The "Rare Victorian" Home

[Rare Victorian]

I thought I'd kick off the Home board with some pictures of the house I live in and provide some background.

"Pennyscroft" is a 3-story Second Empire Victorian built from 1886 to 1887 by Spencer Trotter in Southeastern PA.  Trotter was a long-time Biology professor at Swarthmore College from 1888-1926 and he also studied and wrote on ornithology.  He also wrote the book "The Geography of Commerce" in 1903.  Trotter Hall at the College was named after him in 1937.  http://www.sccs.swarthmore.edu/users/98/elizw/Swat.history/Trotter.html

His father was a listed animal and landscape painter, Newbold Hough Trotter, by which we have several paintings in the home that we have stumbled upon and purchased.  The most notable painting is one of General Sherman on his horse during the Civil War and known to have been owned by the Sherman family as I have a signed letter from his son dated 1913. The picture of the dining room shows this painting.

The house has 13 rooms and a surprising 10 fireplaces, but only one that we have lined to use.  The exterior is entirely granite (about 10 inches thick), save for the window and roof trim.  I have the original mechanics lien from 1887 which shows the granite came from Trenton, New Jersey and cost $2,500 to purchase, deliver, and install.  I can't imagine the horses pulling that much granite from 53 miles away.

The peculiar thing about the house's history is that it appears that Spencer Trotter may not have lived in the house after it was built or certainly not for long.  It appears he lost it to the bank in 10/1887.  There is no record of ownership other than by the bank until 1900 when his mother, Annie Trotter bought the house two years after Newbold died.  Spencer inherited his house back after Annie's death in 1911.  Imagine getting the house you built 24 years after you built it.

I have several pictures of the home from the 1930's and have spent some time with one of the prior owners who first moved into the home when she was 1 year old in 1925.

[1881victorian]

Mighty fine lookin'.  How long have you been tending to the home?   - Jason

[Rare Victorian]

It has been 2 1/4 years at this point.  Fortunately the bones were in good shape when we bought it but the surface needed attention - paint, wallpaper, plaster cracks.  Almost every square foot of plaster on the first floor has tape crisscrossing it under the new paint - ceiling and walls, but it came out very well.  The kitchen was in dire need of refurbishing so we now have an entirely new kitchen.

Next is the exterior - the paint on the wood trim and shutters needs a redo, as does the 1920's detached garage.  The gardens need reworking as well....

It will never end.

[BornaHeel]

Very nice house.  Nice furnishings, too.  Thanks for sharing.

[BornaHeel]

My wife and I are in the throes of settling into our NEW Italianate.  We are up to our ears in WORK ... inside and outside the house.  Some day, I'll post some pictures.  For now, as you say:  There's no end to the work coming at us.

[Rare Victorian]

We look forward to the pics when you hit that moment when it seems it's time to share.  Though we had guests over in the interim, we didn't have a housewarming for 2 years.  Glad to be past that.

[Rare Victorian]

FYI, if anyone is in striking range of the Philly suburbs, our house will be on the annual Historic Home Tour during the local Historical Society's Daffodil Days event on Saturday, April 5th.  Would love to meet any of the Rare Victorian readers that would stop by.  Email me at info@RareVictorian.com for more details.