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Woodford (mansion)
Encyclopedia
Woodford is a historic mansion in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
.
Built in 1756, Woodford is the first of the great, opulent, late-Georgian mansions to be erected in the Philadelphia area. Woodford was built on 12 acres (48,562.3 m²) of land as a 1½-story summer residence by William Coleman
, a wealthy merchant and justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
Upon Coleman's death in 1769, the house was sold to Alexander Barclay
, a Quaker who served as His Majesty's Customs Comptroller for the port of Philadelphia.
Upon Barclay's death in 1771, the house was bought by his brother-in-law, David Franks
, who in 1772 added a second story and a kitchen wing, enlarging the house to almost its present size.
In 1778, Franks, a staunch loyalist
, was arrested and ordered to leave. He took his family to New York
, and transferred the property to Thomas Paschall in settlement of a debt. Paschall is believed never to have lived at the house, but rented it out. He sold it to Isaac Wharton in 1793.
In 1869, the city bought Woodford from Wharton's heirs to add to Fairmount Park
. The house served as the home of the Park's Chief Engineer and Supervisor, and later, in 1912, as the Park Guard headquarters and traffic court.
The building was restored, commencing in 1927, and in 1930, it was opened to the public as a house museum, which it remains today. It houses, under the direction of the Philadelphia Museum of Art
, the Naomi Wood collection of antique household goods, including Colonial furniture, unusual clocks, and English delftware.
Woodford was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1967. It is a contributing property
of the Fairmount Park Historic District
.
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
Built in 1756, Woodford is the first of the great, opulent, late-Georgian mansions to be erected in the Philadelphia area. Woodford was built on 12 acres (48,562.3 m²) of land as a 1½-story summer residence by William Coleman
William Coleman (judge)
William Coleman was a lawyer, municipal official, and judge in colonial Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.He was born in Philadelphia, where he was educated and studied law...
, a wealthy merchant and justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
Upon Coleman's death in 1769, the house was sold to Alexander Barclay
Alexander Barclay
Dr Alexander Barclay was an English/Scottish poet.-Biography:Barclay was born in about 1476. His place of birth is matter of dispute, but William Bulleyn, who was a native of Ely, and probably knew him when he was in the monastery there, asserts that he was born "beyonde the cold river of Twede"...
, a Quaker who served as His Majesty's Customs Comptroller for the port of Philadelphia.
Upon Barclay's death in 1771, the house was bought by his brother-in-law, David Franks
David Franks (loyalist)
David Franks was a loyalist in the war of the American Revolution.-Biography:...
, who in 1772 added a second story and a kitchen wing, enlarging the house to almost its present size.
In 1778, Franks, a staunch loyalist
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
, was arrested and ordered to leave. He took his family to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and transferred the property to Thomas Paschall in settlement of a debt. Paschall is believed never to have lived at the house, but rented it out. He sold it to Isaac Wharton in 1793.
In 1869, the city bought Woodford from Wharton's heirs to add to Fairmount Park
Fairmount Park
Fairmount Park is the municipal park system of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It consists of 63 parks, with , all overseen by the Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation, successor to the Fairmount Park Commission in 2010.-Fairmount Park proper:...
. The house served as the home of the Park's Chief Engineer and Supervisor, and later, in 1912, as the Park Guard headquarters and traffic court.
The building was restored, commencing in 1927, and in 1930, it was opened to the public as a house museum, which it remains today. It houses, under the direction of the Philadelphia Museum of Art
Philadelphia Museum of Art
The Philadelphia Museum of Art is among the largest art museums in the United States. It is located at the west end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park. The Museum was established in 1876 in conjunction with the Centennial Exposition of the same year...
, the Naomi Wood collection of antique household goods, including Colonial furniture, unusual clocks, and English delftware.
Woodford was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1967. It is a contributing property
Contributing property
In the law regulating historic districts in the United States, a contributing resource or contributing property is any building, structure, or object which adds to the historical integrity or architectural qualities that make the historic district, listed locally or federally, significant...
of the Fairmount Park Historic District
Fairmount Park
Fairmount Park is the municipal park system of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It consists of 63 parks, with , all overseen by the Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation, successor to the Fairmount Park Commission in 2010.-Fairmount Park proper:...
.
External links
- Official site
- Listing at the Fairmount Park Commission
- Listing at Philadelphia Architects and Buildings
- Listing, drawings, and photographs at the Historic American Buildings SurveyHistoric American Buildings SurveyThe Historic American Buildings Survey , Historic American Engineering Record , and Historic American Landscapes Survey are programs of the National Park Service established for the purpose of documenting historic places. Records consists of measured drawings, archival photographs, and written...
- Historic Photographs of Woodford, PhillyHistory.org