Visit Stenton: one of Philadelphia’s oldest preserved historic houses | 6abc Loves the Arts

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Stenton was built in 1730 as a summer home for James Logan

“We say he’s the least known, but one of the most important people in terms of the founding of not just Philadelphia but this country,” said Stephanye Watts, Community Engagement Coordinator, Historic Germantown & Stenton.

Logan served as the colonial secretary to William Penn.

“William Penn only spends a few years of his life here. He returns to England in 1701 and never sets foot here again so he relies on James Logan to carry out his affairs, to look after his interests,” said Dennis Pickeral, Executive Director of Stenton.

A preservation group known as The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania took over the property in 1899 and turned it into a museum.

“People can take tours. We do a lot of community pre-programming,” said Watts. “And then you can also come to Stenton and do nothing. We do have a really beautiful landscape and a gorgeous garden so if you wanna just come and read your book, you can just come and read your book.”

Logan was an avid reader who amassed more than 2,600 books.

“He can read and write seven languages, so really a brilliant man,” said Pickeral.

“James Logan also was an enslaver, which was shocking for a lot of people because they were a Quaker family,” said Watts.

In the second floor’s “yellow lodging room,” you can learn about Dinah, a formerly enslaved woman on the property.

“She requested and received her freedom in 1776,” said Watts.

She stayed on as a paid servant and, legend holds, saved the house from being burned down by British soldiers following the Battle of Germantown in 1777.

When you ask certain community members specifically in Nicetown, they look at Dinah as a hero

There’s now a monument to her on the grounds.

“As we think about her, as we ponder about her, that’s how we keep her alive,” said Watts.

A Dinah Day celebration is planned from noon to 4 p.m. on April 18th, marking 250 years since she was granted her freedom.

“Thecity is talking about the 250th,at Stenton, it is Dinah 250,” said Pickeral.

Stenton is also open for tours Tuesday through Saturday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. from April through December.

For more information, visit: Stenton.org/Dinah.