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Germantown White House

March 19, 2023

The Germantown White House (also known as the Deshler–Morris House) is a historic mansion in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is the oldest surviving presidential residence, having twice housed Founding Father George Washington during his presidency.

Germantown White House
Location5442 Germantown Avenue
Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Coordinates40°2′1.6″N 75°10′18.4″W / 40.033778°N 75.171778°W / 40.033778; -75.171778Coordinates: 40°2′1.6″N 75°10′18.4″W / 40.033778°N 75.171778°W / 40.033778; -75.171778
Area< 1-acre (4,000 m2)
Built1752
ArchitectDavid Deshler
NRHP reference No.72000095[1]
Added to NRHPJanuary 13, 1972

Construction and ownership

The house's alternate name comes from its first and last owners: David Deshler, who built it beginning in 1752; and Elliston P. Morris, who donated it to the National Park Service in 1948.

 
The rear of the house shows the earliest construction.

Deshler, a merchant, bought a 2-acre (8,100 m2) lot from George and Anna Bringhurst in 1751–52, and constructed a four-room summer cottage. Twenty years later he built a 3-story, 9-room addition to the front, creating one of the most elegant homes in the region.

Isaac Franks, a former colonel in the Continental Army, bought the house following Deshler's 1792 death. It was he who rented it to President Washington.

Later, the house was sold to Elliston and John Perot, and in 1834 to Elliston's son-in-law, Samuel B. Morris. The Morris family lived in the house for over a hundred years, before its 1948 donation to the National Park Service.

History

Revolutionary War

On October 4, 1777, it was a scene of fighting in the Battle of Germantown, after which British General Sir William Howe occupied the house.

1793

When the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 struck Philadelphia, President Washington remained in the city until September, before making his regular autumn trip home to Mount Vernon. He and a small group of slaves returned in early November, but Philadelphia was under quarantine and they were rerouted to Germantown, then ten miles (16 km) outside the city.[2]

He first occupied the Dove House, the headmaster's residence for Germantown Academy (now extensively altered and part of Pennsylvania School for the Deaf). He also traveled to Reading, Pennsylvania, 60 miles (97 km) northwest of the city, to see if it would make a suitable emergency capital.

Returning to Germantown, from November 16 to 30, he occupied the Isaac Franks house. His wife Martha, two of her grandchildren, Eleanor Parke Custis and George Washington Parke Custis, and more of their slaves and staff joined him late in the stay.

1794

The following September and October, Washington and his family returned to the Franks house for vacation, although he left early to deal with the Whiskey Rebellion in Western Pennsylvania. He met there four times with his cabinet: Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of Treasury Alexander Hamilton, Attorney General Edmund Randolph, and Secretary of War Henry Knox. The President posed for painter Gilbert Stuart, who kept a studio nearby, and the family attended the German Reformed Church across the square.

Four slaves were held by the Washingtons at the Franks house: Oney Judge, Austin (her brother), Moll, and Hercules.

Preservation

 
Restored second floor dining room

The house is administered by Independence National Historical Park. In 1972, the house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The house is also a contributing property of the Colonial Germantown Historic District. In 2009, the National Park Service changed the official name of the house from the "Deshler-Morris House" to the "Germantown White House."

Bringhurst House

The Bringhurst House, neighboring the Germantown White House on the northwest, was originally owned by John Bringhurst (February 19, 1725 – March 18, 1795), a carriage builder and inventor of the Germantown Wagon; in 1780 he built a carriage for George Washington. His estate consisted of 19 acres (7.7 ha) in Germantown, and was eventually split up by his heirs. Today, near the current historic site, Bringhurst Street is a street named after him which lies on the edge of his former land.[3]

Lieutenant Colonel John Bird was lying sick in the Bringhurst House when the American army attacked on the morning of October 4, 1777. Bird arose from bed to lead his men, but was mortally wounded in the battle. Although a surgeon tried to treat him in Melchoir Meng's house situated on what is now a part of Vernon Park, he was carried back to the Bringhurst House, where he died.[3]

In 1973, the Bringhurst house was donated to the National Park Service from the Germantown Savings Bank in order to "assure access, light, and air for the historic structure". The Bringhurst property is currently in the process of conversion into an exhibition space and welcome center for the Germantown White House landscape.[4]

See also

References

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Germantown White House.
  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2007-01-23.
  2. ^ Philadelphia County, including Germantown, was absorbed into the City of Philadelphia in 1854.
  3. ^ a b Garber, John Palmer; Keyser, Naaman Henry; Henry Kain, C.; McCann, Horace Ferdinand (2008-10-17). History of Old Germantown.
  4. ^ Van Allen, Peter (September 7, 2007). "Five Million Dollars to be spent to preserve historic sites in Germantown". Philadelphia Business Journal.

Further reading

  • Minardi, Joseph M. Historic Architecture in Northwest Philadelphia: 1690–1930s. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing, 2011.
  • Marion, John Francis, Bicentennial City: Walking Tours of Historic Philadelphia. Princeton: The Pyne Press, 1974.
  • Jenkins, Charles F., The Guide Book to Historic Germantown. Germantown Historical Society, 1973.
  • Jenkins, Charles F., Washington in Germantown. Philadelphia: Canterbury Press, 1905.
  • "Deshler–Morris House." National Park Service brochure. Independence National Historical Park.

