November, 1912 
HOUSE AND GARDEN 
299 
S TENTON, one of the best known of the many 
Colonial seats still preserved in and around Phila¬ 
delphia, was built in 1728 by James Logan, William 
Penn’s trusted secretary. It is in every way typical 
of the phase of Georgian architecture in vogue in the 
Colonies during the first half of the eighteenth cen¬ 
tury. The detail throughout is simple and severe, 
but withal full of grace. 
Above doors and windows the brickwork takes the 
form of much flattened arches or slightly arched 
lintels, whichever way one may choose to put it. In¬ 
stead of the doorway being adorned with pediment 
and pilasters, such as were usual at a later date, the 
only embellishment is a narrow transom of six small 
square lights. The doorway is also higher in propor¬ 
tion to its width than was usual at a later period. 
Some of the windows also, especially at the side of 
the house, are higher and narrower than in buildings 
erected at a subsequent date. The semi-circular steps 
are a unique feature of Stenton. 
The walls are of red and black brick laid in Flem¬ 
ish bond. In breadth the house is fifty-two feet and 
Nowhere does Colonial furniture look so well as in its own original environment 
1 he entrance opens directly on a paved hall entirely paneled. The 
closet and fireplace give it the appearance of being octagonal 
The heavy four-poster bed in Stenton is set in the corner and has 
just the right space between the windows 
Nothing can be more beautiful than the simple paneling without other ornament that 
decorates the drawing-room here. The marble fireplace front is without a mantel 
in depth thirty-two feet. Back of the house and 
separate from it are the servants’ quarters, kitchens 
and various offices. The main door admits to an 
octagonal paneled hall paved with brick, back of 
which is another hall containing the staircase. In 
both these halls, and even on the stairs, the Indians, 
who came to visit Logan and camped on the lawn 
and in the neighboring fields, sometimes slept in very 
severe weather. 
The large room in the southeast corner of the 
second floor was the library, which contained a re¬ 
markable collection of rare books. Stenton is now 
the property of the city of Philadelphia and is un¬ 
der the care of the Society of Colonial Dames of 
America, who have conscientiously restored it to its 
original state. 
Harold Donaldson Eberlein 
Editor’s Note. — In the neighborhood of Philadelphia arc 
many dne old Colonial houses in an extremely good state 
of preservation. From time to time various of these 
houses mil appear in House & Garden accompanied by 
plans. They should be helpful for those who are looking 
for true Colonial precedent. 
