Positively Philadelphia: Historic House In Society Hill
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - At 244 South 3rd Street in Society Hill is the historic house museum -- the Powel House -- not far from the Liberty Bell and other historic sites.
"The house was built in 1765, so it's 251 years old. The Powels were known for having some of the most lavish parties in all of the colonies. We're actually sitting in the same room where George and Martha Washington danced for their 20th wedding anniversary," says Jonathan Burton.
Burton is executive director of the Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks.
"One of the most famous dinner parties that they held was in early September 1774," he tells KYW Newsradio. "John Adams coined it the 'sinful feast.' He described all of these things that he ate and drank, parmesan cheeses and wine and ports, and he just loved it."
And not that long ago, he says the house almost literally became history:
"This entire neighborhood of Society Hill was all factories in the 19th century. The house has been a museum since the 1930s when the Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks was a nonprofit that was formed by Frances Anne Wister to save the house from demolition. They were gonna tear it down! They were gonna tear it down for an open air parking lot for a taxicab company."
Today, you can wander through the house and enjoy its history and its beauty from days gone by.
For hours and more about the house, CLICK HERE.
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And for this week, that's "Positively Philadelphia!"
