November 2025

Three Lost Country Houses of Northwest Philadelphia and Their Owners

Among the many mansions overlooking the Wissahickon Park are several that have been demolished but provide an insight into a forgotten world of country life in Northwestern Philadelphia over a long time span.  This is demonstrated by examining Dr. John K. Mitchell’s Glenwood (1848), Archibald Campbell’s Roslyn Manor (1867), and Isaac D. Levy’s Mansion at Springmead (1936).

Host & Presenter: David Breiner earned his PhD in the History of Architecture and Urbanism at Cornell University, where he concentrated on the Italian Renaissance with a minor in American architecture.  After almost a decade of employment at the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission, he joined the faculty of the Philadelphia College of Textiles & Science, now the East Falls Campus of Thomas Jefferson University, where he is a tenured professor and Associate Dean of the College of Architecture and the Built Environment.  His publications range from urbanism in Venice to the value of service learning projects for architecture students.  He has been researching the social and architectural history of School House Lane for many years, from which this talk is taken.

David is currently an Associate Professor of Architectural History and Theory at Thomas Jefferson University. He is a 30-year resident of Mount Airy, where he and his wife raised their children.  He’s been a member of the Germantown Science and Art Club for about 3 years.

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Note: This presentation will be IN-PERSON only, and NOT on Zoom. It will be recorded for immediate posting on SaCG’s YouTube channel.