Dear List,
Under the theory that it is the squeaky wheel gets the grease, I am
asking your help in bringing attention to the efforts being made to
preserve and adaptively reuse the house, which Dr. Benjamin Rush built
in Oxford Township, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania in 1782. The
property is now known as Greenwood Cemetery. In 1869 the Rush farm was
turned into a cemetery with the intention of servicing Civil War
veterans. At the present time the property is privately owned.
I would ask you to contact Pennsylvania State Senator Christina
Tartaglione and ask her to take a stand in favor of preserving and
adaptively reusing the Rush house. Senator Tartaglione may be contacted
the following addresses:
Postal Mail: The Honorable Christina M. Tartaglione
Senate Box 203002
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3002
E-Mail: tartaglione <mailto:tartaglione@pasenate.com>
Telephone: (717) 787-1141
Thank you for your help in lobbying to preserve the last remaining
Benjamin Rush residence.
Very truly yours,
Leslie Potter
P.S. The following is the letter, which I have sent to Senator
Tartaglione about Dr. Rush's country home.
The Honorable Christine M. Tartaglione
Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Senate Box 203002
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3002
In re: Dr. Benjamin Rush's country estate, a/k/a Greenwood Cemetery,
930 Adams Road, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Dear Senator Tartaglione:
A couple of years ago, my friend, Dr. Phyllis Cole, who teaches at the
Brandywine Campus of The Pennsylvania State University, asked me to
assist one of her students by straightening out and verifying the
chain of title to premises 930 Adams Avenue, a/k/a Greenwood
Cemetery. As an attorney, I can certify unequivocally and without any
hesitation that premises 930 Adams Avenue was the country estate of
Dr. Benjamin Rush (1746-1813). Dr. Rush owned the property from 1780
to December 31, 1792 and built the house around 1782. Dr. Rush
occupied this house during the most prolific period of his
professional life (1780-1792). On Tuesday, July 24, 1787, Dr. and
Mrs. Rush served tea to George Washington and Annis Boudinot Stockton
(1736-1801) in this house.
In addition to signing the Declaration of Independence, serving in the
Continental Army, founding Dickinson College, being a founding trustee
of Franklin and Marshall College, serving as a member of the
Pennsylvania Convention to ratify the U.S. Constitution, an early
abolitionist and supporter of the Rev. Absolom Jones (1746-1818), Dr.
Rush is generally deemed to be the "father" of American psychiatry.
Despite the Rush's accomplishments and his significance service to our
nation during its the early period, he has been largely ignored in
Philadelphia. His birthplace was demolished so that the Roosevelt
Blvd. could be constructed. All of the other houses in which he
resided in Society Hill have been razed as well. I, for one, feel
that both Dr. Rush and his last remaining residence deserve more
recognition and better treatment. At the very least I feel that the
Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission should be asked to erect a
road side historical marker indicating the location of Dr. Rush's
country estate at 930 Adams Avenue.
Unfortunately, the Rush house was severely remodeled in the 1830.
Consequently, the 1830 vintage stucco, dormer windows and cornice, as
well as, the 2/2 double hung Victorian window sash and the 20th
century porch all serve to obscure the 18th century architectural
elements of the building. The steep pitch of the roof is correct for
an 18th century building, but completely wrong for a 19th century
house. However, because the building does not currently present an
accurate appearance of a well maintained 1782-vintage Pennsylvania
field stone dwelling, the present owners, some of the staff of the
Bureau for Historic Preservation and some of the members of the
Northwood Civic Association have dismissed the documentary evidence
regarding the historical significance of both the dwelling house and
the site of Dr. Rush's country estate.
It would appear that neither the present owners, nor most of the
neighbors, nor the Northwood Civic Association seem to appreciate the
historical significance of the site or the antique house on the
property. The 18^th century residents of your district played a noble
and significant role in our nation's early history. The question is
whether the current residents are going to embrace and defend that
history proudly or simply ignore it and destroy the remaining
artifacts belonging to that history. I feel that all Philadelphians
should be made aware that there are important historical sites and
antique buildings in Philadelphia County, which are located outside
Society Hill and Independence National Historical Park.
Since there does not appear to be a non-profit historic preservation
organization functioning in what had been Oxford Township,
Philadelphia County, I would welcome the opportunity to meet with you
and present my research findings to you.
Thank you for your kind consideration in this matter.
Very truly yours,
Leslie B. Potter