Grange Estate facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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The Grange
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The Grange Estate
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | 143 Myrtle Avenue, Havertown, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
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| Area | 9.9 acres (4.0 ha) |
| Built | 1750 |
| Built by | Henry Lewis |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| Website | https://thegrangeestate.net/ |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001636 |
| Added to NRHP | January 11, 1976 |
The Grange Estate, also known as Maen-Coch and Clifton Hall, is a historic mansion located in Havertown, Pennsylvania. This beautiful old house is near the big city of Philadelphia. Henry Lewis Jr. (1671–1730) began building parts of it a very long time ago. Some of the original sections of the house are now part of the carriage house.
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History of The Grange Estate
The land where The Grange Estate stands was first sold by William Penn in 1682. William Penn was the founder of Pennsylvania. In 1750, Captain John Wilcox bought the land. He then quickly sold it to Charles Cruikshank in 1761.
Building the Main House
The main house was mostly built around 1750. It was made bigger several times up until the 1850s. Charles Cruikshank and his family added many parts to the house. They also created the beautiful terraces and gardens. Much of the house that faces Cobbs Creek was built by them.
Naming The Grange
Charles Cruikshank's son-in-law, John Ross, gave the property its name, 'the Grange'. In 1976, the building was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places. It is listed there as The Grange.
Architectural Style and Gardens
The mansion is a great example of the Gothic Revival style. This means it looks like old Gothic buildings, but it was built much later. Today, the house looks much like it did around the year 1900. The grounds around the house also feature lovely Victorian gardens.
Famous Visitors to The Grange
During the late 1700s, the house was owned by John Ross. He was a patriot and a merchant from Philadelphia. A patriot is someone who strongly supports their country. Ross named his country estate after the home of Lafayette. Lafayette was a French hero who helped America. Many important historical figures visited Ross's house. These included George Washington, who was the first president of the United States, and Lafayette himself.
Later Owners of The Grange
In 1815, Manuel Eyre Jr. bought the house. His father, Manuel Eyre, had served with George Washington during the American Revolution. The Eyre family owned The Grange longer than any other family. They owned it from 1815 to 1846. Then, through their cousins, the Ashhurst family, they owned it again from 1848 to 1911.
The last family to live in the mansion moved in during 1913. They stayed there until 1974. That year, Haverford Township bought the estate. The Haverford Historical Society now helps take care of it.
The Grange Today
Today, The Grange mansion is a museum and a community center. You can take tours of the house from April to October. Special tours are also available during the December holidays. It's a wonderful place to learn about history!
