Spring programs, advocacy updates, archives highlights, and a look ahead to the Spring Gala and
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April News from the Conservancy
Photo and text by the late author Paul Meyer—former Chestnut Hill Conservancy board member and F. Otto Haas Executive Director of the Morris Arboretum—noted in his Conservancy Tree of the Montharticles.
YELLOW MAGNOLIA
In recent decades, new hybrid selections of yellow flowering magnolia have been introduced and are now becoming more widely available. Many of the yellow magnolias are the result of crosses made between the American cucumber tree magnolia, Magnolia acuminata, and the Yulan magnolia, Magnolia denudata. The combination of these two parents has resulted in many cultivars which flower later (late April) than the more common star and saucer magnolias. They are sometimes fragrant and range from light butter yellow to a golden yellow. Since they flower later, they are less likely to get hit by a late frost.
The cultivar ‘Elizabeth’ was an early hybrid selection introduced in 1978 by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Its pale butter yellow flowers are produced at a very young age. It is a rapid grower, and it is a good tree for the impatient tree planter. Three fine maturing trees frame the upper curve on the Morris Arboretum driveway. It is a Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Gold Medal winner.
‘Butterflies’ is another outstanding selection that is becoming available from nurseries. It seems to be somewhat smaller in stature and the flowers are a deeper yellow. Its form tends to be somewhat irregular, differing from the more formal upright, pyramidal form of ‘Elizabeth.’
With each passing year, more yellow cultivars of Magnolia are being introduced. The Morris Arboretum has many in its plant collection and offers a good opportunity to pick your favorite. The Scott Arboretum at Swarthmore College also has an outstanding collection.
Arbor Day in Pennsylvania is the last Friday in April. Celebrate by planting a tree for future generations, in your garden or your neighborhood. Make a difference… plant a tree.
(Following the Conservancy's 2024 Spring Gala, the Conservancy honored Charlie Dilks for his lifelong dedication to conservation by announcing the planting of a Lois Magnolia tree in Pastorius Park in hopes that this tree will serve as a lasting tribute to his many contributions, enriching our community for generations to come. )
As April comes to a close, the Chestnut Hill Conservancy’s work is in full swing across preservation, conservation, archives, advocacy, and public programs. This issue highlights recent efforts—from spring programs and easement stewardship to advocacy updates and a generous archives acquisition—alongside upcoming events, including the Spring Gala and Night of Lights!
Spring Gala 2026 | Honoring Dennis F. Meyer
Join the Conservancy for a memorable evening on Saturday, May 30, in the garden of Binderton in Chestnut Hill for our 2026 Spring Gala. Binderton was designed by architects Cope and Stewardson in the Jacobethan style and built in 1903 for its first owner, J. Wilmer Biddle. The house features a garden designed by James Frederick Dawson, of the Olmsted Brothers Landscape Architects.
Surrounded by a landscape shaped more than a century ago, the Chestnut Hill Conservancy’s Spring Gala will honor Dennis F. Meyer for his lifelong dedication to craftsmanship and stewardship. Over the course of his career, Meyer and his family have helped preserve the architectural character of homes throughout Chestnut Hill, Northwest Philadelphia, and nearby Montgomery County communities.
Dennis Meyer grew up immersed in the trade, learning carpentry through daily experience and trade school training before assuming leadership of the company in 1987 with his wife, Alice. Today, the third generation continues the work, maintaining a legacy built on long-standing relationships and word-of-mouth referrals.
Alice and Dennis Meyer. Photo courtesy of Dennis Meyer.
Meyer also maintained a longstanding relationship with the Conservancy, serving on the board for approximately fifteen years and contributing to maintenance planning for the organization’s headquarters at 8708 Germantown Avenue.
Fewer than 20 tickets remain, and the event is expected to sell out shortly.
If you would like to purchase a $200 text tribute ad for our Gala honoree in the Spring Gala program book, the submission deadline is this Friday, May 1. To submit a text tribute, donate a silent auction item, or inquire about remaining tickets, please contact our Director of Development, Ashley Maass, at Ashley@CHConservancy.Org.
If you are unable to attend but would like to make a donation in lieu of attending, please click HERE.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to those who have already contributed to this year’s Gala, including our Benefactors, Sponsors, and early donors and patrons.
Thank you to everyone who joined the March 30 community information session on the proposed Zoning Review Committee (ZRC), hosted by the Chestnut Hill Conservancy, Chestnut Hill Community Association, and Chestnut Hill Business District.
