Graeme Park facts for kids
|
Graeme Park
|
|
Barn at Graeme Park
|
|
 Location in Pennsylvania
|
|
| Location | 859 County Line Rd., Horsham, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Area | 140 acres (57 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000672 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | October 9, 1960 |
Graeme Park is a really old and important place located in Horsham, Pennsylvania. It's like stepping back in time! This historic site is owned by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and looked after by a group called The Friends of Graeme Park. It's super special because it's the only home still standing that belonged to a governor from Pennsylvania's early colonial days.
Graeme Park was built way back in 1722 by Sir William Keith. He was the governor of Pennsylvania at the time. He built it as a summer house, a place to relax away from his main home in Philadelphia. The house was first called Fountain Low. It hasn't changed much since it was built, except for some updates by Thomas Graeme in the mid-1700s and a small fix-up in the 1960s.
Contents
Exploring Graeme Park's History
Building a Governor's Retreat
_p258_SIR_WILLIAM_KEITH.jpg)
_p264_Graeme_Park_(copied,_1854).jpg)
Starting with a Malthouse (1721)
Before the main house, construction began on a malthouse. A malthouse is where brewers make "malt" by starting the germination of grains like barley. Malt is a key ingredient for making drinks like beer. Sir William Keith, the governor, tried several businesses, and this malthouse was one of them. He built it when trade was slow, and farmers needed a way to save their grain. Malting helped preserve it.
Building the Mansion (1722 or 1723)
Soon after, work started on the mansion itself. Sir William Keith called it "Fountain Low." It's also known as the "Keith House" today. He built it on a huge piece of land, about 1,700 acres, that he got from a debt owed to the colony. Over 90 workers helped build the house and other buildings. Governor Keith even had two roads built to his property! He probably didn't live there all the time, spending most of his days at the governor's mansion in Philadelphia. The inside of the house wasn't even painted until Dr. Thomas Graeme took over.
Dr. Thomas Graeme's Era
A New Owner and Name (1739)
Dr. Thomas Graeme bought the property in 1739 and renamed it "Graeme Park." Dr. Graeme was married to Ann Diggs, who was Sir William Keith's stepdaughter. He came to Pennsylvania with Keith in 1717. Dr. Graeme became a very important person in Philadelphia society. He worked as a doctor, served on the Provincial Council, and was a judge on the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.
Sir William Keith had left Pennsylvania in 1728. His properties were managed by his wife and family, including Dr. Graeme. The estate was sold, and Dr. Graeme eventually bought "Fountain Low." He used Graeme Park as a summer home, keeping his main house in Philadelphia.
Making it Beautiful (1755)
Dr. Graeme started making big changes to the inside of Graeme Park. He added fancy decorations that were popular in the Georgian era, like wood paneling. These changes are still there today! He also built an outdoor kitchen and created a formal garden. He even started a 300-acre "Deer Park," hoping to make the home so beautiful that "any English noble would be proud to have" it.
Retirement and Gatherings (1765)
Dr. Graeme retired from being a doctor because he wasn't well, and his wife Ann had passed away. He then spent most of his time at Graeme Park. His daughter, Elizabeth, became the hostess for his home. Even though he retired from medicine, Dr. Graeme and Elizabeth still hosted famous gatherings called "salons." Important people from Philadelphia, like writers and musicians, would come to these events. Elizabeth herself became a well-known poet. Dr. Graeme passed away at Graeme Park in 1772. His daughter Elizabeth and her husband, Henry Hugh Fergusson, inherited the property.
A Time of Trouble (1778)
Confiscation During the Revolution
Graeme Park was taken away by the Continental Congress during the American Revolution. This happened because Henry Fergusson, Elizabeth's husband, supported the British side (he was a loyalist).
Elizabeth had married Henry Fergusson secretly in 1772, without her father's permission. Henry was a new immigrant from Scotland and much younger than Elizabeth. Dr. Graeme didn't approve. Sadly, the day Elizabeth decided to tell her father about her marriage was the day he had a fatal heart attack. Elizabeth inherited Graeme Park, and through marriage, Henry Fergusson gained control of it.
Henry Fergusson became very involved with the British forces during the Revolution. He even sent Elizabeth as a messenger to General George Washington to ask for his surrender. This made the American Patriots doubt Elizabeth's loyalty. Henry Fergusson was declared a traitor, and Graeme Park was seized by the government in 1778.
Return and New Owners
Elizabeth Gets Her Home Back (1781–1795)
Even though Elizabeth delivered some letters for her husband, she remained loyal to the American cause. She got Graeme Park back in 1781 thanks to the help of powerful friends. These friends included Dr. William Smith, the first president of the University of Pennsylvania, and Robert Morris, who helped fund the Revolution. Elizabeth lived peacefully at Graeme Park until 1795. She then sold the property to a pharmacist named William Smith and lived with friends nearby until she passed away in 1801.
The Penrose Family (1801–1920)
William Smith sold 200 acres of Graeme Park, including the original house, to Samuel Penrose in 1801. The Penrose family were Quakers and had ten children. Their son William and his wife Ann built a second farmhouse at Graeme Park. Samuel bought the rest of Graeme Park from his father in 1820. The Penroses kept Graeme Park in its original condition while also running a successful farm. They even started inviting visitors to tour the old governor's mansion. Morris Penrose, the fourth generation, continued this tradition, hosting school groups and historical societies.
The Strawbridge Family (1920–1958)
Morris Penrose sold 191 acres to Welsh Strawbridge in 1920. Welsh Strawbridge was an investment broker and a well-known person in Philadelphia society. He and his wife, Margaret Ely Marshall, lived in the 1810 farmhouse. They continued the Penrose family's tradition of preserving the Keith House and sharing its history with visitors. To make sure this historic mansion would be protected forever, the Strawbridges generously gave the Keith House and the land around it to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission in 1958.
Graeme Park Today (1958–Present)
The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission made some small repairs to Graeme Park in the 1960s. Today, the buildings and grounds look much like they did during colonial times. The original floorboards, wood paneling, and paint from Dr. Graeme's updates are still there. They give us a special look into what homes were like in the 1700s.
Haunting Legends
Since Elizabeth's death in 1801, people in Horsham, Pennsylvania, have whispered that the Keith House and Graeme Park are haunted by her ghost! The Friends of Graeme Park even embrace these local stories. They offer special lantern tours of the Keith House every year, where visitors can learn about the history and perhaps feel a spooky presence!
