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such work—just as the
Wideners and Dixons did themselves—along with donations from the McCausland family, do work. The farm has remained undeveloped since The Hill at Whitemarsh's construction. Although 2018–2021 are being executed for Hawk Ridge development in an area where the Agnus cattle used to graze and is owned by the Hill at Whitemarsh. However, given that the large majority of the farm is mostly untouched and preserved in perpetuity since the time of
112:
310:(1882–1947), purchased an adjacent 95-acre tract and hired Trumbauer to design his mansion, "Briar Hill" (1929–30). Elkins's widow sold the mansion on 47 acres to Dr. Stephen J. Deichelmann in 1948, who converted it into Eugenia Hospital, a psychiatric facility. The land along Flourtown Road, she sold to Widener.
360:
The Hill at
Whitemarsh, established in the early 2000s as a retirement community, bought Eugenia Hospital, intending to demolish it and built a 55+ age-group cluster-housing and luxury apartments. In 2001, Dixon sold about 50 acres of the Angus Tract to the retirement community. In reaction to this
364:
Since Dixon's death in 2006, his heirs have sold the land in a series of transactions. However, the work of organizations and government entities such as the
Whitemarsh Foundation, Whitemarsh Township, Montgomery County, Preservation Society, public and private foundation records illustrate, that
198:
Kittson's son Louis sold the stock farm and the Lukens Farm to Robert N. Carson (1844–1907) in 1896. He had made his fortune in
Philadelphia streetcar lines, first horse-drawn, then electrified. He altered the old Hocker farmhouse into a "rustic" summer house.
139:, a Philadelphia attorney, and created Erdenheim Stock Farm in 1862, on about 150 acres east of the Wissahickon Creek. He bred some of the finest Thoroughbred racehorses in the United States. In 1872, he purchased the British stud
166:
the
Wissahickon Creek at Erdenheim Farm. The circa-1866 construction of a bridge at Lancasterville Road (now Stenton Avenue) led to the closing of the ford, and the diversion of Flourtown Road northward through the Lukens Farm.
187:(1814–1888) for $ 100,000 in 1882. The property included a 1-mile racetrack, a 1/2-mile track, and a covered 1/8-mile track. To this, Kittson added the Lukens Farm, bringing his land holdings to about 400 acres.
123:
In 1765, Johannes Georg "George" Hocker (1733–1820), a German immigrant, paid £1,600 to buy 200 acres in
Springfield Township west of the Wissahickon Creek. He named his farm "Erdenheim", to mean "earthly home".
710:
293:
Widener wed Jessie Sloane Dodge (1883–1968) in 1917. They were married for more than fifty years, but had no children. Upon his death in 1971, he bequeathed
Erdenheim Farm and his entire estate to his nephew,
119:'s 1687 map of Pennsylvania. Erdenheim Farm is located where the "Whitpane Creek" (now Wissahickon Creek) passes through "Gulielma Maria Penns Man. of Springfeild" (now Springfield Township).
524:"It is a large well-built stone house w/thick walls & spacious rooms seated in the midst of a wide lawn – one of the most beautiful in that part of the country." Wingeard, p. 670.
84:
356:
Equestrian Tract – 103 acres, south side of West Mill Road, east side of
Stenton Avenue, and north side of Wissahickon Avenue (continuation of Northwestern Avenue).
387:
2009–259 acres, sold to Peter and Bonnie McCausland. This includes all of the
Wissahickon and Main House Tracts, and sections of the Sheep and Equestrian Tracts.
229:
in 1912. That same year, he purchased
Erdenheim Farm (minus the 100 acres that had gone to the school) from the estate of Carson's widow. Widener had architect
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159:
at Erdenheim. Welch expanded his land holdings to 280 acres, including the old Hocker farmhouse. By 1881, his stables held more than a hundred horses.
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369:, the continuation of what the farm is today will live on through philanthropy, donations, and to those who drive by. It is a lasting symbol of what
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Wissahickon Tract – 113 acres, east side of Thomas Road, south side of Flourtown Road, west side of Stenton Avenue to Morris Arboretum.
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Erdenheim Farm in 1901, looking southeast toward Chestnut Hill. Carson altered the Hocker farmhouse into a "rustic" summer house.
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2008–98-acre Angus Tract, sold by Dixon's heirs and The Hill at Whitemarsh to Whitemarsh Foundation for $ 13.5 million.
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Sheep Tract – 109 acres, north side of Flourtown Road, west side of Flourtown Road, and south side of Stenton Avenue.
64:
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Sheep barn (built c. 1917), Erdenheim Farm, Whitemarsh Township, Pennsylvania. Looking north from Flourtown Road.
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377:" of the region to which it is preserved for all to enjoy and exist in its likeness for decades to come.
749:
https://www.chestnuthilllocal.com/2011/03/31/an-english-countryside-farm-next-to-chestnut-hill/*2006–117
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was and still is, today. Given its location on the border of Philadelphia, it may be considered the "
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2009–91 acres of the Sheep Tract, sold by Dixon's heirs to Whitemarsh Foundation for $ 12.5 million.
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sale, a non-profit organization, the Whitemarsh Foundation, was founded to preserve Erdenheim Farm.
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In his will, Carson bequeathed 100 acres of the stock farm and a $ 5 million endowment to found
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was Widener's trainer, between 1917–1932, and lived at Erdenheim Farm until his death in 1943.
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278:. He kept his Thoroughbreds at Erdenheim Farm and Old Kenney Farm (now Green Gates Farm) in
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mansion, "Erdenheim" (1916–17), and design a number of matching barns and outbuildings.
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Main House Tract – 23 acres, east side of Thomas Road to Wissahickon Creek corridor.
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Angus Tract – 98 acres, west side of Thomas Road and south side of Flourtown Road.