The ZRC is a one-year collaborative pilot initiative designed to improve efficiency and expand participation in the development review process while maintaining rigorous review standards. Each organization will appoint representatives, with monthly meetings and project working groups formed as needed.
This effort builds on years of community feedback and reflects the shared role of all three organizations as Registered Community Organizations (RCOs) under the Philadelphia Zoning Code.
For questions or comments about the Conservancy’s role in this process, please contact Executive Director David Gest atDavid@CHConservancy.Org.
Membership and Member Programs
We are grateful to our members, whose ongoing support makes it possible to offer programs, care for collections, and advance preservation and conservation efforts throughout Chestnut Hill and the lower Wissahickon watershed.
Members receive discounted tickets for programs such as the Discovering series, invitations to exclusive events, early registration opportunities, and access to special content.
Upcoming Members-Only Program | Tuesday, May 19
From Colony to Commemoration
Chestnut Hill’s Role in Realizing and Remembering the Revolution
Tuesday, May 19, 2026 Virtual Program | 7:00–8:30 PM
This members-only virtual program features Liz Jarvis and Tom Keels and explores Chestnut Hill’s connections to the American Revolution and how those events have been remembered over time—from the march of Washington’s troops in 1777 to the 1926 Sesquicentennial.
Please note that the registration link is currently open to all. Once membership status is verified, you will receive a link to the Zoom meeting. Only active members will receive the link approximately one day before the event date.
In Part 1, Liz Jarvis, the former Curator/Archivist of the Chestnut Hill Conservancy, explores eighteenth-century Chestnut Hill and the events of October 4, 1777, when George Washington and approximately 4,000 American soldiers marched down what are today Bethlehem Pike and Germantown Avenue to attack British forces in Germantown. Following the Battle of Germantown, British troops stormed through Chestnut Hill, burning houses and taking goods, leaving many local residents with significant losses. Tradition also holds that soldiers killed during the Revolutionary War are buried at the Yeakel Cemetery near present-day Stenton Avenue.
In Part 2, Tom Keels, the author of several historical books, examines Philadelphia’s 1926 Sesquicentennial International Exposition, known as the Sesqui, which was intended to celebrate the 150th anniversary of American independence. Although the fair is often remembered as a failure marked by political corruption, poor planning, and financial mismanagement, a notable success emerged from the creative work of the Sesqui Women’s Committee. Drawing on his book Sesqui! Greed, Graft, and the Forgotten World’s Fair of 1926, Keels highlights how Chestnut Hill resident Elizabeth Price (Mrs. J. Willis) Martin and other women from the Hill and surrounding communities developed innovative exhibits that helped shape new approaches to historic preservation and historical interpretation.
The program concludes with a moderated Q&A. All registered attendees will receive access to the recording. If you have any program-related questions, contact the Director of Programs and Communications, Chrissy Clawson, at Chrissy@CHConservancy.Org.
On April 22, 2026, the Chestnut Hill Conservancy led a consortium of Upper Northwest Philadelphia organizations in submitting a letter to the Philadelphia City Council Rules Committee regarding Bill No. 251030. Since the bill's introduction in the Fall of 2025, the Conservancy has advocated for detailed changes to the legislation, which would create a significant loophole, allowing building owners to demolish character-defining historic features without Historical Commission review, and would generally weaken historic preservation protections in Philadelphia.
The letter requests that the bill not be placed on a Rules Committee agenda during the current session and instead be tabled to allow additional time for stakeholder engagement and discussion.
Participating organizations included the Chestnut Hill Conservancy, Chestnut Hill Community Association, Chew and Belfield Neighbors Club, East Mt. Airy Neighbors, Penn Knox Neighborhood Association, SoLo Germantown Civic Association, West Central Germantown Neighbors, and Wingohocking and Wister Neighbors.
Following submission of the letter, the Conservancy was informed that the bill will not be placed on the May 20 Rules Committee agenda.
The Conservancy continues to engage in planning and preservation efforts that support thoughtful development, community input, and the protection of historic resources across Philadelphia.
In addition to a generous monetary donation to our archives, donor Tom Boyle surprised the staff of the Chestnut Hill Conservancy with a watercolor of our building, executed by artist John Westcott. Click HERE to see a closeup of the painting!
John's painting perfectly captures the warmth and overall feel of our headquarters at 8708 Germantown Avenue, and our staff and visitors will certainly enjoy viewing it.
Thanks so much, Tom, for your kindness and for your surprise!
David Gest and Tom Boyle.
