8862 Towanda Street

      

(photographs from Chestnut Hill Historical Society-John Naylor Collection: 1970.108, 1970.109, & 1970.143)

 

MAP NUMBER: 77
DATE: early 19th century
ORIGINAL OWNER: Unknown
ARCHITECT: Unknown
CONTRACTOR: Unknown

Known as "The Squirrels," this three-story stucco dwelling perched on
the edge of the Wissahickon gorge has gone through many transformations.
A succession of alterations in 1894, 1897, 1900 and 1902 brought it
into the form that Naylor captured with his camera by 1910.  The Naylor
photograph #87 (1970.109) shows the same house with an addition to the north. 
A greenhouse was built in 1899 and enlarged in 1901.  In 1976, a swimming
pool was built in the ground where the greenhouse had stood.