemporary or Modern residential design

of the 1950s, including a low pitched roof with front facing gable, large overhanging eaves,

large expanses of windows, exposed supporting roof beams. lack of decorative details and

contrasting wall materials and textures.

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Maryland Historical Trust Inventory No. PG:67- Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties Form

1. Name of Property (indicate preferred name) historic Eisner-Keilsohn House

other

2. Location street and number 6209 Pontiac Street not for publication city, town College Park vicinity county Prince George’s 3. Owner of Property (give names and mailing addresses of all owners) name Jason A. Lunn street and number 6209 Pontiac Street telephone city, town College Park state MD zip code 20740 4. Location of Legal Description courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Prince George’s County Register of Deeds liber: 18966 folio:686 city, town Upper Marlboro, MD tax map 034 tax parcel 0021 tax ID number 2351716 5. Primary Location of Additional Data Contributing Resource in National Register District Contributing Resource in Local Historic District Determined Eligible for the National Register/Maryland Register Determined Ineligible for the National Register/Maryland Register Recorded by HABS/HAER Historic Structure Report or Research Report at MHT X Other: Historic Preservation Section, Prince George’s County Planning Department, M-NCPPC 6. Classification

Category Ownership Current Function Resource Count district public agriculture landscape Contributing Noncontributing X building(s) X private commerce/trade recreation/culture 1 1 buildings structure both defense religion sites site X domestic social structures object education transportation objects funerary work in progress 1 1 Total government unknown health care vacant/not in use Number of Contributing Resources industry other: previously listed in the Inventory 0

7. Description Inventory No. PG:67-

Condition

excellent deteriorated X good ruins fair altered

Prepare both a one paragraph summary and a comprehensive description of the resource and its various elements as it exists today.

The Eisner-Keilsohn House is located on a 0.28-acre lot in College Park, Maryland. It is located in the residential neighborhood of Berwyn Heights at 6209 Pontiac Street, about 500 feet west of Kenilworth Avenue. Constructed in 1952, it is a 2,397 square-foot, two-story, brick and frame dwelling of Modern or Contemporary design. Although the architect of the building is not known, it exhibits many of the signature features of the split-level subtype of Contemporary or Modern residential design of the 1950s, including a low-pitched roof with front facing gable having exposed supporting roof beams, large overhanging eaves, large expanses of windows, lack of decorative details and contrasting wall materials and textures.

The house is accessed from a driveway shared with 6207 Pontiac Street to the west. The house is a split-level dwelling set on a brick foundation having Flemish headers separated by six stretcher courses. The house is composed of three sections unified by a low-pitched front-gabled roof with large overhanging eaves. The most visible section of the house is the two-story block at the northwest corner facing the entrance drive and Pontiac Street. This section contains a roughly nine-foot high brick lower section with a shallow projecting second-story frame section that is cantilevered over the brick wall. The second story is clad with wide vertical cypress board siding.

The north façade of the main section has no windows on the first story. The second story of the north façade has a rectangular projecting bay centered beneath the roof ridge that is nearly filled with a grouping of nine large windows, the center windows are fixed and the outer windows are operable casements. The west façade of the first story on the main section has two, double-sliding windows set near each corner and a central double-hung sash. On the second story, the window pattern is reversed, with a sliding window sash centered within a projecting bay with two double-hung sashes near the corners.

The slope of the main section's gable roof continues down the east side covering a one-story section that has a recessed front porch. The front door is accessed from a twelve-foot wide concrete staircase leading to the concrete porch. The main entrance to the house is on the east side of the main section and is accessed from the porch. The front entrance consists of a modern steel clad entrance door set into the original wood frame comprised of large molded wood casing. The porch roof is supported by three painted square steel posts. The porch ceiling is clad with rectangular boards edged with small lath. The front wall of the northeast section of the house is nearly a complete wall of windows consisting of upper and lower bands of fixed rectangular sashes with a central large fixed pane between them. Completing the rectangle on each side of the central fixed pane is a pair of casement windows. There are no windows punctuating the east façade of this section of the house.

The third section extends southward towards the rear, or south façade of the house. This two-story section consists of brick walls with large expanses of windows on both the south and east façades, and is clad with vertical cypress siding above its brick foundation on the west façade. The cypress siding on the west façade acts as a unifying element for the main section and the rear section on this side. The east façade has a block of windows centered within its brick wall. The upper part of the block contains four equally large fixed rectangular sashes. Below these, the two northernmost windows are paired casements. The remaining windows consist of two fixed panes, one of which may have been modified from its original appearance as it appears to have been shortened to accommodate an air-conditioning unit. At the southeast corner of the rear of the house, a band of windows wraps around the corner at the roofline towards the rear, or south façade of the house, terminating at a massive brick chimney. Larger windows of this band are capped with smaller trapezoidal windows that follow the pitch of the roof. A small shed-roof storage area has been added to the house's southeast corner. It is a frame structure with shed roof and T-111 plywood siding.

