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 house located in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was built around c. 1756. This grand home was one of the first large Georgian-style mansions built in the Philadelphia area.
Today, Woodford is a historic house museum. This means it's open to the public so people can visit and learn about its history. It is also recognized as a National Historic Landmark, which shows its importance to the country's history.
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A Look at Woodford's Past
Woodford was built on about 12 acres (4.9 hectares) of land. It started as a summer home for a rich merchant named William Coleman. He was also a judge on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
New Owners Through the Years
After William Coleman passed away in 1769, the house was sold to Alexander Barclay. He was a Quaker and worked for the King as a customs officer in Philadelphia.
When Barclay died in 1771, his brother-in-law, David Franks, bought Woodford. In 1772, Franks made the house bigger by adding a second floor and a kitchen. This made Woodford almost the size it is today.
During the American Revolution, David Franks was a loyalist. This meant he supported the British King. In 1778, he was told to leave. He moved his family to New York City. Franks then gave the property to Thomas Paschall to pay off a debt.
It's believed that Thomas Paschall never lived in the house himself. Instead, he rented it out to others. In 1793, he sold Woodford to Isaac Wharton.
Woodford Becomes Part of Fairmount Park
In 1869, the city of Philadelphia bought Woodford from Wharton's family. They added the house to Fairmount Park. For a while, the house was home to the Park's Chief Engineer. Later, in 1912, it became the headquarters for the Park Guard. It even served as a traffic court.
A Museum for Everyone
Starting in 1927, Woodford was carefully restored. In 1930, it opened its doors as a public museum. It still operates as a museum today.
The museum houses the Naomi Wood collection. This collection includes many old household items. You can see Colonial furniture, unique clocks, and English delftware (a type of pottery).
Woodford was named a National Historic Landmark in 1967. It is also an important part of the Fairmount Park Historic District.
See also
