Architectural History of the East Falls Campus

Designed to replace the smaller Hesslein Library, the main structure  contained  reading space for over 500 students, shelving for 12,000 volumes, a fabric collection area, lounges for students and staff, six seminar rooms, six audio-visual carrels and eight study carrels. A connected stack building would hold an additional 50,000 volumes. The total square footage for the building was estimated at 22,500. Due to design problems these projected figures were never obtained in daily usage.

In 1988, a proposal was made to renovate and increase the size of the library to 45,000 square feet.  This option was rejected and the decision was made to build a completely new structure. After the completion of a new library in 1992, this building underwent major interior renovations and was renamed the Architecture and Design Center in 1992.

This building was the first structure to be built by the Philadelphia Textile Institute on the recently purchased (1946) Kolb estate. It was originally designed as a multipurpose building housing classrooms, laboratories and faculty offices; while also leaving space on the original estate for future development.

The façade was designed along a simplified modem style utilizing warm-hued brick, marble and cast stone. Although functional in character the building was designed to fit into its "rural setting". The original plans provided for a total of 90,000 square feet of floor space. Budgetary considerations were a major factor in determining the lack of architectural decoration but the architect was also interested in presenting a strictly functional design. The building was also to be a teaching example of the "modem textile plant". Architecturally, the only exceptions were the entrance lobby that was marble lined and floored with terrazzo, and the large expanses of plate glass utilized to provide a clear view of classrooms and laboratories from halls and instructor's offices. The rest of the interior was typical plant construction. 

The ground floor was designed to provide accommodations for the Scholler Dye Laboratory, cotton and rayon finishing rooms, wool laboratory and worsted laboratory. Also located on this level was a fully equipped cafeteria, which could also serve as an auditorium and conference room. The first floor provided rooms for cotton and rayon processing, cotton picking, knitting, hand weaving, yam and spinning, beaming, drawing- in and facilities for rayon, cotton and wool weaving. The second floor housed the inorganic and organic chemistry laboratories, areas for qualitative and quantitative analysis, spectroscopy, microscopy, physics, physical testing, photographic darkroom, cloth analysis, balance department, jacquard weaving and card cutting. Because of the testing instrumentation, air-conditioning was installed on part of this floor. 

The movement of heavy textile machinery was a major consideration in the overall interior layout. A large industrial elevator serviced all floors. Driveways were placed on either end of the building at the ground level so that the central hallways of all three floors were accessible. Each of these corridors ended with large overhead doors and were supplemented by the placement of a roof-top cathead installation on each side of the building. 

The building was named after Bertrand W. Hayward, who was the College Dean from 1947 to 1973. This building presently houses the School of Textiles and Materials Technology and the School of Science and Health.

The Chapel was originally designed and built for use by Ravenhill Academy. The interior consisted of terrazzo floors, oak pews, a marble alter and stained glass windows. The famous artist, Maguerite Gaudin, designed the stained glass windows. She was associated with Willet Stained Glass Studios. In 1978, the Sisters of the Assumption (taught at Ravenhill Academy)  removed one window to their convent at 227 Bowman Ave., Bala Cynwyd and replaced the panel with similar 'airy' squares. The rose windows at Rosemont College were modeled after these windows.

With the purchase of Ravenhill Academy in 1982, the college acquired this religious space. At the time of the sale, the chapel was desanctified. This 6,200 square foot space is currently utilized as space for studio instruction, exhibits, lectures, seminars and performances.

The man who may have built this home was Abraham Martin (1793-1880). In 1834 Martin purchased 24 acres and a stone dwelling from the estate of James Moyes. It is not clear whether the house of 1834 is the same as that at 3400 today or whether it was on a portion of the 24 acres different from the 10 plus acres he sold in 1866. 

Martin was active in the American Sunday-School Union. His biographical sketch (from Union records) reports that he managed an “infants retreat” in Germantown prior to 1851 and Martin’s mortgage for the house in 1850 calls the place “The Retreat”. Hotchkin in his book ANCIENT AND MODERN GERMANTOWN (published in 1889) describes the “infants retreat” as a boarding school for children whose parents were “absent or traveling”. Hotchkin describes the architecture of the house as Greek Revival, “old-fashioned” and either stuccoed or painted white, in the popularized American custom of a Greek temple. Later the house was used as a boarding and day school by Mary Spafford.

Philip Guckes purchased the property in 1870 and erected a brewery along a narrow creek at the rear of the parcel. The path of the creek is now followed by Warden Drive. Guckes apparently failed in business since he lost his house, brewery, and land at Sheriff’s Sale in 1883. 