The remainder of the rear, or south façade of the house consists of a large expanse of windows extending from the southwest corner and continuing to the chimney. Lower windows are fixed panes flanking central casements, while two upper bands of fixed windows terminate at the roofline. Three massive roof support beams extend through the south Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. PG:67- Historic Properties Form

Eisner-Keilsohn House Continuation Sheet

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façade of the house and support a wide gable overhang. A rear concrete porch begins at the chimney and wraps around the southwest corner of the house. The west façade of the rear section has a shed roof supported by painted square steel posts covering the secondary entrance near the southwest corner. Near the roofline on the west façade is a continuous band of eight windows. Six of the windows are fixed and the two northernmost sashes are casements. North of the porch at the first story level is a band of three double-hung windows.

Integrity

The Eisner-Keilsohn House retains a high degree of integrity of location, setting, and association. The location and setting remains the small residential 0.28-acre lot within the Berwyn Heights subdivision. The design of the Eisner- Keilsohn House remains largely unaltered and continues to reflect its historic function as a single-family residence. The vertical wood siding, brick, original windows, concrete porch floors, exposed roof support beams and steel porch posts, are in most cases as originally installed. The house has been well maintained, preserving integrity of materials, design, workmanship and feeling.

8. Significance Inventory No. PG:67- Period Areas of Significance Check and justify below

1600-1699 agriculture economics health/medicine performing arts 1700-1799 archeology education industry philosophy 1800-1899 X architecture engineering invention politics/government X 1900-1999 art entertainment/ landscape architecture religion 2000- commerce recreation law science communications ethnic heritage literature social history community planning exploration/ maritime history transportation conservation settlement military other:

Specific dates 1952 Architect/Builder

Construction dates 1952

Evaluation for:

National Register X Maryland Register not evaluated

Prepare a one-paragraph summary statement of significance addressing applicable criteria, followed by a narrative discussion of the history of the resource and its context. (For compliance projects, complete evaluation on a DOE Form – see manual.)

Statement of Significance

The Eisner-Keilsohn House is significant as an intact example of post-World War II Modern Movement residential architecture. Constructed in 1952, it is a 2,397 square-foot, two-story brick and frame dwelling of Modern or Contemporary design. Although the architect of the building is not known, it exhibits many of the signature features of the split-level subtype of Contemporary or Modern residential design of the 1950s, including a low pitched roof with front facing gable, large overhanging eaves, large expanses of windows, exposed supporting roof beams. lack of decorative details and contrasting wall materials and textures. The Eisner-Keilsohn House retains a high degree of integrity of materials, design, workmanship, feeling, location, setting, and association.

Historical Narrative

Berwyn Heights grew as a streetcar suburb of Washington during the late-nineteenth century. Originally known as Charlton Heights, the community is located about eight miles northeast of Washington, D.C. Edward Graves created a subdivision called Charlton Heights in 1888 of about 380 acres. Some of the earliest houses were mail-order plan houses. In 1896 the subdivision was incorporated and re-named the Town of Berwyn Heights. The Berwyn name is believed to be taken from a Presbyterian chapel constructed in 1890 in Central Heights. Although Berwyn Heights grew in the early-twentieth century due to its location along improving transportation routes including the new streetcar line, real growth came after World War II (1941-1945). Between 1924–1955, the number of houses in Berwyn Heights grew from 65 to 316 and by 1970 Berwyn Heights was fully developed and today has approximately 3,000 residents and 1,000 dwellings. Berwyn Heights contains a collection of popular late-nineteenth and early- twentieth-century residential architectural styles, including Queen Anne, Stick, Second Empire, Colonial Revival, Craftsman, Dutch Colonial Revival, and numerous illustrations from the Modern Movement.1

Immigrants from Russia, Bernard and Sarah Keilsohn first lived in Connecticut and had moved to New York by 1920 according to Census records.2 Daughter Lillian Keilsohn was born in Connecticut and received a law degree from Columbia University in New York. Her brother Meyer was born in New York. The two lived in Los Angeles with their

1 The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Prince George’s County Planning Department, Approved Historic Sites and Districts Plan for Prince George’s County, June 2010. Page 211. 2 1920 Federal Population Census Records for Los Angeles City, Los Angeles County, California. U.S. Bureau of the Census, Washington, D.C Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. PG:67- Historic Properties Form

