Charles Taylor was the developer for this home and many others
along Norwood Avenue in the 1860s (see map no. 54).  "Lyceland"
or "Disston House" was owned by the William Disston family from
1889 to 1954. The Disstons commissioned many alterations and
additions including a stable in 1889, a new porch in 1897, a two-story
addition in 1898, another two-story stone addition in 1900 with many
interior alterations (Keen & Mead, architects), yet another two-story 
stone addition in 1901, interior alterations in 1904 and the removal
of a three-story wing to the house and a two-story wing to the stable
in 1914.  The back left part of the building was demolished. Chestnut Hill
Hospital, purchased it in 1954.  The Chestnut Hill Historical Society
helped to prevent its demolition in 1980.  In 2000, it was sold to a
private owner. He and subsequent owners have restored the exterior,
which is protected by a facade easement. 

See Hotchkin, "Germantown, Mount Airy, and Chestnut Hill,"  p. 492:
"Mrs. George Whitney's house is next to that of Mr. Dunn (who
resided at 8860 Norwood Avenue). It is of modern
architecture on a gentle rise of ground, enclosed in a ha-ha wall."

See Keels and Jarvis,"Chestnut Hill,"  pps. 28 and 29.
See Chestnut Hill Historical Society's National Register of Historic
Places files under this address.