File:Ancient and modern Germantown, Mount Airy and Chestnut Hill (1889) (14777924451).jpg

Identifier: ancientmodernger01hotc (find matches)
Title: Ancient and modern Germantown, Mount Airy and Chestnut Hill
Year: 1889 (1880s)
Authors: Hotchkin, Samuel Fitch, 1833-1912
Subjects:
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa., P. W. Ziegler & co.
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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act that Peter Kalm, the Swedish traveler, noticed the picturesque and usefulspring-houses of Pennsylvania in 1748. He visited Germantown, however,long before the building of this house. In Delaware and Chester counties, the spring-house is indeed a pretty feature,and a tavern near Gwynedd is called The Spring-house; but it looks quaintto see one in a busy street, and it appears lonesome, like a ship on dry land.Still it is well that it remains as a touch of coiintry life, and the willow overit may be a descendant of that first willow twig which Dr. Franklin gave toDeborah Norris, afterwards Deborah Logan. A little stream runs through thelawn. As the stream and spring-house occupy the front of the grounds therailing is unbroken by a drive, and the entrance is at the side. Jhis helps theeffect in leaving an unobstructed country grass plot. By the upper side of the carriage way a board walk leads alongside a hedgeto the mansion which lies some distance back from the street. The sun dial
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GERMANTOWN. 15 still does duty in front of the main door of the house on the lawn. It is apleasant relic of former dajs and old time customs. It has also its lesson ofcontent, as it marks the shining hours and skips the clouldy ones, in accordwith the insicription once placed on such an object, I mark only the hoursthat shine. It rests sweet!)^ at night. It also tells of the vast importance oftime. A sun dial at the English University of Oxford has the Latin legendHoraep&ieunt et imputantur. The hours perish and are laid to account.The house is of stone, two stories high, with basement. The stone shows intlie front of the basement, but is whitened in the upper stories. A flight ofstone steps leads to the front door. This door has a carved pillar on each sideand is surrounded with an ornamented frame of woodwork, terminating in asquare finish above, which, however, has an arched window underneath it.The roof is cut off at both ends so that the ridge is shortened. A triangularfront

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