Chain of Colonial Houses

by Anonymous

LEMON HILL

Lemon Hill was built in 1798 on the site of the Robert Morris country house called “The Hills.” Here he had his famous green houses with the first lemon trees in Philadelphia, which ultimately gave their name to the estate.

On Morris’ insolvency it was purchased by Henry Pratt, an opulent merchant, who built the present house. The oval drawing room was of the type then popular among the leaders of the government and society, found also in the White House in Washington and in the homes of Alexander Hamilton and General Henry Knox. The drawing room on the first floor and dining room on the floor below are the principal rooms of the house, the long windows on the south side giving a prospect of the river and being balanced on the opposite wall by a pair of fireplaces. The curved mahogany doors in these rooms are rich accents of colour against the blue woodwork and buff walls. In the library is one of the most delicate and beautiful of the early marble mantelpieces, with the legend of Leda.

Mr. and Mrs. Fiske Kimball, who occupy the house, have furnished it with appropriate pieces of the late eighteenth century in the Heppelwhite and Sheraton style. In the drawing room is a handsome suite of white and gold furniture in the Louis XVI style, including a settee and twelve armchairs. They were made in Philadelphia about 1800 for Edward Burd. The hangings are of a classic pattern in blue and silver, and over the mantels are a pair of colourful landscapes in the manner of Hubert Robert.