1770/00/00 |
Robert Morris |
Home |
Robert Morris buys a portion of Springettsbury manor for 1,821 pounds, 19 shillings and 6 pence. Naming it "The Hills" (lost), he builds a large and elegant greenhouse, hot houses and "pleasure" gardens. |
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1771/00/00 |
Mary White Morris |
Home |
Mary White Morris and Robert Morris make a home at The Hills (lost). |
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1776/07/20 |
Robert Morris |
Patriot |
I have uniformly voted against and opposed the Declaration of Independence, because, in my poor opinion, it was an improper time, and will neither promote the interest nor redound to the honour of America.... Robert Morris letter to Joseph Reed |
US Declaration of Independence |
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1784/05/01 |
Robert Morris |
Host |
Sons of Tammany salute General Washington who is dining with Robert Morris at the latter's country seat, The Hills (lost), with music, cheers and cannon fire. |
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1784/05/01 |
George Washington |
Guest |
Sons of Tammany salute General Washington who is dining with Robert Morris at the latter's country seat, The Hills (lost), with music, cheers and cannon fire. |
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1799/00/00 |
Robert Morris |
Life |
Morris falls into debt and is sent to debtors' prison. The Hills is confiscated and burns down. The 300-acre estate is divided into two portions. The southern parcel with the ruin on 43-acres is sold at a sheriff's sale to Henry Pratt for $14,654. |
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1799/00/00 |
Henry C Pratt |
Owner |
Robert Morris' 300-acre estate is divided into two parcels and is sold with what remained of their furniture at Sheriff's auction. Henry Pratt buys the southern lot, 43-acres with the Morris ruin, for $14,654. |
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1800/00/00 |
Henry C Pratt |
Home |
Lemon Hill mansion is built just south-west of the ruined Morris mansion, The Hills, as a summer home for Henry Pratt, a prosperous Philadelphia merchant. |
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1844/00/00 |
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The City of Philadelphia buys Lemon Hill in 1844 to protect the city's drinking water from pollution caused by increased industrialization along the Schuylkill River. |
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1854/00/00 |
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Lemon Hill opens to the public in compliance with the Consolidation Act of 1854, a law that extended the boundaries of Philadelphia and required that the city provide significant open spaces for the health and enjoyment of the people forever. |
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1855/00/00 |
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Fairmount Park is established when Lemon Hill, 45-acre city owned estate north of the Fairmount Waterworks and Reservoir, is officially renamed Fairmount Park, thus becoming the nucleus of an urban greenbelt that would eventually grow to 4,000 acres. |
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1926/00/00 |
Sidney Fiske Kimball |
Home |
Fiske and Marie Kimball undertake a major restoration ofLemon Hill. They will live in the mansion from 1926 to 1955. |
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