This property was purchased by William G Warden in 1888. He was a major figure in Philadelphia finance and industry and at this time he was developing large tracts of land in East Falls. The School House Lane Company was owned by the Warden family and John H McClatchy. When purchased by Warden the property extended back from School House Lane more than a quarter mile. More than half of that land was used for the laying out of Vaux Street and Warden Drive. The 9.24 acres purchased by Warden in 1888 was subdivided so that when members of the family sold it in 1925 only about 3.5 acres remained. 

It was occupied by various members of this family during this time period. Barbara Warden, daughter or granddaughter of William Warden, who purchased the property in 1888, married William J. Strawbridge (related to Justus C Strawbridge, founder of S & C) in 1909. In the Social Register they are listed as living here in 1910 and 1911. William died August 13, 1911 and Barbara continued to lived here through 1917. In 1917, she moved with her two children to Chestnut Hill. The School House Lane Co was the deed holder until 1925 when John McClatchy was listed as the owner. 

In 1927 McClatchy sold the 3.3 acres of property to Percy C. Madiera. He engaged the prominent Philadelphia architectural firm of Mellor Meigs & Howe to alter and add to the already large residence. Over $114,000 was spent on the property according to the old ledgers of this architectural firm. This amount of money probably effected sweeping changes in the house and grounds, though the precise details cannot be known as the plans apparently have not survived. The Madiera family lived here only twelve years. During this time, they suffered a spectacular burglary in 1930. The family moved to Haverford in 1939.

In 1944, David Johnson Matlack purchased the property, there is some indication that he rented the house for a few years prior to his purchase. Matlack , a Penn graduate (1913) and Philadelphia Textile School alumni (1922), was a partner in a yarn manufacturing company located in Manayunk. In 1970, Emily and David sold the house to the college. It was not until 1985 that the college approved of a program to renovate the home so that it may be used by the college's president and his family.

Earle Bolton, Jr., a Philadelphia-based architect, designed this private residence. The house was originally built for Blanche Paley Levy’s in-laws, Ike and Rita Levy, in a style that Bolton referred to as, “Hollywood Ranch."

The marble-flanked entranceway leads to an expanse of windows that show the forest in the back of the house. All the major rooms, the living room, library and dinning room open onto the next. The house encompasses over 7,000 square feet with 12-foot ceilings. The rear terrace curves along the home’s entire length, under an undulating roof overhang supported by thin metal columns. Located in this curve is small swimming pool. Hidden behind a louvered door on the terrace is a mirror and faux-bamboo poolside bar. The house included nine bathrooms all decorated in a mirrored, Art-Deco style. The kitchen wing, along with an eight-burner stainless steel range, included three staff bedrooms and a painting studio.

In 1965, Goldie Paley acquired the house. At death of her husband, Samuel Paley she moved from her old world mansion in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, to this modern rancher at 4200 Henry Avenue. After Goldie’s death in 1977, her daughter Blanche Paley Levy, donated this house to the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science. 

At this time, the College owned various historical textiles, both fabrics and apparel. All these collections were consolidated and located within the new “Goldie Paley Design Center”. Major renovations turned this private home into offices and storage space for textile materials, these renovations included the creation of exhibition space. The dedication of the design center coincided with the opening of the first exhibition entitled “A Fabric Bestiary” on September 12, 1978.

In July of 2001, the “Paley Design Center” was renamed THE DESIGN CENTER AT PHILADELPHIA UNIVERSITY; its address remains the Goldie Paley House.

Apparently owned by number of different individuals, the name that is most prominent is William Weightman. He was a partner in the firm of Powers and Weightman, a chemical supply manufacturing company. At one time he was considered to be the richest man in Pennsylvania. Weightman owned this house by 1844, however parts of this house may date as far back as 1802. He then undertook major renovations to the home in 1876 and 1887. The noted Philadelphia architect, Willis Gaylord Hale was involved in much of this work. At Weightman’s death in 1904, the property passed on to his daughter, Ann Marie. 

In 1910, Ann Marie gave the estate to the Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia. In 1919, the Archdiocese gave it to an order of nuns, Religious of the Assumption. They opened a private girl's school which eventually became known as Ravenhill Academy. In 1982, the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science purchased the school and surrounding 27 acres.

Presently, the mansion houses the administrative and faculty offices for the School of General Studies. There are also spaces for campus meetings and catered events. Classrooms R11 through R35 are located here.