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Chestnut Hill Conservancy

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Chestnut Hill Conservancy

Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Chestnut Hill Conservancy, Nonprofit Organization, 8708 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA.

The Chestnut Hill Conservancy, formerly the Chestnut Hill Historical Society, founded in 1967, is an educational center and advocate for the architecture, open space, and social history of Chestnut Hill and surrounding communities.

08/20/2026

What does Section 106 mean for places in our community?

The Chestnut Hill Conservancy has participated in several Section 106 consultations, including the Bells Mill Road and Valley Green Road bridges over the Wissahickon Creek. For that project, the Conservancy participated as a consulting party, reviewing findings and documentation regarding the historic bridges and the project's impact. The City of Philadelphia owns both bridges and is using federal grant funds.

Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act provides an important process for considering how federal actions may affect historic and cultural resources. It does not stop projects or dictate outcomes. It requires federal agencies to consider effects on historic properties before making decisions and provides opportunities for Tribal Nations, state and local governments, organizations, property owners, and members of the public to participate.

In July, the federal Advisory Council on Historic Preservation advanced significant proposed changes to the Section 106 regulations. The proposed changes would alter several of these requirements and opportunities, including public participation and the role of state and local governments.

The Conservancy opposes changes that would reduce opportunities for consultation and public participation in this important process.

On Monday, August 24, at 2:00 PM ET, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and partners from other preservation organizations will host “Section 106 Under Threat: Guidance for Advocates.” The webinar will share advocacy approaches, key talking points, and resources as the review process for the revised regulations gets underway.

Learn more and register: https://savingplaces.org/section106

Image: One of four stereoviews showing the Valley Green Bridge spanning the Wissahickon Creek, ca. 1880. Chestnut Hill Conservancy Archives.

07/19/2026

In honor of the arrival of National Ice Cream Day, it’s the perfect time to take a look back at one of our local ice cream parlors that long since disappeared from the local scene.

In 1979, the Chestnut Hill Community Association sponsored the opening of the Trolley Barn ice cream parlor and cafe at the depot at the old Mermaid Trolley Loop at the “bottom of the Hill,” in what was a long-disused snack bar. The Trolley Barn had both indoor and outdoor seating, and was a favorite place to cool off on a hot summer day. Shown in this 1982 photograph are Trolley Barn staff members Chris Coleman, Anne Gardiner, and Kelvin Joyner.

For reasons which are unclear, the Trolley Barn closed in the mid-1980s and was replaced with a flower shop shortly thereafter. A flower shop has operated there sporadically since then and is currently the home of Chestnut Hill Flower & Garden.

For generations, a summer walk along Germantown Avenue has often ended with a scoop of ice cream. Today, Bredenbeck's Bakery & Ice Cream Parlor continues that tradition, connecting residents, workers, and visitors with a Philadelphia ice cream tradition that dates back to the 19th century through Bassett's Ice Cream. Do you have a favorite Chestnut Hill ice cream memory?

07/18/2026

What places in Chestnut Hill matter most to you?

Is it a favorite building? A park or landscape? A local business, institution, residence, or street? Perhaps it's a view, a tradition, or a place that tells an important community story.

On Wednesday, August 5, the Chestnut Hill Conservancy invites community members to join a Community Listening Session exploring the future of historic preservation in Chestnut Hill.

The evening will begin with a brief presentation introducing historic preservation planning tools before transitioning into interactive activities and guided discussions. Together, participants will explore which places matter, the opportunities and challenges facing preservation today, and how the Conservancy can continue to support the community through education, advocacy, and stewardship.

Whether you live, work, or regularly visit Chestnut Hill, your perspective is welcome. The conversation will help inform the Conservancy's future preservation priorities and ongoing implementation of its 2025–2030 Strategic Plan.

Wednesday, August 5, 2026
6:00–8:00 PM
Hybrid Meeting
Attend in person at Our Mother of Consolation Parish Hall or virtually via Zoom.

Registration is encouraged. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link, and advance registration for in-person attendance is appreciated as seating is limited to approximately 100 participants.

