The Dell in Fairmount Park postcards.
Title
The Dell in Fairmount Park postcards
Description
Depicts a wooded valley in Fairmount Park, just outside East Park, showing a rustic wooden bridge spanning a stream., Contains 4 postcards printed in color and 2 printed in black and white., Sheet numbers: 86A09, 86A10 and 86B05., Digitized with funding from a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012.
Creator
Brightbill, George M., collector
Date
1905-1910
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Brightbill postcards [Fairmount Park - Miscellaneous - 86]
Randolph Mansion, Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, Pa.
Title
Randolph Mansion, Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, Pa
Description
Exterior view of front facade of the colonial mansion, Laurel Hill located on Edgeley Drive at the corner of Fairmoutn Avenue. The central portion of the house was built circa 1767, the single story addition circa 1800 and the octagonal wing after 1837. Built for Rebecca Rawle and her second husband, Samuel Shoemaker. The house was purchased by physician Philip Syng Physick in 1828 and it passed to Physick's daughter Sarah Randolph who in turn sold it to the Fairmount Park Commission in 1869. The Commission used it for employee housing from 1869-1901 and then leased it to two organizations, The Colonial Dames of America and later the Women for Greater Philadelphia, who opened it to the public., Numbered 11229 on recto., Also known as Laurel Hill and Joseph Shute House., Sheet number: 81A01., Divided back., Digitized with funding from a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012.
Creator
Brightbill, George M., collector
Date
ca. 1910
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Brightbill postcards [Fairmount Park - Mansions and Houses - Miscellaneous - 81]
Lemon Hill postcards.
Title
Lemon Hill postcards
Description
Exterior views of front facade of house and entrance stairway commissioned by Henry Pratt in 1799 on land called "The Hills" by the previous owner, Robert Morris. Pratt purchased the land at a sheriff's sale after Morris claimed bankruptcy. Morris's villa had been destroyed by fire, leaving only the greenhouse, which Pratt retained when he built Lemon Hill. In 1844, several years after Pratt's death, Lemon Hill became the first mansion aqcuired by the city of Philadelphia to create a public park., Contains 6 postcards printed in color and 3 printed in black and white., Also known as the Headquarters of Colonial Dames of America, Chapter II (1957) and the Henry Pratt House., Digitized with funding from a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012.
Creator
Brightbill, George M., collector
Date
1905-1910
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Brightbill postcards [Fairmount Park - Mansions and Houses - Lemon Hill - 79]
Children's Playhouse postcards.
Title
Children's Playhouse postcards
Description
Depicts the playhouse and playground built in 1899 as a country space for city children, erected by Richard and Sarah Smith., Also known as Smith's Memorial Playhouse., Sheet numbers: 81A03 and 81A04., Digitized with funding from a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012.
Creator
Brightbill, George M., collector
Date
1910-1920
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Brightbill postcards [Fairmount Park - Mansions and Houses - Miscellaneous - 81]
Strawberry Mansion postcards.
Title
Strawberry Mansion postcards
Description
Contains views of Strawberry Mansion in Fairmount Park including the entrance stairway with a group of women and children; the drive and a partial view of the Strawberry Mansion trolley bridge; the fountain statue; the spring; the top of Strawberry Hill showing people picnicking and reclining on the green and several views of the mansion house. Judge William Lewis commissioned the mansion house, also known as Summerville, in 1789. In the 1820s Joseph Hemphill bought the property and added two wings to the house. His son Coleman grew strawberries from roots imported from Chile, giving the property its popular name, Strawberry Mansion. The house became a picnicking spot and restaurant in 1835. The Fairmount Park Commission bought the property in 1868., Contains 30 postcards printed in color and 2 in black and white. Also includes 1 linen postcard., Also known as the William Lewis House., Digitized with funding from a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012.
Creator
Brightbill, George M., collector
Date
1900-1940
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Brightbill postcards [Fairmount Park - Strawberry Mansion - 91]
Arnold mansion postcards.
Title
Arnold mansion postcards
Description
Exterior views of front facade of Mount Pleasant Mansion (i.e. Arnold Mansion) built 1761-1765 for Captain John Macpherson after the designs of Thomas Nevil in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, Pa. Macpherson, a privateer during the Seven Years’ War, purchased the estate with profits from these operations. Free white and Black laborers, indentured servants, and at least four enslaved people of African descent, whose names are unknown, worked on the plantation. In 1779, General Benedict Arnold purchased Mount Pleasant for his wife Peggy Shippen, but they never occupied the house. In 1792, General Jonathan Williams purchased the mansion. The City of Philadelphia purchased the property from the Williams family in 1869. On behalf of the city, the Philadelphia Museum of Art restored the house in 1926., Contains 6 postcards printed in color and 3 printed in black and white., Gift of George M. Brightbill, 1999., Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022., Digitized with funding from a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012.
Creator
Brightbill, George M., collector
Date
[ca. 1905]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Brightbill postcards [Fairmount Park - Mansions and Houses - Arnold - 77]