Picture this a weathered stone barn nestled in the heart of Philadelphia. This isn’t just any barn. This is the Barn Site in Rittenhouse Town a place steeped in history and brimming with untold stories. Built originally of local stone the first barn on this site is recorded in the 1798 Direct Tax List. It belonged to Margaret Rittenhouse widow of William Rittenhouse. The barn likely served the nearby Rittenhouse home dating back to 1750. Margaret lived there until her death in 1817.
William Rittenhouse was a significant figure. He was the great-grandson of William and Gertrude Rittenhouse who settled in Germantown around 1690. They established America’s first paper mill. It operated for over 150 years. This connection adds another layer to the Barn Site’s rich history.
The Great Depression brought significant change. As part of the New Deal the Works Progress Administration WPA stepped in. They demolished the old barn. They constructed the barn we see today in 1938. Amazingly damaged WPA drawings from 1937 show what the original barn looked like. Architectural drawings by WPA architect Curtis Seibert provide further insight into the original structure and its 1938 reconstruction.
Seibert’s plan for the Pabst Lane Shelter a similar structure shows his approach. He aimed to recreate the failing original barn without drastic alterations. Both barns share a three-part design including a loft. They are built into the hillside in a typical bank barn style. His design included stables a tool room and a storage shed.
A later addition a chimney hints at the barn’s use as a shelter. The storage shed disappeared by the mid-1980s. However physical evidence remains on the barn itself. The service bays are gone too but their foundations still exist. For forty years the Barn served as a maintenance area for Fairmount Park vehicles.
In the 1990s Historic Rittenhouse Town took over. They restored the Barn Site. Today it houses the Paper Studio and the offices of the Wissahickon Restoration Volunteers. The Barn Site stands as a testament to the passage of time and human resilience. It’s a tangible link to Philadelphia’s past a place where history lives and breathes. It’s a must-see destination a reminder of the stories embedded in the very stones around us.