Register today: https://chconservancy.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/chconservancy/event.jsp?event=1468&

This project has been funded in part by a grant from the Henry A. Jordan, M.D. Preservation Excellence Fund of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

07/17/2026

The Chestnut Hill Conservancy has been awarded a $12,875 Art & Culture Grant through the Philadelphia Cultural Fund's (PCF) Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) grant program. This marks the first time the Conservancy has received funding from The Philadelphia Cultural Fund.

This funding is being awarded through The PCF’s FY26 grant cycle, which is distributing record support to 322 organizations citywide. This year’s cycle is bolstered by a $5 million allocation from the City of Philadelphia Government, designated in the 2026 budget, and a landmark partnership with the William Penn Foundation, which enables PCF to pilot a trust-based, community-informed funding model to foster equity across the city’s creative sector.

"We are honored to receive this support from The Philadelphia Cultural Fund," said David Gest, Esq., Executive Director of the Chestnut Hill Conservancy. "This investment recognizes that preserving history, architecture, landscapes, and community stories is an important part of Northwest Philadelphia's cultural life. It will help us continue connecting people with the places, collections, and educational programs that inspire stewardship and strengthen communities in the lower Wissahickon watershed."

Support provided by The Philadelphia Cultural Fund.

The Chestnut Hill Conservancy thanks the Philadelphia Cultural Fund for its investment in Philadelphia's cultural community and for recognizing the roles preservation, history, archives, and public programming play in strengthening neighborhoods across the city.

https://chconservancy.org/chestnut-hill-conservancy-receives-philadelphia-cultural-fund-grant/

07/09/2026

The Chestnut Hill Conservancy congratulates the owners, stewards, and partners of Erdenheim Farm following its listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Recognizing more than 475 acres across Springfield and Whitemarsh townships, the designation acknowledges one of the region’s most significant historic agricultural landscapes and reflects decades of preservation, conservation, and stewardship.

The Conservancy extends its congratulations to the McCausland family, Peter Ernst of the Erdenheim Farm Foundation and McCausland Foundation, Kathleen Abplanalp, the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office, the National Park Service, the staff stewarding Erdenheim Farm, and the many other individuals whose dedication helped achieve this important milestone.

As surrounding communities continue to evolve, Erdenheim Farm stands as a lasting reminder that thoughtful stewardship, preservation, and conservation can protect places of exceptional historic, architectural, agricultural, and environmental significance for generations to come.

Learn more: https://chconservancy.org/conservancy-congratulates-erdenheim-farm-listing/

Image of Sheep Barn at Erdenheim Farm. Country Life magazine, Vol. 44, 1923.

07/05/2026

One month from today, the Chestnut Hill Conservancy will host a community meeting exploring the future of historic preservation in Chestnut Hill.

The evening will begin with a presentation introducing historic preservation planning tools and how communities can use them to recognize, protect, and celebrate historic buildings, landscapes, and places. Participants will then take part in interactive activities and guided discussions designed to gather community perspectives and encourage conversation among neighbors.

Historic preservation looks different in every community. This meeting is intended to explore preservation as a range of tools and opportunities rather than predetermined outcomes, while creating space to better understand how people experience and value the places that shape Chestnut Hill.

Whether you live, work, or regularly visit Chestnut Hill, your perspective is important. The feedback gathered will help inform the Conservancy's ongoing work to develop a community-centered approach to preservation planning, building on the goals outlined in the Conservancy's 2025–2030 Strategic Plan.

Wednesday, August 5, 2026
6:00–8:00 PM

Hybrid Meeting
Attend in person at Our Mother of Consolation Parish Hall or virtually via Zoom.

Registration is required to receive the Zoom meeting link. Due to space limitations, advance registration for in-person attendance is appreciated.

This project has been funded in part by a grant from the Henry A. Jordan, M.D. Preservation Excellence Fund of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

07/01/2026

Fifty years ago, the Bicentennial wagon train made its way through our country, from Blaine, Washington, arriving at Valley Forge, the final stop on the trip, on July 4, 1976.

During the pilgrimage, the wagon train passed over early trade routes, including the Bozeman Trail, the Mormon Trail, the Natchez Trace Trail, and the Old Post Road. The route included Forbidden Drive, with a stop made at the Valley Green Inn.

