The Wing Thing: Ready to Fly
Stenton is delighted to report that its Facilities Use Study on the Service Wing is complete. This document, colloquially called the "Wing Thing", is the first phase of a three phase project leading to preservation of and an addition to the Service Wing at Stenton. The project developed in order to undertake essential restoration work on the Service Wing as well as to allow the site to improve its accessibility and visitor services (visitor welcome and orientation area, gift shop, restroom, available catering facilities), education space, offices and storage.
John Bowie, our historical architect, has submitted a final report, which summarizes the entire process which led to the development of the final scheme. Bowie undertook a thorough investigation of the Wing to document its existing state of repair, to review its heating, air conditioning, electrical and plumbing systems, and to assess how visitors, staff and volunteers use the space. Lengthy discussions with friends of Stenton and interested stakeholders outlined a range of possible schemes for the Wing. Additional analysis went into space flow and usage, resulting in a final scheme which will be developed into architectural and engineering drawings.
The Facilities Use Study will be a tremendously useful document as we move forward, and will help future generations to understand our decision-making process. The total cost for the Wing addition is estimated at between $850,000 and $1.1 million, which will be a substantial investment indeed. This cost is factored into plans that the NSCDA/PA has for a Capital Campaign likely to begin in 2006. Approximately half of the project cost is for required restoration and maintainance while the remainder includes the addition to the Wing.
We will travel a long way from this conceptual study to the reality of a restored Wing and new addition. We will be working closely with the City on the project and there is naturally that ever present challenge of raising funds to undertake the work. The Wing Thing, however, sets the stage for dramatic improvement to Stenton’s facilities and offers us an exciting vision for the future.
WHYY Experience Program Highlights Stenton
Experience is Philadelphia PBS station WHYY’s new and ongoing TV series designed to introduce viewers to arts and cultural stories, places, and ideas that might otherwise be missed. The goal of the program is to heighten awareness, understanding and participation in the arts. The project is a rich video sampler interwoven throughout TV 12's schedule. The Experience spot featuring Stenton, recorded in March, includes some lovely photography of the house and commentary by Stenton Director Stephen Hague. Look for the spots to air between programs on WHYY, or visit their website (www.whyy.org) and click on Experience to view it on-line.
Colonial Fashion Show
What was it like to dress in the 18th century? What kind of clothing, fabrics and designs were fashionable? Are those legendary stays for women really so uncomfortable? What does the Stenton chair look like in her underwear – or at least the 18th century version?
In March, historic costume purveyor Sue Hueskin led a Colonial Fashion Show that answered these and other questions. Using models drawn from the Stenton staff and Committee (as well as a few willing friends and relatives) Sue provided a look at women's dresses from the 1720s until the 1790s. The Colonial Fashion Show explored the notion that how one dresses defines in many ways how one interacts with the world, as well as signifying to the world who and what one is. Covering a range of clothing, from elaborate gowns worn by upper class ladies to dresses of the middling sort to garments of servants, this fun and educational day allowed us to investigate textiles and to consider how clothing changed over the time the Logans lived at Stenton.
Pictured in photo: Stenton staff and Committee members in 18th-century garb. From left to right: Peggy Shaver, Laura Stutman, Jane Foster Willson, Anne Burnett, Liz Schmidt
Change of Leadership – Peggy to Jane
In May, Stenton Chair Peggy Shaver (on right) turned over the reins as Chair to Jane Foster Willson (on left). Jane and Peggy, from Georgia and Alabama respectively, add a warm and hospitable southern flavor to goings-on at Stenton. They are pictured here during their modeling stint at the Colonial Fashion Show in March.
History Hunters on Channel 6
Local ABC affiliate Channel 6 WPVI featured our award-winning educational program, History Hunters, on their Fast Forward program in April. History Hunters is administered by Stenton in cooperation with Cliveden of the National Trust, the Johnson House Historic Site, and Wyck, bringing each site's educational program into a coordinated curriculum that provides a year-long American history lesson as well as focusing on important reading and writing skills.
Fast Forward, which highlights children doing fun things in the Delaware Valley, paid a visit to Wyck, one of the four History Hunters partner sites. Among other things, children toured the house, compared jam made at Wyck with the store-bought variety, visited the lovely Wyck garden, learned about farm life by helping to till the Wyck fields, and made "Whizzer" toys. Exposure on the show was naturally great publicity for the program.
We are continuing to seek funding for History Hunters so that we can continue to run the program in its current form. We have been working closely with the other sites to secure the future of this outstanding educational offering. We have put together a joint fundraising letter from the four sites, which has been helpful in raising over $13,000 to date. Thank you to the many generous donors who have helped to support History Hunters, ensuring that over 1500 schoolchildren are able to participate in this enriching literacy program this year.
Girl Scouts Learn History and Landscaping at Stenton
This spring Stenton offered two Saturday scout programs for Girl Scouts of Southeastern Pennsylvania. On April 9, 36 Brownie Scouts visited as part of the Listening to the Past program. The following Saturday, 17 Junior scouts, along with siblings and parents, completed their Logan Lore badge at Stenton. The scouts toured the house, took notes, and designed and wrote a newspaper about Stenton and their visit. As part of their badge requirement, the Junior Scouts also completed a service project for Stenton, helping mulch trees on the property and plant flowers in the Colonial Revival Garden.
Shaping Franklin
Philadelphia is gearing up for the 300th anniversary of the birth of Benjamin Franklin, and Stenton will be the focus of considerable attention. Franklin is the first Founding Father to turn 300, and there has been extensive press coverage of the Franklin 300 events that will kick-off later in the year. In April, Stenton Director Stephen Hague spoke to a group of travel writers at the City Tavern about Stenton's Franklin-related events.
The focus at Stenton will be Shaping Franklin, our must-see tour and special exhibit opening September 15. Shaping Franklin will provide visitors with an unparalleled glimpse of Franklin's formative years in Philadelphia, as seen through his visits to Stenton, the elegant home of James Logan, one of Pennsylvania's most learned men, and will highlight young Franklin's friendship with mentor James Logan. Visitors can stand in the library where Franklin sought advice on books to purchase for his Library Company. We invite everyone to come explore a special relationship between two colonial Philadelphians of different generations, built on books, ideas and science. That friendship helped to shape the man who would make a lasting mark on America - Benjamin Franklin.
The Franklin 300 project continues to gain momentum and Stenton Franklin-related events have continued to attract attention. Please view them at the Franklin website: www.benfranklin300.org.
Visit Stenton. Ben Franklin thought it was worth the trip.
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