Ridgeland

Ridgeland. . , 1762 , History, Ridgeland, a vernacular farmhouse constructed of Wissahickon schist, remains one of the oldest houses in Fairmount Park. In 1718 William Couch, a farmer, purchased this twenty-five acre lot of land; however, descriptions of the property that appeared in the Philadelphia Gazette in the mid-18th century indicate that Couch may not have constructed Ridgeland until sometime between 1752 and 1762., Couch's son sold the property in 1766 to Reese Meredith, a prominent Philadelphia merchant and real estate investor. Following Meredith's ownership, the property was purchased by Francis Johnston in 1794. Johnson, who worked as Receiver General for the Philadelphia Land Office, owned the estate outright until 1806 and then indirectly until 1814. Under Johnston's ownership the house began to function as a summer retreat rather than a full-time residence. Johnston likely renovated the interior to its current Federal appearance and added the porch that faces the Schuylkill River., In 1814 Jacob S. Waln, a successful shipping merchant and lawmaker, acquired Ridgeland and continued to use the estate as a secondary residence. After Waln's death in 1850 Ridgeland passed to his children, who sold the property to the City of Pennsylvania in 1869. During the late 19th century and for much of the 20th century the house served as a residence for City officials and later as Park office space. Ridgeland is currently leased to The Wellness Community of Philadelphia. In addition to the main house, a barn and an icehouse remain on the property., Restoration, The Wellness Community of Philadelphia helps people with cancer and their loved ones enhance health and well being by offering a professional program of emotional support, education, and hope intended to supplement medical treatment. This is achieved by providing a full range of services including supporting groups, mind-body and stress management instruction, educational and informational programs, and social activities in a comfortable setting., Generously funded by the Suzanne Morgan Foundation, the 1996 rehabilitation of Ridgeland serves as a highly successful example of the Fairmount Park Historic Preservation Trust's Long-Term Leasing Program. In addition, the William B. Dietrich Foundation funded the 1999 renovation of the barn. All the services are free of charge; the facility is funded by private contributions, corporate donations, and grants. For more information on The Wellness Community of Philadelphia, please visit their website at www.twcp.org., Fairmount Park Historic Preservation Trust , The mission of the Fairmount Park Historic Preservation Trust, a nonprofit organization, is to provide leadership, technical assistance, and advocacy to preserve, develop, and manage historic properties and other cultural resources in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park. The Fairmount Park Historic Preservation Trust, Inc. currently leases Ridgeland to The Wellness Community of Philadelphia. The Trust has developed a Long-Term Leasing Program in which long-term rent-free leases are offered to public and private organizations willing to make capital investments in the restoration and maintenance of historic Park properties. In addition to its leasing program, the Trust also provides architectural conservation services to various Park properties. For more information on the Trust, please visit their website at www.fairmountparktrust.org.