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spring house to which Grandmother Dorothy Odgen, nee 
Meng, so often attended, is still standing there in a very 
delightful condition. It was in this house Dorothy Ogden 
lived as a girl during the Battle of Germantown. The old 
dwelling is of stone laid flat, is about 60 feet back from 
Main Street, and is now in Vernon Park." It is needless 
to add that with the exception of foundation walls, these land- 
marks have been removed, but one who walks about "Vernon 
Mansion," has yet before him several of the most magnificent 
trees in Germantown. 
The row of young buttonwood trees along the front was 
placed there by the "Germantown Horticultural Society," a 
society which also in part placed the pin oak trees in Market 
Square. The large maple tree near the "Free Library 
Building" was planted in 1840 by James Gowen, and 
"Harry" Bruner, so Mr. Bruner told me. Throughout the 
park are holly, papaw, cypress, oak and many other interest- 
ing trees, but we shall note but two, the fine yew tree which 
stands to the west of "Vernon," and Meng's magnolia, which 
stands to the rear. It is of course to be understood that the 
latter name is "local," for the tree is a native of the Southern 
United States, the seed being brought to Germantown by 
Kin, and planted by John Melchior Meng. Vernon's 
magnolia is noted not because it is rare, but because it is the 
first specimen of its kind introduced to Germantown gardens. 
Opposite Vernon Park, eastward, is "Old Price Street," 
opened by Eli K. Price, an indefatigable worker, who will 
always be remembered in connection with the development 
of Fairmount Park. 
Not long ago Price Street upon each side and through- 
out its length, was lined by beautiful, though not large 
gardens. Conspicuous among many were those of George 
Wharton Hamersley, publisher; W. Beaumont Whitney, 
merchant; James R. Lambdin, artist; Charles Wister, retired, 
and that of John Fanning Watson, Philadelphia's annalist. 
At the house now numbered 122, lived Mr. Watson from 
the year 1846 until his death in i860, and here flourished 
