• For Sellers

• For Buyers

• Residential
  Listings

• Commercial &
  Investment

• Mortgage
  Information

• Neighborhood
  Information

• Map &
  Directions

• Consumer Notice

• Contact Us

• Home

The Gorgas House Home of WEICHERT, REALTORS® McCarthy Associates

Germantown Avenue and Gorgas Lane, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia Historical Commission Registration No. 15

THE Builder
JOSEPH GORGAS, the builder of the house, was a lumber merchant and a third generation son of a prominent early settler clan in Germantown. He was born on April 24, 1773, in Germantown and died in this house on May 8, 1850, in his 78th year.

In the month of June, 1799, Joseph acquired two properties in Germantown in addition to land inherited from his father, JOHN GORGAS II.

1. On June 7, he purchased from her sister, SUSANNAH GORCAS, Spinster, a house and lot of one acre and two perches ± at the northeast corner of Germantown Main Street and the Lane to Bristol Township (now Gorgas Lane), The house is assumed to have been the rear wing of the present structure. The purchase price was £ 250.

2. On June 25, he also bought two acres ± from Anthony Johnson, Yeoman. Presumably, this land was adjacent to the property above. It is judged by all sources, including the Philadelphia Historical Commission, that he began building this house during the latter half of the year 1798.

After the death of Joseph Gorgas, this house was sold by the heirs to George Ashmead, Germantown Druggist, for the sum of $7,100.

THE Structure
Located at 6901 Germantown Avenue, this stately, two and a half story stone house with gabled roof is a fine example of Colonial architecture from the 1780-1799 period in Pennsylvania.

The main house is 37 feet long and 27 feet deep, the front facade being constructed of dressed local stone laid in random ashlar, while the side walls are executed infield stone. The floor plan with central hall is typical of the period and remains unaltered. The transformed front door, the stairway, wood paneling, and floors throughout the house are original.

The two-story wing, 18 feet by 31 feet, is of the same style and materials. This wing is probably the first and oldest structure on the site. The front porch is a pre-Civil War addition, and the extension off the rear wing is much later.

THE Owners
1798-1850    Joseph Gorgas, Lumber Merchant
1850-1851    Surviving children of Joseph Gorgas
1851-1875    George Ashmead, Druggist
1875-1892    Elizabeth F. A. Schaeffer &. Catherine Ashmead
1892-1901    Ashmead &. Schaeffer family members
1901-1907    Rev. William Ashmead Schaeffer. D.D.
1907-1911    Elizabeth H.T. Schaeffer
1911-1912    Albert E. McKinley
1912-1945    James A. McCurdy & Ella R. h/w
1945-1957    William Leichester Bowers &. Helen M. h/w
1957-1962    W. Hamilton Aulenbach &. Pearl h/w
1962-1964    Seymour R. Kaplan &. Bernard Kaplan
1964-1975    Dr. Maurice C. Clifford &. Patricia J. h/w
1975-1986    Robert Vecchiolli
1986-            McCarthy Realty

THE Restoration
Today, the Gorgas House is a landmark statement by McCarthy Realty of its dedication to the renaissance of historic preservations in the Chestnut Hill, Mt. Airy, and Germantown communities. Enjoy your tour of this grand old house!