J. Peter Lesley House facts for kids
|
J. Peter Lesley House
|
|
|
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
|
|
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
|
 |
|
 Location in Philadelphia
Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 1008 Clinton St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | c. 1836 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Part of | Clinton Street Historic District Washington Square West Historic District (ID72001148, 84003563) |
| NRHP reference No. | 94001646 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | October 12, 1994 |
| Designated NHL | October 12, 1994 |
| Designated CP | April 26, 1972 |
| Designated CP | September 20, 1984 |
The J. Peter Lesley House is a special old house located at 1008 Clinton Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It's a type of home called a row house, which means it's one of several houses built right next to each other in a row. This house is important because it was the home of John Peter Lesley for 27 years. He was a very important geologist (someone who studies the Earth's rocks and history) in the late 1800s. Because of its history, the J. Peter Lesley House is recognized as a National Historic Landmark, which means it's a place with great historical importance to the United States. Today, it is still a private home and not open for public tours.
What Does the J. Peter Lesley House Look Like?
The J. Peter Lesley House is found in Philadelphia's Washington Square West neighborhood. It sits on the south side of Clinton Street, between 10th and 11th Streets. It's a brick building that is about three and a half stories tall. The roof has a sloped shape called a gable, with a small window sticking out from the front. Chimneys are on the sides of the house.
The front of the house has three sections, or "bays." The main door is on the right side. Above the door, there's a pretty half-round window, which is a style from the Federal period. Inside, even though the house was changed into several apartments and then back into a single home, many of its original features from the late 1800s are still there.
Who Was J. Peter Lesley?
J. Peter Lesley (born in 1819, died in 1903) was a very important American geologist. Geologists are scientists who study the Earth's physical structure and history, including rocks, minerals, and landforms. Lesley was especially known for his work on coal and iron ore, which are important natural resources. He mostly focused on these resources in Pennsylvania and nearby states.
For many years, Lesley served as the State Geologist of Pennsylvania. This meant he was in charge of studying the geology of the entire state. He also directed the state's Geological Survey department. Under his leadership, this department published more than 120 reports about Pennsylvania's geology. His early book, A Manual of Coal, published in 1856, was groundbreaking. It showed how the shape of the land (topography) was connected to the layers of rock beneath it (geological structure).
Lesley's Time in the House
J. Peter Lesley rented this house at 1008 Clinton Street from 1869 to 1897. For him, it was both his home and his office. He spent many years working on his geological studies and leading the Pennsylvania Geological Survey from this very house.
The Lesleys lived here all year round until 1885. At that time, Mrs. Lesley was given a house in Milton, Massachusetts. However, J. Peter Lesley continued to spend most of his days at the Philadelphia house. He worked there until his health made him retire in 1896. After that, he also moved permanently to Massachusetts.
