Germantown's Deshler-Morris House, Oldest Surviving 'White House,' Reopens Saturday
By Tim Jimenez
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A historical house in the Germantown section of Philadelphia reopens to the public this weekend.
It's the Deshler-Morris House, also known as the "Germantown White House" because President George Washington spent two periods of time here.
"Technically speaking, (this is) the oldest presidential home that's still standing today," says National Park Service park ranger Matt Ifill.
The home passed on from one wealthy Philadelphia family to another, and was rented to Pres. Washington to cool off during summers.
"So he didn't have to be in downtown Philadelphia, but Philadelphia was the US capital, so he wanted to be at least close to the city," Ifill explains.
And far enough from the yellow fever epidemic that killed about 5,000 Philadelphians in 1793.
"He could meet with his cabinet right here in the house and try to keep the government running while not getting into the city, where he would have been risking his life," Ifill tells KYW Newsradio.
The house is open to the public on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, from 10am to 4pm, through October 28th.
