A 125-year-old Bryn Mawr home with deep ties to women’s and LGBTQ+ history is at risk as Lower Merion Township debates its fate, writes Kyle Bagenstose for Hidden City.
The Arts and Crafts-style residence at 17 Elliott Avenue was commissioned in 1900 by Helen Sleeper Pearson, a Baldwin School math teacher, and shared with her longtime companion, Helen Dean King, a pioneering biologist at The Wistar Institute. Designed by renowned architect William Lightfoot Price, the home also features what may be the first attached car garage in the Philadelphia region.
Advocates believe its unique design, historical significance, and connection to groundbreaking women make it a perfect candidate for the Lower Merion Historic Resource Inventory, which would protect it from demolition or major exterior changes. However, the homeowner opposes the designation, citing concerns over resale value and the cost of upkeep. The township’s Historical Commission has recommended listing the home, but the final decision rests with the Board of Commissioners.
Preservationists worry that the delay could leave the property vulnerable, especially as the current owner plans to vacate. The battle over 17 Elliott Avenue has become a test case for how Lower Merion balances historic preservation with private property rights.
Read more about this historic Bryn Mawr home in Hidden City.
