Colonial Germantown Historic District


The Colonial Germantown Historic District is a designated National Historic Landmark District in the Germantown and Mount Airy neighborhoods of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania along both sides of Germantown Avenue. This road followed an Indian path from the Delaware River just north of Old City Philadelphia, through Germantown, about 6 miles northwest of Center City Philadelphia, and on to Pottstown. Settlement in the Germantown area began, at the invitation of William Penn, in 1683 by Nederlanders and Germans under the leadership of Francis Daniel Pastorius fleeing religious persecution.
Colonial Germantown was a leader in religious thought, printing, and education. Important dates in Germantown's early history include:
The district was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1965 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. The original district included the 4500 to 6600 blocks of Germantown Avenue. In 1987 the district was expanded north to the 7600 block of Germantown Avenue, which is the southern boundary of the Chestnut Hill Historic District. The district's two parts contain 579 properties, of which 514 are considered contributing, and only 65 non-contributing. The northwest Philadelphia area, which promotes itself as "Freedom's Backyard," contains 11 historic districts listed by the National Register of Historic Places, as well as 58 separately listed properties. Eight state historical markers are located on Germantown Avenue. Nearly complete inventories prepared for the National Register of Historic Places, both for the original district and for the expanded area are available. A 1907 inventory of historic buildings in the area was printed in the "History of Old Germantown."

