455 West Chestnut Hill Avenue

 

(photograph from Chestnut Hill Historical Society-John Naylor Collection: 1970.62)

MAP NUMBER: 25
DATE: 1903
ORIGINAL OWNER: J. Wilmer Biddle
ARCHITECT: Cope & Stewardson
CONTRACTOR: William J. Patterson

Know as "Binderton," "Biddle," or "Coxe," this Flemish-style
dwelling of red brick with red stone trim  and ornament has
many ornate features.  The photograph illustrates the stark character
of the landscape with few mature trees as farms were cleared
for development.  This house faced 437 West Chestnut
Hill Avenue (see Naylor 1970.63) across a broad expanse of lawn.
This house is not visible from Chestnut Hill Avenue because in the side
yard left of the driveway was sold in the 1960s and two smaller
suburban-style houses were constructed (one recently demolished).