Call Number:

2006.46

Repository:

Chestnut Hill Historical Society

Extent:

1.0 linear feet (1 record carton)

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

2006.46

Date:

1905-1980 (bulk) and 1840-1980 (inclusive)

Creator:

W. Root Jr., Stanley

Abstract:

Stanley W. Root Jr. is a lawyer and past Union League president in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Stanley W. Root Jr. collection, 2006, is comprised of photographs, postcards, and printed materials relating to churches and the Root family home in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There are also diaries and account books of Root's uncle.

Stanley W. Root Jr. is a lawyer and past Union League president in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

"8427 Prospect Ave. was built in the 1870's. The original house was constructed with "Chestnut Hill" stone. It contained two parlors, a dining room, and kitchen; four bedrooms on the 2nd floor and four more on the 3rd floor. There were two bathrooms; one on each of the upper floors. A stable with outhouse attached took care of the servants' needs.

"The family of John T. Brown lived at 1629 Spruce St. During the summers they rented 8427 as a "cottage". When John married Henrietta Lehman (of Lebanon, Pa, member of an old Germantown family) in 1880, the decision was made to purchase the property. Apparently, they also decided to add on a rear portion, constructed in brick, thereby adding a large dining room, pantry, kitchen and laundry room, as well as a master bedroom and nursery on the 2nd floor, plus three rooms for servants on the 3rd floor (still only two bathrooms!)

"Four children were born and raised there. In addition, John had two maiden sisters, who also lived there, along with a cook, a maid, and an "upstairs girl". Eventually, the original generation died out, but Henrietta's daughter, my mother, and her husband, her single brother and sister, lived there. Ultimately, they were joined by Henrietta's uncle (a widower due to the loss of his wife in the 1917 flu epidemic) and an unmarried sister of my father, not to mention myself and my brother John; both of us grew up there. (Unfortunately, the depression caused the family to give up "in house" servants, but there was plenty of room for all of the above.

The house remained in family hands until sold around 1985, over a hundred years of continued family ownership."

Bibliography:

Root, Stanley W. Jr. 5/11/06

This collection includes many photos, one each of Chestnut Hill Academy Lower School photo, house at 8427 Prospect St, Trinity Presbyterian Church, Lieutenant Stanley Root in back yard, and 2 pages of house and family from a photo album. There are also postcards of the Wissahickon, Fairmount Park, Livezey House, Chestnut Hill, and Christ Lutheran Church. There are printed materials which include a Centennial History of St. Paul's Church, a booklet titled "Presbyterian Churches of Germantown, Mt. Airy & Chestnut Hill, and a road map of Historic Fairmount Park, as well as newspaper clippings. There are materials from the Trinity Presbyterian Church including Sabbath School and teachers' attendance books. The collection also includes several volumes including a personal account book and 7 diaries of Stanley Root's uncle.