These photographs, which originally appeared in the July 1, 1976, “Chestnut Hill Local,” show the wagon train along Forbidden Drive between Ten Box and the Blue Stone Bridge.

In a similar fashion, in honor of our nation’s 250th birthday, the Union Pacific Railroad’s locomotive #4014, more affectionately known as “Big Boy”, will be crossing the country and will be in the Philadelphia area over the July 4th weekend.

For more information about Big Boy’s journey, visit https://www.up.com/about-us/history/steam

To see more photographs like the one shown here, visit our website https://chconservancy.org/archives

06/28/2026

Save the date | August 5

On Wednesday, August 5, the Chestnut Hill Conservancy will host a community listening session focused on historic preservation, conservation, and the places that matter most to our community.

Whether you have lived in Chestnut Hill for decades or are new to the neighborhood, we hope you'll join us. This conversation is designed to hear community perspectives, encourage discussion, and help us better understand how residents experience and value our historic buildings, landscapes, and public spaces.

The evening will begin with a brief presentation introducing historic preservation planning tools and providing context for the discussion. Participants will then have the opportunity to share perspectives and hear from community members.

Wednesday, August 5, 2026
6:00–8:00 PM

Hybrid Meeting
Attend in person at Our Mother of Consolation (OMC) Parish Hall or virtually via Zoom.

The Conservancy is grateful to OMC for hosting this community meeting. The location was selected in part because OMC's school reopened in September 2025 following restoration work after a March 2023 electrical fire damaged the interior, offering a recent local example of preservation and stewardship.

Registration is now open. Registration is required to receive the Zoom meeting link. Due to space limitations, advance registration for in-person attendance is appreciated.

Learn more and register https://chconservancy.org/programs/community-listening-session/

This project has been funded in part by a grant from the Henry A. Jordan, M.D. Preservation Excellence Fund of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

06/26/2026

Earlier this month, the Chestnut Hill Conservancy opened "Marking the Moment," a new exhibition exploring how generations of people across Northwest Philadelphia have celebrated milestones, commemorated history, and built community.

The exhibition grew from a simple question: Rather than focusing only on the events of 1776, how might we tell the broader story of how our communities have marked moments over the past 250-plus years? The result draws from the Conservancy's archives and loans from community partners to explore everything from parades and festivals to neighborhood traditions and civic celebrations.

If you missed it, thank you to Maggie Dougherty and the The Chestnut Hill Local for highlighting the exhibition and interviewing our Curator and Archivist, Alex Bartlett, about the ideas behind it.

As Alex shared with the Local, "It was definitely a group effort, and that's something to celebrate in itself."

While Alex led the curatorial vision, the exhibition reflects the work of many people. Special thanks to Dan Preston, current Vice President of Collections and incoming Vice President of the Conservancy's Board of Directors, whose research and volunteer leadership were instrumental in bringing "Marking the Moment" to life.

"Marking the Moment" is on view at the Chestnut Hill Conservancy, 8708 Germantown Avenue, on Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Holiday and special-event hours may vary; check CHConservancy.Org for what to know before you go!

06/25/2026

The Chestnut Hill Conservancy is pleased to announce that architect, board member, and longtime community volunteer Jean McCoubrey, AIA, will serve as the next President of the Board of Directors beginning Aug. 1, 2026. Dan Preston will serve as Vice President.

This leadership transition comes as the Conservancy continues implementing its 2025–2030 Strategic Plan and expands its work in preservation, conservation, archives, advocacy, and community engagement throughout Chestnut Hill and the lower Wissahickon watershed.

We are deeply grateful to Bill Webster for his leadership and service as Board President. During his tenure, the Conservancy completed its 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, providing a roadmap that will guide the organization's work in the years ahead.

Congratulations to Jean and Dan as they step into these new leadership roles, and thank you to Bill for his partnership and dedication to the Conservancy!!!

Read the full leadership announcement: https://chconservancy.org/jean-mccoubrey-named-next-board-president/

Address

8708 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia, PA
19118

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm
Saturday	10am - 4pm

Telephone

+12152479329

Website

http://www.chconservancy.org/

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