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mother, Sarah Keilsohn during the late 1930s and early 1940s.3 Although not listed in the 1940 census, the Los Angeles city directory for 1941 lists Meyer as a "studio worker" living with Sarah and Lillian. Lillian was admitted to the California Bar in May of 1939. In the 1940s, she married Dr. William Eisner and moved to Maryland, while maintaining a law office at her home in Greenbelt, Maryland.4 Dr. William Eisner took a position as physician for the Greenbelt Health Association in 1942.5 He continued in this position until 1949 but was still practicing and living in Greenbelt in 1960.6 In 1952, Lillian and her mother Sarah purchased Lot 21 in Block 34 of the Berwyn Heights Subdivision from Gershon P. and Aurelia E. Bickford and had the house constructed soon after.7 It does not appear that Dr. Eisner ever lived in the house with Lillian, however, no divorce record could be located for the couple. According to interviews with neighbors, at different times, Sarah, Lillian and Meyer all lived in the house.8

In 1974, Lillian Eisner sold the house to her brother, Meyer Keilsohn.9 Meyer was an architect who specialized in designing theatres for both stage and motion pictures.10 Meyer Keilsohn is thought to have been the architect of the house.11 Meyer had apparently worked in movie studios in Los Angeles and now owned and operated several art theaters with partners including John G. Broumas who built the Wheaton Plaza Playhouse in 1962. The pair also built the Andrews Manor Theater in the Andrews Manor Shopping Center in 1964.12 Meyer owned and operated the Little and Plaza theaters in Washington, DC during the 1950s.13 Both theaters are now demolished. In 2003, following the passing of Meyer Keilsohn, his property was sold to Jason A. Lunn who currently owns the property.14

3 1940 Federal Population Census Records for Los Angeles City, Los Angeles County, California. U.S. Bureau of the Census, Washington, D.C. 4 http://members.calbar.ca.gov/fal/MemberSearch/QuickSearch?FreeText=ei; Greenbelt Cooperator, Greenbelt, Maryland, Friday, January 2, 1948. Page 3. 5 Greenbelt Cooperator, Greenbelt, Maryland, Friday, January 23, 1942. Page 1. 6 Greenbelt Cooperator, Greenbelt, Maryland, Thursday, November 10, 1949. Page 1; Greenbelt News Review, Greenbelt, Maryland, July 21, 1960. Page 2. 7 Land Records of Prince George’s County, " Gershon P. and Aurelia E. Bickford to Sarah Keilsohn and Lillian Eisner," Liber 1559/17. 8 Richardson, Cole. "Meyer Keilsohn." Voicemail to Tyler Smith. 23 Sept. 2016. 9 Land Records of Prince George’s County, "Lillian Eisner and Sarah Keilsohn (deceased) to Meyer Keilsohn," Liber 4391/334. 10 "Guide to the Meyer Keilsohn Photographs1960s-1970sMG 1626. New Jersey Historical Society, 2004. Web. 09 Jan. 2017. 11 Frietag, Jante. “Meyer Keilsohn’s House in Berwyn Heights.” Message to Tyler Smith. 22. Sept. 2016. E-mail. 12 "New Suburban Movie House." The Washington Post, Sept. 11, 1964: D8. 13 “Film Council to Discuss Art Movies Wednesday.” The Washington Post, Jan. 8, 1952: B1. 14 Land Records of Prince George’s County, "Steven Rosen, Personal Representative of the Estate of Meyer Keilsohn to Jason A. Lunn," Liber 18966/686.

Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. PG:67- Historic Properties Form

Eisner-Keilsohn House Continuation Sheet

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Chain of Title

18966:686 Steven Rosen, Personal Representative of the Estate of Meyer Keilsohn to Jason December 4, 2003 A. Lunn 4391:334 Lillian Eisner and Sarah Keilsohn (deceased) to Meyer Keilsohn April 16, 1974 1559:17 Gershon P. Bickford and wife Aurelia E. Bickford to Sarah Keilsohn and Lillian October 2, 1952 Eisner 361:411 M.F.Burton (C.H. Stein, S.H. Moyer, C.F. Worden, E.J. Taylor and E.C. May 18, 1931 Corkhill) to G.P Bickford: "...Lots 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 21, 28, 29, 32, 33, 34, 35, 38, 39, & 40 Block 34...Subdivision formally known as Charlton Heights now known as Berwyn Heights" among many other lots in Berwyn Heights.

Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. PG:67- Historic Properties Form

Eisner-Keilsohn House Continuation Sheet

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Source: Jason Lunn

Photograph of Eisner-Keilsohn House in 1971. Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. PG:67- Historic Properties Form

Eisner-Keilsohn House Continuation Sheet

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Source: Jason Lunn

Photograph of Eisner-Keilsohn House in 1973.

Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. PG:67- Historic Properties Form

Eisner-Keilsohn House Continuation Sheet

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Source: Jason Lunn

Interior Photograph of Eisner-Keilsohn House in 1962. Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. PG:67- Historic Properties Form

Eisner-Keilsohn House Continuation Sheet

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Source: Jason Lunn

Interior Photograph of Eisner-Keilsohn House in 1963. Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. PG:67- Historic Properties Form

Eisner-Keilsohn House Continuation Sheet

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Source: Jason Lunn

Interior Photograph of Eisner-Keilsohn House in 1963. Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. PG:67- Historic Properties Form

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Source: Jason Lunn

Photograph of Rear Yard of Eisner-Keilsohn House in 1964.

9. Major Bibliographical References Inventory No. PG:67-

See Continuation Sheet

10. Geographical Data

Acreage of surveyed property 0.28 Acreage of historical setting 0.28 Quadrangle name Washington East Quadrangle scale: 7.5-minute

Verbal boundary description and justification

The boundaries for the Eisner-Keilsohn House coincide with boundaries of Lot 21 in Block 34 of the Berwyn Heights Subdivision. The lot size (0.28 acres or 12,250 square feet) remains intact in its original size and shape since the purchase of the land and subsequent construction of the house in 1952.

11. Form Prepared by

name/title David C. Berg, Architectural Historian and Tyler Smith, Historic Preservation Specialist organization The Ottery Group, Inc. date 10/31/2016 street & number 3910 Knowles Avenue telephone (301) 946–0219 city or town Kensington state Maryland

The Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties was officially created by an Act of the Maryland Legislature to be found in the Annotated Code of Maryland, Article 41, Section 181 KA, 1974 supplement.

The survey and inventory are being prepared for information and record purposes only and do not constitute any infringement of individual property rights.

return to: Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Department of Planning 100 Community Place Crownsville, MD 21032-2023 410-514-7600

Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. PG:67- Historic Properties Form

Eisner-Keilsohn House Continuation Sheet

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Frietag, Jante. “Meyer Keilsohn’s House in Berwyn Heights.” Message to Tyler Smith. 22. Sept. 2016. E-mail.

"Guide to the Meyer Keilsohn Photographs1960s-1970sMG 1626." Guide to the Meyer Keilsohn Photographs1960s- 1970s MG 1626. New Jersey Historical Society, 2004. Web. 09 Jan. 2017.

Lunn, Jason. Photographs of the Eisner-Keilsohn House, 1962 through 1973. Sent via email to Tyler Smith, 20. March 2017.

Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation, Real Property Data Search: http://sdat.dat.maryland.gov/RealProperty/Pages/default.aspx.

Richardson, Cole. "Meyer Keilsohn." Voicemail to Tyler Smith. 23 Sept. 2016.

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Prince George’s County Planning Department, Approved Historic Sites and Districts Plan for Prince George’s County, June 2010. Page 211.

Prince Georges County Deeds:

18966:686, December 4, 2003. Steven Rosen, Personal Representative of the Estate of Meyer Keilsohn to Jason A. Lunn.

4391:334, April 16, 1974. Lillian Eisner and Sarah Keilsohn (deceased) to Meyer Keilsohn.

1559:17, October 3, 1952. Gershon P. Bickford and wife Aurelia E. Bickford to Sarah Keilsohn and Lillian Eisner.

361:411, May 18, 1931. M.F.Burton (C.H. Stein, S.H. Moyer, C.F. Worden, E.J. Taylor and E.C. Corkhill) to G.P Bickford.

United States Geological Survey (USGS) Washington East, District of Columbia - Maryland. 7.5-minute quadrangle. Denver: United States Geological Survey, 2011.

Websites http://members.calbar.ca.gov/fal/MemberSearch/QuickSearch?FreeText=ei " Lillian Keilsohn Eisner admitted to bar May 1939 Scottsdale CA." (Accessed December 30, 2016.)

Newspapers

The Washington Post

“Film Council to Discuss Art Movies Wednesday.” Jan. 8, 1952: Page B1. Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. PG:67- Historic Properties Form

Eisner-Keilsohn House Continuation Sheet

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"New Suburban Movie House." Sept. 11, 1964: Page D8.

Greenbelt Cooperator, Greenbelt, Maryland

"Dr. Elinor Harvey And Dr. W. Eisner Join Medical Staff", Friday, January 23, 1942. Page 1.

"Local Residents Admitted to Bar", Friday, January 2, 1948. Page 3.

"Council Authorizes New City Solicitor; Eisner No Longer Public Health Doctor", November 10, 1949. Page 1.

Greenbelt News Review, Greenbelt, Maryland

"Police News Review", July 21, 1960. Page 2.