Selected contributing properties

in the district include the following. Even street numbers are on the west side of Germantown Avenue, odd numbers on the east. Original construction dates may be approximate.
NameImageAddressDateNote
Loudoun Mansion4650 Germantown Ave.
1801Built by Thomas Armat, additions 1829, 1850, 1888, rehab 1864. Stucco on rubble with wood trim. Federal style.
C. W. Schaeffer Public School4701 Germantown Ave.
1876Listed separately on NRHP. Three stories in stone with wood trim. Designed by L. Esler in the Italianate style.
Mehl House4821 Germantown Ave.
1744Stone with wood trim in the Federal style. Brick ell built in 1933.
Ottinger House4825 Germantown Ave.
1748Colonial and Federal styles.
Lower Burial Ground4901–21 Germantown Ave.
1692Now called Hood Cemetery.
Baroque Revival style entry gate designed in 1849 by William L. Johnston.
Baynton House5208 Germantown Ave.
1798Two and one-half stories. Brick with stone and wood trim in the Federal style.
Conyngham-Hacker House5214 Germantown Ave.1796Listed separately on the NRHP. Two and one-half stories. Stone with wood trim in the Federal style.
Howell House5218 Germantown Ave.1798Listed separately on the NRHP. Built for William Forbes. Two and one-half stories. Stone with wood trim in the Federal style.
Theobald Endt House5222 Germantown Ave.1730. Rebuilt 1802.AKA Handsberry House; built by Theobald Endt. Two and one-half stories. Stucco on stone with wood trim in the Federal style.
Bechtel House5226 Germantown Ave.1730
Rebuilt 1802		Once the home of Rev. John Bechtel. Two and one-half stories. Stone with wood trim in the Colonial style.
Grumblethorpe5267 Germantown Ave.
1744Listed separately on NRHP. Additions in 1750, 1799, 1806, 1819. Owned by John Wister, an important site during the Battle of Germantown. Stone with wood trim in the Colonial style.
Wistar's Tenant House5269 Germantown Ave.1745Listed separately on NRHP. Addition in early nineteenth century. Stone with wood trim in Colonial style.
Clarkson-Watson House5275 Germantown Ave.1745Additions/alterations in 1775, 1825, 1870, 1910. Stucco on stone with wood trim in Federal style/Colonial style.
Germantown Friends School
and Meeting House		5400 Germantown Ave.
1869Meeting founded 1690. This parcel acquired 1693 and used as a burial ground. Previous meeting houses built 1705, 1812. School founded 1845. Several school buildings on site.
Masonic Temple of Germantown5423–27 Germantown Ave.1873Additions/alterations 1915, 1920. Three stories, stone with wood trim in the Gothic Revival style
A previous house on this site was the birthplace of Louisa May Alcott.
Germantown White House
Deshler-Morris House		5442 Germantown Ave.
1772Listed separately on the NRHP. Additions/alterations 1840, 1856, 1868, 1887, 1898, 1909.
Headquarters of General Sir William Howe during October 4, 1777 Battle of Germantown.
Temporary residence of President George Washington, November 1793, and Summer 1794.
Stucco on stone with wood trim in the Federal style.
National Bank of Germantown5500–04 Germantown Ave.
1868J.C. Sidney original architect. Additions/alterations 1890, 1907, 1930. Stone with wood trim in the Renaissance Revival style.
John Fromberger House5501 Germantown Ave.
1796Multiple renovations; now houses the Germantown Historical Society. Brick with stone and wood trim in the Federal style.
S.S. Kresge Store5549-53 Germantown Ave.
Georgian Revival style
Loyal Order of Odd Fellows5615 Germantown Ave.
1860New facade 1940. Three stories in brick with stone and pressed metal in the Georgian Revival style.
C. A. Rowell Department Store5627 Germantown Ave.1949Rear section originally Germantown Trust. Georgian Revival style by architect Herbert Beidler.
First Presbyterian Church
in Germantown		5700 block Germantown Ave.
1871+Attributed to architect T. Roney Williamson, Richardson Romanesque style
Vernon-Wister House5708 Germantown Ave.
1803Federal style, purchased by John Wister, grandson of Wister at Grumblethorpe
Vernon Park branch
The Free Library of Philadelphia		5708 Germantown Ave.
1907Now housing the Center in the Park.org.
A :Category:Carnegie libraries|Carnegie Library; designed by Frank Miles Day & Brother
Germantown Townhall5900 block Germantown Ave.Never actually served as the town hall
Wyck House6026 Germantown Ave.
1690 Listed separately as a National Historic Landmark. 1824: remodeled by William Strickland
Mennonite Meetinghouse6119 Germantown Ave.
1770Listed separately on the NRHP. Congregation established in 1688 as first Mennonite church in America. One and one-half stories, stone with wood trim in the Colonial style.
John Johnson House6306 Germantown Ave.1768Listed separately as a National Historic Landmark. A stop on the Underground Railroad. After 1918, home of the Women's Club of Germantown.
Concord School House6309 Germantown Ave.
1775Possibly built by Jacob Knor. Two and one-half stories, stone with wood trim.
Upper Burial Ground6311–17 Germantown Ave.1693"Axe's Cemetery," land donated by Paul Wolfe, wall built 1777.
Cliveden6401 Germantown Ave.
1763-67Listed separately as a National Historic Landmark. Estate of Benjamin Chew, an important site during the Battle of Germantown. Built by William Knor. Two and one-half stories with wood trim in the Colonial style.
Upsala6430 Germantown Ave.
1798Listed separately on the NRHP. Two and one-half stories with wood trim in the Federal style. Rear sections perhaps built earlier.
Daniel Billmeyer House6504 Germantown Ave.
1793Listed separately on the NRHP. Stone with wood trim in the Federal style.
Michael Billmeyer House6505 Germantown Ave.
1727Listed separately on the NRHP. Stone with wood trim in the Federal and German colonial styles.
Church of the Brethren6611 Germantown Ave.
1770First Church of the Brethren in America
Winston Commons6620–24 Germantown Ave.
1895Architect William Lightfoot Price
St. Michael's Lutheran Church in Germantown6671 Germantown Ave.
1896-97The congregation has used this site at least since 1728 until the church closed in 2016.
Beggarstown School6669 Germantown Ave.
1740Listed separately on the NRHP.
Mt. Airy Presbyterian Church7108 Germantown Ave.
1880
Sedgwick Theater7133-41 Germantown Ave.
1926-1928Art Deco. William H. Lee architect.
Tourison Building7200-06 Germantown Ave.
1920sArt Deco. Tunis and Baker, architects.
Store7203 Germantown Ave.
Mt. Airy Agricultural School7331 Germantown Ave.
1792
Cresheim Cottage7402-04 Germantown Ave.
1804?
Bockius House7413 Germantown Ave.
1790-1800

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