GARDEN WINS AWARD THE RICHARD WALL HOUSE HISTORICAL MUSEUM CHAHAIRMAN’S ~ The Old York Road Garden Club was CHATTERCCC recently awarded First Place for OPEN Historic Preservation by the Garden FOURTH SUNDAY The Richard WallW House Museum, a Club Federation of Pennsylvania for OF EACH MONTH Townshipship treasure,tre could not their Colonial Herb Garden at the Wall 1 – 4 PM functionon as a civic and educational House. Pictured below during one ~ resourcerce withoutwitho support from a few mid-summer work session are (l. to r.) GROUPS BY APPOINTMENT very dedicated individuals. Thank Mary Findlay, Linda Lonsinger, Ronny you foror all you do to make this the Kosempel, and Mary Louise Ryan, all 215-887-1000 ext. 227 speciall place thatth it is, and thank you of the Garden Club. With them is Jack everyone who stewardss the building, Washington, (right) Chairman of the The Garden Club will celebrate its its legacy,gacy, and its collections. For Historical Commission. The contcontributions with a holiday season those who are docents that guide Commission is very appreciative of open house at the Wall House. See the tours,, commissioncommiss members or high the fine work done by the Club to “Eve“Events” section later in the schooll students,students your contributions in preserve this historic garden. newsnewsletter. passingg on Cheltenham’sC unique historyy to futurefu generations is greatlyy appreciated.apprecia

Theree is, however,how a great need to continueue the operation of the museum.um. Thirty-five years ago, when the Commission Commissi took over “the building,”ng,” its destinyde was to become a repositoryitory forfo Township-related treasures,res, an educationale entity, to help citizens understand the roots and growthrowth of CheltenhamC Township and itss place in the greater scheme of things as the areaare developed.

Overr time, theth Commission, which sharess the responsibilityre for the operationtion of the museum, has sponsoredored antiqueant shows, market days, holiday happenings, and outreachach programs.progra With the (Continuedd on pagep 2) ______1

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Cheltenham Personalities

[One in a series of spotlights on celebrated historical residents of Cheltenham Township.]

Phillies fans, disappointed with their team’s lackluster performance this season, who are also history buffs, may find some solace in recalling the 1915 . One hundred years ago, the Phillies finished a sparkling season as champions. It was their first pennant since their founding in 1883. Players such as Gavvy Cravath (115 RBIs), Possum MassMassachusetts team and residentsnts still rememberr the pungent Whitted, and powerful first baseman movmoved them to Philadelphia. Known atmospherephere surrounding the Fred Luderus (batting .315) led the first as the Quakers – what else. They immediatediate neighborhoodneig as a result team to a appearance. soon were renamed the Phillies as of thatat enterprise.enterp Sladkin died in

they joined the new National League 1939 and the estatee was demolished The man behind the Phillies was their of prprofessional baseball teams. and subdividedubdivided after the war. founder, Cheltenham resident Col. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ John Ignatius Rogers. Rogers was a RogeRogers was taken with the new respected Philadelphia jurist, having excluexclusive country community of [Chairman’s’s ChatterCha Continued] received his law degree from Penn WynWyncote and constructed a downturnturn in volunteersv joining the and was admitted to the bar in 1865. magnmagnificent estate on 16 acres of Commission,ission, manym of the former The military title was by virtue of his primprime ground in Wyncote obtained fund-raising events have been membership in the famed First Troop from the extensive land holdings of discontinued.ntinued. An infusion of new Philadelphia City Cavalry. His rank WhaWharton Barker in the center of appointeesntees who will devote time and was awarded when he was appointed histohistoric Olde Wyncote. Standing on energyy to the Commission is sorely Judge Advocate General of the the hillside overlooking today’s needed. Philadelphia National Guard. RobiRobinson Park on Greenwood

AvenAvenue, Dunluce contained thirty The scheduledschedul opening of the Rogers and his partner for a time, Al roomrooms, five new-fangled bathrooms, Museumum on the fourth Sunday of the Reach, purchased a struggling and a conservatory. The basement monthh was accomplishedacc throughout

contcontained a bowling alley and a the summer.ummer. In addition, several

hallmhallmark windmill and water tank speciall tours werew given. One such Cheltenham Township Historical that insured a continuous supply of tour entertained entertaine a college student Commission fresh water to the household. and herer husbandhusban who were engaged ~~~~~~~~~ in a researchesearch project.pr Another special Chairperson: Jack Washington RogeRogers died prematurely of a heart tour saw cyberschoolcyber students with Vice-Chair: Thomas Wieckowski parentsts makingmakin an extended mid- Financial Secretary: Timothy Esposito attacattack on a business trip in 1910. The estatestate was then purchased in 1918 by week afternoon visit.

