Glen Fern

Deep in the Wissahickon Valley, nestled beside the whispering creek, stands Glen Fern. It’s more than just a historic house. It’s a time capsule, whispering tales of colonial life, milling, and even whispers of the Revolutionary War. Glen Fern, also known as the Livezey House, was built around 1725 by Thomas Shoemaker. In 1747, Thomas Livezey Jr., a prominent miller, purchased the property. He saw the potential of the rushing Wissahickon Creek and built a mill, transforming Glen Fern into a bustling hub of activity. The mill drew customers from all over Roxborough and Germantown. Livezey, a devout Quaker, raised a large family of ten children at Glen Fern. They lived and breathed the Quaker tradition within those stone walls. For over 120 years, generations of Livezeys called Glen Fern home. The house itself is a fascinating blend of architectural styles. It consists of three adjoining gable-roof structures, each progressively smaller. Each section also features a single shed-roof dormer. Livezey expanded the main house in 1764 and added several outbuildings, including a barn in 1768. Today, you can still see remnants of those structures scattered around the grounds, silent witnesses to Glen Fern’s industrious past. Glen Fern wasn’t immune to the dramas of its time. Stories, passed down through generations, tell of British and Continental officers meeting on neutral ground at the house. Another tale whispers of eleven Hessian soldiers meeting their end along the stone wall in front of Glen Fern. While the authenticity of these stories remains uncertain, they add a layer of intrigue to this historic site. Tragedy struck in 1793 when a fire consumed the Livezey mill, destroying 600 barrels of flour and 500 bushels of wheat. This event, recorded in Elizabeth Drinker’s journal, marked a turning point in Glen Fern’s history. In 1873, the City of Philadelphia purchased Glen Fern for Fairmount Park. The mill ceased operations, and the era of milling at this once-bustling site came to a close. While the mill is gone, Glen Fern remains. It stands as a testament to the Livezey family, their industry, and the rich history of the Wissahickon Valley.