Woodford (mansion) facts for kids
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Woodford
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Philadelphia
Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | Ford Road & Greenland Drive East Fairmount Park Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
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| Area | Less than 1-acre (4,000 m2) |
| Built | c. 1756 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Part of | Fairmount Park Historic District (ID72001151) |
| NRHP reference No. | 67000021 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 24, 1967 |
| Designated NHL | December 24, 1967 |
| Designated CP | February 7, 1972 |
Woodford is a historic mansion located in Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was built around 1756 and is a great example of the beautiful and wealthy homes from America's colonial period. Woodford was one of the first grand houses built in the Georgian style in Philadelphia.
Today, Woodford is a National Historic Landmark and a historic house museum. This means it is protected for its historical importance and is open for people to visit and see what life was like in the 1700s.
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History of Woodford Mansion
The story of Woodford involves several different owners who each left their mark on the house. It started as a summer home and grew into the large mansion we see today.
The First Owner: William Coleman
Woodford was first built as a one-and-a-half-story house on a 12 acres (49,000 m2) piece of land. Its first owner was William Coleman, a very rich businessman who was also a judge on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. He used Woodford as his summer home to escape the heat of the city.
When Coleman died in 1769, the house was sold to a man named Alexander Barclay. Barclay was a Quaker and worked for the British king as a customs official for the port of Philadelphia.
New Owners and Big Changes
Barclay owned the house for only a short time before he died in 1771. His brother-in-law, David Franks, then bought the property. In 1772, Franks made the house much bigger by adding a second floor and a new wing for the kitchen. These changes made the house look almost the same as it does today.
Woodford and the American Revolution
David Franks was a Loyalist, which means he supported the British king during the American Revolution. Because of his loyalty to Britain, he was arrested in 1778 and told to leave Philadelphia.
Franks and his family moved to New York City. Before he left, he gave the house to a man named Thomas Paschall to pay off a debt. It is believed that Paschall never lived in Woodford himself but rented it to other people. In 1793, he sold the house to Isaac Wharton.
From Private Home to Public Park
The Wharton family owned Woodford for many years. In 1869, the city of Philadelphia bought the mansion from Wharton's family. The city wanted to add the land to the growing Fairmount Park.
After the city bought it, the house was used for different purposes. First, it was a home for the park's chief engineer. Later, in 1912, it became the headquarters for the park guards and even had a traffic court inside.
Becoming a Museum
In 1927, work began to restore the house to its colonial-era appearance. In 1930, Woodford opened its doors to the public as a museum.
Today, it displays the Naomi Wood collection, which includes antique furniture, rare clocks, and beautiful English pottery from the colonial period. The museum gives visitors a special look into the past. Woodford is also an important part of the Fairmount Park Historic District.
See also