Newsletter Editor: Thomas Wieckowski Max Sladkin who manufactured the Black Beauty bicycle and Ace The value of such tours is Program Chair: Louise Cohen incalculableulable andan can only continue Preservation Chair: Jim McCann motomotorcycle. Sladkin renamed the estatestate the King Fox Ranch as he raised with yourour support.suppo Jack Washingtoington, Chairman foxes on the grounds. Many old-time

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Inside the Richard Wall whwhere it remained until the present owowner, Cynthia Langsdorf Wilkinson EVENTSEV House Museum (Bl(Blanche’s niece) inherited it at age five in 1940. At that time, it was moved to heher parents’ house on Old Huntingdon ~~~~~~~~~ The Langsdorf Doll House PikPike in Huntingdon Valley, PePennsylvania. That is when it was [One of a series of articles highlighting the eleelectrified by her father Benjamin, a holdings of the museum] resresearch electrical engineer. Eventually The Cheltenham the doll house came back to Elkins Park Townshipip HarvestH Festival will be whwhen, in 1995, Cynthia brought it to held on Saturaturday, October 17, from 12 heher present home. There she repaired noon to 7:30 pm. It is held at the anand refurbished it. In November 1997, historic Curtisrtis Arboretum, Church Road the doll house was moved to its and Greenwonwood Avenue in Wyncote. prepresent home, The Richard Wall House, This traditionitional family event boasts thathanks to Cynthia’s donation. entertainmenent, food, and attractions for all. Thehe Commission will have a Among the features of the house are a table at thee event.ev fulfull attic, veranda, balcony, wall scosconces, a working toy train, fish bowls, a cradle in the sitting room, Priscilla cucurtains, petit point screens, rugs, wawater closet, baby grand pianos, harp, The Battle of Edge Hill a miniature dowry chest, and quilts. – For fourr cold col and very tense days in ThThe child’s room is even equipped with Decemberr 1777,17 two great armies a dollhouse, a replica of the actual faced one anotherano ready to do battle in LaLangsdorf dollhouse. what wouldld potentiallyp be the largest engagementnt of the American Revolution.n. LearnL about the battle at a free lecture,re, Wednesday, November One of the favorite exhibitions 11, 2015, at 7:30pm, at the Parish among visitors to the Wall House House of the Church of Our Saviour, Museum is the fascinating and intricate Homesteadd Avenue Jenkintown. Langsdorf doll house. Standing four Sponsored byb the Old York Road feet tall and almost three feet wide, the Historical Society.Soci Admission is free. house contains three stories and an attic.

The doll house was built by a OldO York Road Garden carpenter sometime between 1915 and

1920 for Blanche Langsdorf. Blanche Club Openpen House at the Wall was the daughter of cigar magnate House – The Garden Club is preparing Jacob Loeb Langsdorf. It stayed at Visit the Richard Wall House the Wall House Hou for a festive holiday Blanche’s house at 7827 Old York Road MuseMuseum to see this treasure and season withith special decorations and in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, just north manmany other interesting objects of exhibits. The Open House will be th of Ashbourne Road on the east side, local history and lore. Sunday, Deceecember 6 , 2015, from 1:00 until Blanche grew older. That was the pm to 4:0000 pm.p Visit on that day to home of Louise and Jacob Langsdorf enjoy a speciaecial tour of the historic Wall and their children, Benjamin Feller and House Museuseum with music and Blanche. refreshments.nts.

When Blanche outgrew the doll house, it was relegated to their barn

3 ______Anniversary A BIT OF HISTORY Twenty –five–––five years ago The 11 th of October 2015, is the 125 th anniversary of the By Mary Washington founding of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Founder Eugenia Washington proclaimed “We want a Cheltenham Turns Festive for Village TriTri----CCCCentennialentennial society founded on service.” With numerous projects that “Cheltenham Village Tri-Centennial celebration has been 300 are done by the chapters throughout the United States, a years in the making. Planning for the celebration took only local chapter will be donating a service project to the slightly less long it seems. Plans for the week-long celebration, Richard Wall House Museum to honor their founder. September 8 – 15, start with a parade on Saturday. The dedication of the Ashbourne Road Bridge is also scheduled at 10:00 am. The William Penn Chapter of the National Society of the Neither jet lag nor the five-hour time difference dampened the Daughters of the American Revolution will be doing two enthusiasm of four visitors from Cheltenham, England. projects in Cheltenham Township. One group of members Here to help celebrate Cheltenham Villages’ Tri-Centennial are will be at the Wall House during October doing much the mayoress, Anna Bullingham; town clerk and chief executive, needed household chores to maintain the order of the Brian Wynn; and two councillors, Daphne Pennell and Alistair building. The second group will be placing American flags at Cameron. Also William Bullingham who is the mayor.” the DAR marker at Church Road and Washington Lane. The marker commemorates the presence of Continental troops Times Chronicle - September 12, 1990 at the location during the revolution and the location of Camp William Penn on the opposite hillside during the Civil War.

The Historical Commission is very appreciative of the efforts of the Chapter. Mary Washington

BE A FRIEND OF THE WALL HOUSE Help to preserve the rich history of Cheltenham Township ______

Benefactor, $100.00 ____ Sponsor, $50.00 ____ Patron, $20.00 ____ Other ___

Name(s) ______

Street Address ______

Post Office ______Zip ______

email ______

Make check payable to Cheltenham Township Historical Commission.

Mail to: FRIENDS OF THE WALL HOUSE c/o Cheltenham Township 8230 Old York Road Elkins Park, PA 19027

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