738:
https://www.inquirer.com/philly/news/20090531_Big_day_for_oasis_of_green.html2001
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Following Kittson's death in 1888, his estate auctioned off the Thoroughbreds.
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crosses it. All but 23 acres of the land is now protected from development by
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561:"The sale of Erdenheim – Aristide Welsh's stock farm sold at a sacrifice,"
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began working for Widener in 1923 and was his trainer between 1933–1967.
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588:"The Erdenheim Sale – Breaking up of a famous thorough-bred stock farm,"
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762:"Why Airgas Was Finally Sold, for $ 10 Billion Instead of $ 5 Billion"
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628:, (New York: Blanchard Press, Isaac H. Blanchard Co., 1901), p. 85.
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2009–14 acres of the Equestrian Tract, retained by Dixon's heirs.
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604:
Philadelphia's Progressive Orphanage:The Carson Valley School
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On the Waters of the Wissahickon: A History of Erdenheim Farm
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alter and expand Carson's "rustic" house into a 60-room
551:(Historical Society of Montgomery County, 1895), p. 55.
685:
The Philadelphia-Area Architecture of Horace Trumbauer
534:"Aristides Welch. The Breeder of Iroquois and Parole,"
206:(now Carson Valley School), modeled on Philadelphia's
549:
Historical Sketches: A Collection of Papers, Volume 1
510:"An English countryside farm next to Chestnut Hill,"
337:. He kept the farm largely intact for thirty years.
456:"Erdenheim Farm transitions into the 21st century,"
183:Welch sold the stock farm and its Thoroughbreds to
91:to the north, and Corson's Quarry to the west. The
711:Fitz Dixon: Saying goodbye to a horse-world giant.
830:
726:Pre-demolition Briar Hill photos, October 2004
485:from Springfield Township Historical Society.
465:from Springfield Township Historical Society.
404:, (University of South Carolina Press, 2012).
59:is a 450-acre (1.82 km) working farm in
425:"New life for one of America's oldest farms"
162:The road to Norristown (now Flourtown Road)
722:https://www.thehillatwhitemarsh.org/about/
443:Hacker–Hocker: A German-American Genealogy
246:National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
71:, United States. Located just outside the
844:Houses in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
638:"Where no three orphans may dress alike,"
669:"Mrs. W. Earl Dodge weds G. D. Widener,"
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626:Philadelphia and Notable Philadelphians
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340:The farm is divided into five tracts:
225:, lost his father and brother on the
221:(1889–1971), a grandson and heir of
760:Picker, Leslie (5 September 2016).
606:(Penn State Press, 2007), pp. 8–10.
495:"Philly's connection to the Derby,"
476:"The early days of Erdenheim Farm,"
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687:(Arcadia Publishing, 2009), p. 84.
683:"Briar Hill," Rachel Hildebrandt,
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779:"Erdenheim Farm gets new owners,"
244:, and served as president of the
849:Horse farms in the United States
445:, (Gateway Press, 1991), p. 670.
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728:, from Deb Wilson via Facebook.
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204:Carson College for Orphan Girls
69:Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
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329:. His horses also competed in
208:Girard College for Orphan Boys
85:Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
81:Morris Arboretum & Gardens
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321:raised thoroughbred horses,
240:He became a major figure in
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95:flows through the farm and
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537:The Sacramento Daily Union
441:William Osborne Wingeard,
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145:, who sired the champions
782:The Philadelphia Inquirer
498:The Philadelphia Inquirer
248:. His champions included
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135:purchased the Pearl from
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242:Thoroughbred horseracing
127:
79:, it is bordered by the
657:Encyclopædia Britannica
513:The Chestnut Hill Local
308:William McIntire Elkins
256:Belmont Futurity Stakes
34:40.09750°N 75.2370806°W
824:The Hill at Whitemarsh
266:Massachusetts Handicap
180:
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101:conservation easements
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808:Whitemarsh Foundation
323:Aberdeen Angus cattle
319:Fitz Eugene Dixon Jr.
296:Fitz Eugene Dixon Jr.
274:, winner of the 1962
264:, winner of the 1940
254:, winner of the 1930
219:George D. Widener Jr.
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39:40.09750; -75.2370806
539:, December 13, 1881.
327:Border Cheviot sheep
89:Carson Valley School
65:Whitemarsh Townships
820:from Natural Lands.
813:Erdenheim Farm, LLC
701:from Hagley Museum.
602:David R. Contosta,
593:, November 9, 1888.
576:Historical Sketches
280:Lexington, Kentucky
223:Peter A. B. Widener
30: /
766:The New York Times
672:The New York Times
641:The New York Times
591:The New York Times
566:, January 9, 1882.
564:The New York Times
481:2015-10-06 at the
461:2015-10-06 at the
306:Widener's cousin,
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674:, March 21, 1917.
653:George D. Widener
615:Contosta, p. 212.
515:, March 31, 2011.
93:Wissahickon Creek
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87:to the south,
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107:Early history
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83:to the east,
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73:Chestnut Hill
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25:75°14′13.49″W
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117:Thomas Holme
77:Philadelphia
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800:from Flickr
474:Jim Foley,
454:Jim Foley,
284:Jack Joyner
227:RMS Titanic
75:section of
61:Springfield
37: /
833:Categories
395:References
302:Briar Hill
142:Leamington
115:Detail of
22:40°05′51″N
251:Jamestown
157:Saunterer
479:Archived
459:Archived
335:dressage
148:Iroquois
371:America
214:Widener
171:Kittson
804:Photos
798:Photos
325:, and
271:Jaipur
268:; and
194:Carson
164:forded
155:, and
153:Harold
806:from
724:>
655:from
411:Notes
314:Dixon
128:Welch
333:and
63:and
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
