Dear Conservancy Staff,

We’re looking ahead to a special members-only virtual program this May and hope you’ll join us. If you’re not currently a member, we warmly invite you to consider joining our community so you don’t miss what promises to be an engaging program.

Please register today and join us on Tuesday, May 19, to learn and celebrate Chestnut Hill’s role in the American Revolution and how those events have been remembered across generations.

Left: Yeakel Cabin at Germantown Avenue and Mermaid Lane, circa 1900. Demolished in 1911, it was then the oldest standing house in Chestnut Hill. Photo from the Chestnut Hill Conservancy archives.

Right: Hand-colored view of High Street at the 1926 Sesquicentennial (“Sesqui”). Photo courtesy of Tom Keels.

From Colony to Commemoration
Chestnut Hill’s Role in Realizing and Remembering the Revolution

Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Virtual Program, via Zoom | 7:00–8:30 PM
Register HERE

As the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of American independence, this program explores Chestnut Hill’s connections to the American Revolution and how those events have been remembered over time—from the movement of Washington’s troops through the neighborhood in 1777 to the city’s 1926 Sesquicentennial celebration.

Part 1 — Liz Jarvis
Liz Jarvis, former Curator/Archivist of the Chestnut Hill Conservancy, will examine eighteenth-century Chestnut Hill and the events of October 4, 1777, when George Washington and approximately 4,000 American soldiers marched down what are now Bethlehem Pike and Germantown Avenue to attack British forces in Germantown. Following the battle, British troops moved through Chestnut Hill, burning houses and seizing goods, leaving many local residents with significant losses. Tradition also holds that soldiers killed during the Revolutionary War are buried at Yeakel Cemetery near present-day Stenton Avenue.

Part 2 — Tom Keels
Tom Keels, author of several historical works, will explore Philadelphia’s 1926 Sesquicentennial International Exposition, known as the “Sesqui,” and its connection to Chestnut Hill. While the fair is often remembered for its financial and organizational challenges, it also produced lasting contributions through the work of the Sesqui Women’s Committee. Keels will highlight how Chestnut Hill resident Elizabeth Price (Mrs. J. Willis Martin) and others developed innovative exhibits that helped shape new approaches to historic preservation and public history.

The program will conclude with a moderated Q&A, and all registered attendees will receive access to the recording.

If you have any program-related questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to our Director of Programs and Communications, Chrissy Clawson, at Chrissy@CHConservancy.Org.

Registration:
This is a free, members-only virtual event.

To attend, you must have an active Conservancy membership valid as of Monday, May 18, 2026.

Advance registration is required, and the Zoom link will be emailed approximately one day before the program.

Membership Status and Benefits: 
Check Your Membership and Get in Touch

If you’re unsure about your membership status, please reach out to our Director of Development, Ashley Maass, at Ashley@CHConservancy.Org.

Members receive benefits such as discounts to our Discovering series, complimentary research in the archives, and access to exclusive programs and opportunities. To learn more, contact Ashley at Ashley@CHConservancy.Org or 215-247-9329 ext. 202.

The Chestnut Hill Conservancy’s public programming is free or low-cost, made possible through the generous support of our Lead Sponsor, Chubb, as well as our General Sponsors, Event Sponsors, and dedicated members. 

Support the Conservancy

Support the Conservancy by donating today! Your support helps the Conservancy fulfill its mission to preserve historic architecture, conserve open landscapes, and share the rich history of Chestnut Hill and the lower Wissahickon watershed through inclusive public engagement and education.

Are you interested in sponsoring the Conservancy in 2026? 

Learn more about your opportunities by contacting the Conservancy's Director of Development, Ashley Maass, to discuss your options. 

2026 GENERAL SPONSORS