Wissahickon Style XIV, New Hidden Kingdoms

Post 64

Hidden Kingdoms are what I call unusual, scenic spots that are often just off a main drag. you might be driving along, and thru the trees, notice this--

Getting closer, you'd see this

And then this-

An Anglo-Norman manor house just off a main byway. You would see that it was surrounded by other lovely, capacious, more usual houses for the area

But none that look like this from the back side

So how did this manor house arrive in the Wissahickon Valley?

Well once upon a time, there was a local Quaker boy who became a famous engineer (he later founded Leeds & Northrup) and who fell in love. His name was Morris Evans Leeds  He fell in love with an opera singer, a very grand opera singer and her name was Lily Pons. Expecting that they would marry, he contracted with Mellor & Meigs to build her as close to a palace as would look suitable in the locale. It was built with exquisite details with the help of Samuel Yellin for ironworking, R.C. Ballinger as contractor  and Harrison, Mertz and Emlen as the landscapers. How many uncredited Italian stonemasons labored on it is not recorded (but should be.)

I have never seen a channel of rock used like this on a slate roof before.

 There was even a carriage house next door larger than many houses.

And the best of it all was that this was set right on a west-facing hill right over the Wissahickon so that at sunset...

All the area around would go aglow

The marriage never happened. Why, I do not know The only reason I know this story at all is that  while I was out taking these photos a friendly, older gentleman who had lived long in a neighboring house was taking his walk and was kind enough to stop and give me an oral history.Then I looked up the address on a good  resource we have at the library, Philadelphia Architects and Buildings

Parts of the rest of this attractive neighborhood also gets the late day sun coming in from over the Creek.

Makes it easier to go to sleep at night with scenes like this dancing round your head.

Wissahickon Style XIII: What the Wissahickon Needs Now

Post 63

I found a bit of heaven in Massachusets last weekend. And can't help thinking how wonderful it would be to have something like it on the Wissahickon.

It is an old mill/factory set on rapids that has been remade as a restaurant/first rate used-bookstore/artists collective.

 

Somehow winter seems more tolerable when looking out at such views.

 

It is The BookMill, located in the five-college area of Mass.

And while people in Mass. may wish they had something like The Valley Green Inn

I want something with its windows right over the water, great books, great food and a place to read like this

 

And this

 

Lastly, does anyone know what tree the pic below is of? That has these red pods in the middle of winter?

Talk about winter interest. It was beautiful against the snow and evergreens.

The Winter Garden

Post 62

Now is dark, grubby winter. The garden, at its best, looks like a better sort of shite. Part of it's my fault, autumn illness nixed autumn clean-up and hence all the rotting leaves and stuck up stems blowing hither, yon and yore. But part of it's winter's fault, a season which can rarely be accused of doing its best to woo you.

The weird thing is that there really is some beauty here.

Hoarfrost helps.

As does light,

 Especially when the fingers of the dawn are slightly rosy.

 Flowers also help, even small ones,

And berries,

Plus an appreciation for texture and design.

But even an appreciation for texture and design is not quite enough when neutrals start to pall,

 And one starts wishing for snow, or even better spring.

Or even some warmish days with extra time to do autumn clean-up.

There is beauty here, and taking pictures helps me to see it.

For that I am grateful.