External links

March 19, 2023
germantown, white, house, also, known, deshler, morris, house, historic, mansion, germantown, section, philadelphia, pennsylvania, oldest, surviving, presidential, residence, having, twice, housed, founding, father, george, washington, during, presidency, nati. The Germantown White House also known as the Deshler Morris House is a historic mansion in the Germantown section of Philadelphia Pennsylvania It is the oldest surviving presidential residence having twice housed Founding Father George Washington during his presidency Germantown White HouseU S National Register of Historic PlacesU S National Historic Landmark DistrictContributing PropertyShow map of PhiladelphiaShow map of PennsylvaniaShow map of the United StatesLocation5442 Germantown AvenueGermantown Philadelphia Pennsylvania United StatesCoordinates40 2 1 6 N 75 10 18 4 W 40 033778 N 75 171778 W 40 033778 75 171778 Coordinates 40 2 1 6 N 75 10 18 4 W 40 033778 N 75 171778 W 40 033778 75 171778Area lt 1 acre 4 000 m2 Built1752ArchitectDavid DeshlerNRHP reference No 72000095 1 Added to NRHPJanuary 13 1972 Contents 1 Construction and ownership 2 History 2 1 Revolutionary War 2 2 1793 2 3 1794 3 Preservation 4 Bringhurst House 5 See also 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksConstruction and ownership EditThe house s alternate name comes from its first and last owners David Deshler who built it beginning in 1752 and Elliston P Morris who donated it to the National Park Service in 1948 The rear of the house shows the earliest construction Deshler a merchant bought a 2 acre 8 100 m2 lot from George and Anna Bringhurst in 1751 52 and constructed a four room summer cottage Twenty years later he built a 3 story 9 room addition to the front creating one of the most elegant homes in the region Isaac Franks a former colonel in the Continental Army bought the house following Deshler s 1792 death It was he who rented it to President Washington Later the house was sold to Elliston and John Perot and in 1834 to Elliston s son in law Samuel B Morris The Morris family lived in the house for over a hundred years before its 1948 donation to the National Park Service History EditRevolutionary War Edit On October 4 1777 it was a scene of fighting in the Battle of Germantown after which British General Sir William Howe occupied the house 1793 Edit When the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 struck Philadelphia President Washington remained in the city until September before making his regular autumn trip home to Mount Vernon He and a small group of slaves returned in early November but Philadelphia was under quarantine and they were rerouted to Germantown then ten miles 16 km outside the city 2 He first occupied the Dove House the headmaster s residence for Germantown Academy now extensively altered and part of Pennsylvania School for the Deaf He also traveled to Reading Pennsylvania 60 miles 97 km northwest of the city to see if it would make a suitable emergency capital Returning to Germantown from November 16 to 30 he occupied the Isaac Franks house His wife Martha two of her grandchildren Eleanor Parke Custis and George Washington Parke Custis and more of their slaves and staff joined him late in the stay 1794 Edit The following September and October Washington and his family returned to the Franks house for vacation although he left early to deal with the Whiskey Rebellion in Western Pennsylvania He met there four times with his cabinet Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson Secretary of Treasury Alexander Hamilton Attorney General Edmund Randolph and Secretary of War Henry Knox The President posed for painter Gilbert Stuart who kept a studio nearby and the family attended the German Reformed Church across the square Four slaves were held by the Washingtons at the Franks house Oney Judge Austin her brother Moll and Hercules Preservation Edit Restored second floor dining room The house is administered by Independence National Historical Park In 1972 the house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places The house is also a contributing property of the Colonial Germantown Historic District In 2009 the National Park Service changed the official name of the house from the Deshler Morris House to the Germantown White House Bringhurst House EditThe Bringhurst House neighboring the Germantown White House on the northwest was originally owned by John Bringhurst February 19 1725 March 18 1795 a carriage builder and inventor of the Germantown Wagon in 1780 he built a carriage for George Washington His estate consisted of 19 acres 7 7 ha in Germantown and was eventually split up by his heirs Today near the current historic site Bringhurst Street is a street named after him which lies on the edge of his former land 3 Lieutenant Colonel John Bird was lying sick in the Bringhurst House when the American army attacked on the morning of October 4 1777 Bird arose from bed to lead his men but was mortally wounded in the battle Although a surgeon tried to treat him in Melchoir Meng s house situated on what is now a part of Vernon Park he was carried back to the Bringhurst House where he died 3 In 1973 the Bringhurst house was donated to the National Park Service from the Germantown Savings Bank in order to assure access light and air for the historic structure The Bringhurst property is currently in the process of conversion into an exhibition space and welcome center for the Germantown White House landscape 4 See also Edit Philadelphia portalPresident s House Philadelphia Washington s executive mansion 1790 1797 List of residences of presidents of the United States Oney Judge enslaved maid of Martha Washington Hercules chef enslaved cook for Washington s presidential household Tobias Lear V Washington s secretary Wyck HouseReferences Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Germantown White House National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service 2007 01 23 Philadelphia County including Germantown was absorbed into the City of Philadelphia in 1854 a b Garber John Palmer Keyser Naaman Henry Henry Kain C McCann Horace Ferdinand 2008 10 17 History of Old Germantown Van Allen Peter September 7 2007 Five Million Dollars to be spent to preserve historic sites in Germantown Philadelphia Business Journal Further reading EditMinardi Joseph M Historic Architecture in Northwest Philadelphia 1690 1930s Atglen PA Schiffer Publishing 2011 Marion John Francis Bicentennial City Walking Tours of Historic Philadelphia Princeton The Pyne Press 1974 Jenkins Charles F The Guide Book to Historic Germantown Germantown Historical Society 1973 Jenkins Charles F Washington in Germantown Philadelphia Canterbury Press 1905 Deshler Morris House National Park Service brochure Independence National Historical Park External links EditGermantown White House at the National Park Service Article at UShistory org Historic American Buildings Survey HABS No PA 1683 Deshler Morris House 5 photos 1 photo caption page Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Germantown White House amp oldid 1141133144, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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