July 4th Festivities in Chestnut Hill

Take a look at these 4×5 glass plate negatives of Chestnut Hill’s July 4th festivities from around 1900! Chestnut Hill was a part of the German Township before both Chestnut Hill and Germantown were incorporated into Philadelphia in 1854. The first two pictures were taken near Willow Grove Ave by the Chestnut Hill Academy (now Springside Chestnut Hill Academy) on July 4th. The last picture was taken on Germantown Avenue in Chestnut Hill.

Some boys participating in a July 4th pie-eating contest, c.1900

July 4th Parade in Chestnut Hill at the corner of Germantown and Evergreen Aves, c.1900. In the background is McGlone’s Saloon on the east side of the 8600 Germantown block, now the site of a Wachovia Bank.

Celebrate July 4th with us this Thursday in Historic Germantown with free programming at five our member sites!

Stenton: 11:30am-1:30PM, Stenton will host an old-fashioned 4th of July celebration with hotdogs, make your own ice cream and flag-themed fan activity, games, and more! The program will also feature Benjamin Franklin, a good friend of James Logan, as well as music by Run of the Mill String Band.

Hood Cemetery: 12-3PM, Open for tours

Concord School House & Upper Burial Ground: 12-3PM, Open for tours. Concord will ring the historic school bell at 2pm and feature reeanactor Oney Judge.

Johnson House: 12-3PM, Open for tours.

Cliveden: 12-4PM, Open for tours, Cliveden will feature a children’s interactive activitity, “Life as a Colonial Soldier!”