Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Chestnut Hill is a neighborhood in the northwestern corner of Philadelphia. It is bounded by the Wissahickon Gorge and Cresheim Valley. The area is an early "streetcar suburb" of Philadelphia, and contains a wide variety of 19th and early 20th century residential buildings. During the US Revolutionary War era (late 18th Century), the area was one of many summer vacation spots due to its higher elevation (400-500 feet above sea level) and cooler temperatures than the historic Center City.
Streetcar tracks still run down the main street of the neighborhood, Germantown Avenue, but SEPTA, the local transit authority, "temporarily suspended" regular trolley service in 1992. Trolleys still run on special occasions, and two commuter rail lines and several bus lines still serve the neighborhood. SEPTA has no serious plans to restore trolley service.
Among the historic properties located in this neighborhood are:
- Esherick House, designed by Louis Kahn [1] (http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Esherick_House.html)
External links
- Chestnut Hill College (http://www.chc.edu/)
- Chestnut Hill Business Association (http://www.chestnuthillpa.com/)
- Chestnut Hill Historical Society (http://www.chhist.org/)