Easement Stewardship and Monitoring
Easements are a partnership between the landowner and the easement holder to conserve and preserve environmentally and historically important properties in perpetuity.
Once the easement is granted, the Conservancy is obligated to visit the eased property annually to observe changes, document current conditions, and ensure the conservation value originally outlined in the easement. This practice, referred to as monitoring or enforcement, is outlined in the terms of the easement. Monitoring is rooted in observation—tracking changes over time and understanding how properties evolve. Regular monitoring is also an opportunity to speak with the owner about proposed changes or issues and support ongoing stewardship.
Monitoring visits take place from April through November. Krista Gebbia, our Director of Stewardship, has already begun site visits this season, using an iPad and Landscape Conservation Software to document observations as she walks eased properties.
Join Us for a Walk in the Park A Guided Tour on May 9
The Discovering series, one of the Chestnut Hill Conservancy’s signature public programs, spotlights the area’s rich architecture, history, and natural beauty through guided tours and lectures, offering Conservancy members discounted tickets.
Discovering: Pastorius Park History, Trees, and the Art of Stewardship
Less than 15 tickets remain. Advance registration is required.
Following the virtual Discoveringlecture earlier this year, this in-person tour will be led by Rob Fleming, ASLA, and James McNabb.
The May 9 program explores the park’s historic framework, notable trees, and the ongoing stewardship required to care for it over time, highlighting how landscapes evolve through cycles of use, restoration, and observation. Contact the Director of Programs and Communications, Chrissy Clawson, at Chrissy@CHConservancy.Org with any questions.
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. Our 2026 Discovering Event Sponsor is John B. Ward & Co. Arborists.Heritage Consulting GroupandLaurel Hill Gardens are both proud 2026 Discovering Supporting Sponsors.
Archives Updates
Last fall, the Chestnut Hill Conservancy Archives received a donation of a series of watercolors depicting area train stations.
The donor of the paintings noted, "My dad… worked for PECO for 50 years and was a train enthusiast. He built model railroads and went train spotting. My Great Aunt… on my Mom's side of the family, worked at Girard Bank at Chestnut Hill, where Peg Roy displayed paintings for sale. Any train stations that she painted, my father bought.” Based on the content shown in the paintings, they are from the mid-1960s. At the time, the Girard [Trust] Bank was located at 8616-8618 Germantown Avenue, which was the home of Citizens Bank until it relocated across the street last year.
Research on the painter, Peg Roy, has turned up nothing. Are you familiar with her work, or do you know anything about her as a person? We’d love to know more.
If you have any information about Peg Roy, her life and works, please let us know by contacting Curator and Archivist Alex Bartlett at Alex@CHConservancy.Org or (215) 247-9329, ext. 206.
Springing ahead, the Conservancy staff and volunteers are busy bees planning for the opening of our 2026 Exhibit. Save the date for Saturday, June 20!
History is often marked by major milestones, but it is just as deeply shaped by the ways communities come together to celebrate. As the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, our up-and-coming exhibit, Marking the Moment: Celebrations in Chestnut Hill and Nearby Neighborhoods, uses materials from our archives and from area organizations to consider how history is marked not only by major milestones but also by the everyday celebrations, traditions, and gatherings that shape community life over time. Opening on Saturday, June 20, the exhibit will be on view at our headquarters at 8708 Germantown Avenue.
Looking Ahead: Night of Lights 2026
The Conservancy is currently planning the 2026 Night of Lights, with opening night scheduled for Friday, October 2.
This free, multi-night streetscape exhibition transforms Germantown Avenue into a walkable outdoor gallery, with archival images, historical materials, and community stories projected throughout the corridor.
The program will continue partnerships with organizations across the lower Wissahickon watershed, including Germantown, Mt. Airy, and Chestnut Hill.
If you are interested in more infomation about the program, volunteering, or participating, please contact Chrissy Clawson, who directs the program at Chrissy@CHConservancy.Org. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Ashley Maass atAshley@CHConservancy.Org.
Support
Your support allows the Conservancy to continue free or low-cost public programs, preservation efforts, and advocacy for Chestnut Hill’s historic architecture, open space, and cultural resources. Donations directly sustain educational initiatives, conservation easements, and the Archives, ensuring our shared history is protected for future generations.
Looking to sponsor the Conservancy in 2026? Sponsorship offers a unique opportunity to support local preservation efforts while gaining visibility among a community passionate about history, conservation, and sustainability.
Contact our Director of Development,Ashley Maass, to explore available sponsorship options.
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