Call Number:

09

Repository:

Haverford Township Historical Society

Extent:

1.0 linear feet

Language:

English

Date:

1906-circa 1983

Creator:

Hoffman, Benjamin Rose, 1879-1958

Abstract:

Benjamin Rose Hoffman (1879-1958) and his wife Margaret Clawson (1891-1973) were wealthy Philadelphians who largely lived a life of leisure. In 1913 Benjamin Hoffman purchased the Grange, an historic estate in Havertown, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, that was built in 1700 and hosted several Revolutionary War heroes including George Washington. He and his wife were interested in horticulture and made many improvements to the gardens and grounds during their lifetimes. The Benjamin R. Hoffman papers on the Grange estate, 1906-circa 1983, consist primarily of correspondence and receipts regarding gardening and planting on the Grange, as well as blueprints, research notes, and other materials relating to the property, dating from the early-mid 20th century. The original Hoffman family papers are supplemented by a substantial amount of secondary-source materials, such as genealogical and research notes, about the Hoffmans and about the Grange property, dating from the mid-late 20th century.

"Benjamin Rose Hoffman [(1879-1958)] was a wealthy Philadelphian who largely lived a life of leisure. He attended Haverford College (class of 1897) and administered his land holdings while traveling extensively. He lived with his mother (Mrs. Sellers Hoffman) and sisters (Hannah, Jessie, Agnes) at the family home, "Burnside," at 60th and Cobbs Creek in West Philadelphia, later purchasing the Grange estate [in Havertown, Pa.]. He married Margaret Clawson [(1891-1973)] in 1922 and they traveled abroad often, both together and separately. Hoffman frequented France and Great Britain in his earlier years, and was at leisure in Europe during World War I. [He passed away in 1958.]" (Historical Society of Pennsylvania.)

The Grange is an historic estate in Havertown, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The oldest section of the extant house dates to 1700. Many important men of the Revolutionary War period were entertained on the property, including George Washington, the Marquis de Lafayette, Henry Knox, and Thomas Mifflin. Benjamin R. Hoffman purchased the estate in 1913. At the time of his purchase it spanned over 86 acres, comprising the current Chatham Village, the Grange playfield, and St. James Church, although the Hoffmans sold off much of the property during the Great Depression of the 1930s. The Hoffmans shared an interest in horticulture, and they added many new specimens to the gardens. After Margaret Hoffman's death, Haverford Township purchased the remaining 9.9 acres from Margaret Hoffman's estate.

Bibliography:

Quoted text from: Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Catalog record for Benjamin Rose Hoffman papers, 1885-1951, collection 2160. Accessed April 25, 2014. http://discover.hsp.org/Record/hsp.ead.at01-2160/Description#tabnav.

Friends of the Grange, Inc. "A Rich History." Accessed April 25, 2014. http://www.thegrangeestate.org/history.html.

This collection consists primarily of correspondence and receipts regarding gardening and planting on the Grange, as well as blueprints, research notes, and other materials relating to the property, dating from the early-mid 20th century. A small amount of the correspondence is in French. There are also some pocket diaries from the 1930s and some copies of Hoffman family wills.

The original Hoffman family papers are supplemented by a substantial amount of secondary-source materials, such as genealogical and research notes, about the Hoffmans and about the Grange property, dating from the mid-late 20th century.

A preliminary handwritten inventory of the collection is available on-site.