Valley Forge Survey - Kennedy Supplee Mansion

I actually started my survey of Valley Forge National Historical Park with the Kennedy-Supplee Mansion. I see this building every time I travel west on US-422 after passing through King of Prussia. I admire the architecture of this mansion that was built in 1855 by Alexander Kennedy, owner of a limestone mine in Port Kennedy, that existed in what is the park today.

Port Kennedy was a thriving industrial village in 1954, built around the limestone mine and the production of lime.

The mansion and First Presbyterian Church of Port Kennedy, are all that remain of the village of Port Kennedy, that today is cut in half by US-422.

In 1978, the National Park Service acquired the mansion through eminent domain. In 1986, the mansion was leased by the National Park Service to Kennedy Supplee Associates LP for fifty-five years. The KSA, LP restored the building and operated it as the Kennedy-Supplee Mansion Restaurant. The private company entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2005. The mansion is now vacant. The grounds are becoming overgrown and the building is showing signs of disrepair.

 Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, HABS [or HAER or HALS], HABS PA,46-POKEN,1--2

In 1959, the National Park Service sponsored a survey of the building by the Washington Office of the Historic American Building Survey. Above is one of the photographs from that survey.

Philadelphia Business Journal by Natalie Kostelni, Staff Writer

Date: Monday, May 29, 2006, 12:00am EDT

In 2005, the Philadelphia Business Journal did a story about the closing of the Kennedy-Supplee Mansion Restaurant in which was included the above photograph. Quite a bit of change can be seen from 1959 to 2005. 

In just seven years, since the closing of the restaurant, nature is taking over.

The details of the ironwork are still in good condition on the exterior of the building.

As appears the interior plaster work. This image was captured by placing the lens directly on the pane of window glass from outdoors because the building is justifiably closed to the public.

The trees are beginning to grow and cover the sign painted on the side of the building visible from US-422. I fear the mansion will be forgotten except by vandals and the occasional photographer. I hope that with the addition of the Valley Forge Casino and Resort within walking distance of the mansion, it will soon be put back to use.

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Treasure Found In My Suburban Backyard

Just two months ago I buried snow pea seeds into my square foot garden plot. Starting last Sunday I found treasure. How much treasure you ask? I will be quantifying the weight of my treasure throughout the growing season. 


I began to weigh and record the treasure Sunday. Each harvest from the garden is weighed and recorded. The weight in grams is entered onto the spread sheet for the total output of my square foot garden (4'/ 1.2m x 4'/ 1.2m) plus the two potato towers and one potted Black Cherry Tomato plant.

As you can see from the chart above, a total of 172g or just a bit over 6oz. of snow peas was picked from the six 1'/ 30.5cm squares planted with snow peas.  That is a mere 3/8ths of my plot. I am wondering why I didn't plant all 16 squares with seeds. Next year.


The going rate for these sweet, crispy babies is around $5/quart, as of 20 May 2012 in Old City Philadelphia according to Robert's Market Report Blog. I harvested about half that amount and this is just the start of the season. Lots more treasure to find in my suburban backyard. More seeds to bury this weekend.



©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Gins of London 2012

London is the home of the 2012 Olympic Games this August.  All my children will be in London during the games.  My son will be partying, not sure about my two daughters. 


Speaking of partying, I like gin.  London is rediscovering London Gin.  There are several new distilleries in and around London turning out small batch "pot still" gins.

There is 

Oxley

Sipsmith

Sacred

Berry Bros. and Rudd No. 3

The London No. 1

Beefeater has a summer batch just to stay competitive, of which I can't find a picture.

Jensen Old Tom 

Even though I won't be in London for the games, I might be trying some London Gin this summer.

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved