Old Germantown Academy and Headmasters' Houses facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Old Germantown Academy and Headmasters' Houses
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 Location in Philadelphia
Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | Schoolhouse Lane and Greene St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 9.9 acres (4.0 ha) |
| Built | 1760 |
| Architectural style | Colonial/ Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 72001168 |
| Added to NRHP | January 13, 1972 |
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The Old Germantown Academy and Headmasters' Houses, also called The Old Campus, is a special historic school campus. It is located at Schoolhouse Lane and Greene Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This was the first home of Germantown Academy. In 1965, the Academy moved to a new place. Today, the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf uses this old campus.
After Germantown Academy was started in 1759, a man named Dr. Charles Bensell gave the land for the campus. He was an important landowner in Germantown. He later became a trustee for the Academy.
The first building on campus was the old schoolhouse. It had a famous bell tower, called a Belfry. The building was made from local Wissahickon schist stone. It was built in the colonial style. Until the school moved in 1965, it was the oldest school still using its first building. A copy of this schoolhouse was built at the new campus in Fort Washington.
The bell in the Belfry was ordered in 1770. It came from England on a tea ship called the Polly. But because of problems with the British in the 1770s, the ship could not land. It was taken to Chester, Pennsylvania first. Later, it was brought to Germantown.
Seven years later, during the Battle of Germantown, the Academy was used as a hospital. It was also a camp for the British army. Stories say that the soldiers used the Belfry for target practice. They shot at it before and after the battle. Today, the original weathervane still shows bullet damage. It has a British crown on it, but it is no longer used. During the same time, a legend says the first game of cricket in the United States was played on the Academy lawns.
Campus Buildings and Changes
Between its start in 1759 and 1888, the campus did not change much. This was true even as the school grew. Alumni, who are former students, wanted a gymnasium for students. So, they donated one. This building was called Alumni Hall. It later became the school chapel. This happened after a new gymnasium was built in 1950. Alumni Hall was built closest to the corner of Schoolhouse Lane and Greene Street. It was built in the colonial revival style.
Around the year 1900, Germantown Academy had many active former students. They suggested adding to the 1760 schoolhouse from the back. This addition was named Sauer Hall. It was named after Christopher Sauer. He was one of the Academy's founders. He also published the first German Bible in America.
In 1920, the Academy bought the property next door on Schoolhouse Lane. This property was known as the Alburger property. Later, it was called the Dove House and Kershaw Hall. This house was built in the 1760s, around the same time as the schoolhouse. It was a home for one of the early teachers at the Academy. Over time, different families lived there. Its style changed from colonial to Victorian.
George Washington stayed in this house briefly in 1793. He was in Germantown during a Yellow Fever outbreak in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At that time, the house belonged to Rev. Frederick Herman, a German teacher at GA. Washington and some of his former generals had meals there. It is also said that he used the house for important government meetings during the epidemic.
The Academy bought the house in 1920. It was restored to its original colonial style in 1937. It was originally two stories tall. A third story had been added when families lived there. During the 1937 renovation, the third story was removed. Also in 1937, a new part was added to the house. It was built in the same colonial style. This new part was used for kindergarten classrooms.
The next building added to the campus was in 1932. It was built after a young alumnus, Edward Wynne Moore, passed away. His parents were very generous. In his honor, Moore Hall was built. It was a space for the middle school grades. This building was constructed behind the Dove House.
The last building built before the school moved was the gymnasium. It was built to the right of the Dove House. This gym was built in 1950-51. It honored the Germantown Academy veterans of the World Wars.
Athletic Spaces
At the back of the nine-acre property was an athletic field. It was used for football and baseball. It also had a track, depending on the season. There was not much space. So, many teams, like soccer and tennis, had to play at the nearby Germantown Cricket Club. This created a strong connection between the club and the school. This connection lasted until the school moved. There was no swimming pool on campus. So, the swim team practiced at the Germantown YMCA or in nearby towns.
The Old Germantown Academy and Headmasters' Houses were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
