Monastery, The
Also known as: See Also:Fairmount Park
Why it's listed
Built about 1747 by Joseph Gorgas, a miller, on land assembled by his father John Gorgas, this three and a half story house in Germantown is constructed of rubble stone with dressed stone on its front facade. Its gable roof carries brick end chimneys, and a one story kitchen wing of rubble stone extends from the rear. The house stands a full story taller than any other house built in the Germantown vicinity during the eighteenth century, and it is valued as an expression of the area's mid-eighteenth century domestic building. Its cove cornices and a coved pent eave between the second and third stories are notable features. Several mantelpieces, interior mouldings and some hardware survive inside. The name derives from legends that Johannes Kelpius built the house, and from its later association with the Ephrata community, whose members stayed there while traveling to Philadelphia on business.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is notable for its size, being a full story taller than other eighteenth century houses in the Germantown vicinity, and as an interesting expression of mid-eighteenth century Germantown domestic architecture. Its heavy cove cornices and unique coved pent eave between the second and third stories are cited as distinctive features.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 72001164, listed March 16, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Fairmount Park, Kitchen's Lane at Wissahickon Creek, Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | March 16, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72001164 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Joseph Gorgas, miller (builder) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The property is presently unoccupied and in need of extensive interior repairs. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Fairmount Park |
| Coordinates | 40.03609, -75.20333 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 72001164.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7751972
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.