Livezey House
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| Glen Fern | |
|---|---|
 The house in 2023 | |
 Interactive map of Glen Fern | |
| Location | Philadelphia, PA |
| Coordinates | 40°02′58″N 75°12′48″W / 40.04944°N 75.21325°W |
| Area | Wissahickon Park |
| Built | c.1725 |
| Architect | Thomas Shoemaker |
| Owner | Thomas Livezey & family |
| Designated | June 26, 1956 |
The Livezey House, also known as Glen Fern, is a historic house and mill on the east side of Wissahickon Creek in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1] It was designated on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places on June 26, 1956.[citation needed]
The house was constructed (c.1725) by Thomas Shoemaker and sold to Thomas Livezey Jr. (1723–1790) on October 10, 1747, who constructed a mill at the site.[2] The following year, on April 2, Livezey married Martha Knowles. They were devout Quakers and raised a large family of 5 sons and 5 daughters in that tradition at Glen Fern,[3] some of whom inherited the management of the mill.[4] Livezey's descendants occupied Glen Fern for more than 120 years.[5]
In 1873, the Livezey House and property was purchased by the City of Philadelphia for Fairmount Park and operations of the mill ceased. In 2020, the house continues to be a private residence, and many ruined structures from the days of the mill are scattered around the grounds. The house consists of "three adjoining gable-roof structures in diminishing order, each with a single shed-roof dormer in its roof."[6] Livezey expanded the house in 1764, and constructed several other buildings including a barn in 1768.[7]
The Livezey dam crosses the Wissahickon Creek and is visible in a historic ambrotype photograph taken in 1858. The dam is still extant but the stone outhouse was removed, presumably during the late 19th century.
