Stenton (mansion) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Stenton
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Stenton mansion in November 1960
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| Location | 4601 North 18th Street, Logan, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
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| Area | 3 acres (12,000 m2) |
| Built | 1723–1730 |
| Architect | John Nicholas (d. 1756), master builder |
| Architectural style | American Georgian |
| Website | http://www.stenton.org |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000690 |
| Added to NRHP | January 12, 1965 |
Stenton is an old house in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is also known as the James Logan Home. This house was the country home of James Logan. He was a very important leader in Pennsylvania a long time ago.
James Logan was the first Mayor of Philadelphia. He was also the Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. This was during the time when Pennsylvania was a British colony. The house is located in the Logan neighborhood of North Philadelphia. A famous architect once said Stenton was one of the best examples of old American house design.
The History of Stenton House
Stenton was built between 1723 and 1730. It was named after James Logan's father's hometown in Scotland. The house was built on a large piece of land, about 511 acres. It was James Logan's country home. People at the time called him a "universal man" because he knew so much about many different things.
Who Was James Logan?
James Logan came to Philadelphia in 1699. He was the secretary for William Penn, who founded Pennsylvania. Logan became a very important person in the government of colonial Pennsylvania. He worked in leadership roles for 50 years.
He was the first mayor of Philadelphia. He was also the main judge for the province's Supreme Court. Later, he even served as the acting governor. James Logan collected one of the best libraries in all of colonial America. He also made a lot of money in the fur trade.
Logan made an important discovery about pollen. He found out how pollen helps corn grow. A famous scientist named Carl Linnaeus was very impressed by Logan's work.
The House's Design
The Stenton house is made of red bricks. It has dark stone pieces above the windows called lintels. The roof of the 2½-story house is a hip roof, which means it slopes down on all four sides.
The Logan Family at Stenton
After James Logan passed away in 1751, his son, William Logan, inherited Stenton. William lived in Philadelphia most of the year. He used Stenton mainly as a summer home. He also added a kitchen to the house and bought many nice pieces of furniture.
When William died in 1776, his son, George Logan, became the owner. George was a doctor and later became a U.S. senator.
The house played a part in the Battle of Germantown in 1777. Both American General George Washington and British General Lord William Howe used Stenton as their headquarters during the battle.
George Logan married Deborah Norris. She was famous for writing in her diary and for her historical notes. A well-known journal, Sally Wister's Journal, was written for her in 1781.
Stenton in the 1900s
The Logan family owned Stenton until 1910. Then, the City of Philadelphia bought the house.
Stenton as a Museum
Today, Stenton is a historic house museum. It is open for people to visit. The house is part of the Germantown Historic District. Stenton is seen as one of the best examples of 18th-century American Georgian architecture. This style was popular during the time of King George in England.
In January 1965, Stenton was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it is a very important historical place in the United States. The house also gave its name to nearby Stenton Park and Stenton Avenue. Even a village in New Jersey, Stanton, New Jersey, is named after this mansion.
See also
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Philadelphia
- List of Washington's Headquarters during the Revolutionary War
- National Register of Historic Places listings in North Philadelphia
- Wyck House
