topic Re: Restored 1757 House in Home

Restored 1757 House

Foxxee — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 23:04:46 GMT

By Lisa Minardi for Antiques Magazine

Built of brick with glazed Flemish-bond headers on all four sides, the Daniel Hiester house is one of the earliest brick houses in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. It was built for Daniel Hiester Sr. (1713–1795), a prosperous tanner and brickmaker, and his wife, Catharina Schuler (1716–1789), in 1757.

The rear half of the side gable wall has no windows due to a large fireplace on the first floor and built-in closet on the second floor. Behind the house is a summer kitchen with a clay tile roof. A stone mile marker stands alongside the driveway, which was originally the Sumneytown Pike.

The dwelling of the Hiester family (pronounced Heester) is an extraordinary survival with incredible original details, including elaborate ironwork and woodwork.

In the living room, which likely served as Daniel Hiester’s office, a c. 1775 walnut corner cupboard is positioned where paint evidence on the chair rail suggested one originally stood. The yellow ochre color on the woodwork in this room was also found in the hallways and in one of the kitchens

Restoration plans extended to the furnishings. We collected many pieces for the house, but it was not until late 2021—nearly four years after buying the house—that the furnishing could begin. It was an easy decision to focus on Pennsylvania German objects from the eighteenth century, but we wanted to emphasize pieces from Montgomery County and Philadelphia wherever possible, in keeping with what Daniel Hiester would have most likely owned. Few pieces from the Hiester family are known to survive, but in a stroke of good fortune I was recently able to acquire a set of six Philadelphia Chippendale chairs that descended in the family.

They had long been used to furnish the president’s house at the College of William and Mary, we had them delivered, and photographed just as this article was going to press! Collecting antiques is often a combination of luck and paying attention.

Read the story behind the house, its restoration and more photos at:

Living with antiques: A Labor of Love - The Magazine Antiques

Re: Restored 1757 House

chessielady — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 21:24:16 GMT

I could move into this house tomorrow and would not change one thing! This is my style to a T.

Re: Restored 1757 House

Kachina624 — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 21:29:40 GMT

Not a very comfortable looking house. I wouldn't want to live there. Has the aura of a museum but does have beautiful, authentic appearing antiques. The house is beautifully restored with great bones.

Re: Restored 1757 House

DREAMON — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 22:06:52 GMT

I agree that the furniture does not look comfortable but that is an easy fix.

I can picture this interesting home decorated with fresh greenery and lights for Christmas..I think it would look beautiful with a fresh coating of snow on the ground.

Re: Restored 1757 House

stevieb — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 22:08:29 GMT

A wonderful house and an impressive restoration all the way around. Were I to live in it, I'd sacrifice some of the authenticity to have it look a bit less spare and a bit warmer.

Re: Restored 1757 House

AuntG — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 23:08:54 GMT

Beautiful. I might add just a little more decor.

Re: Restored 1757 House

Sooner — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 23:16:27 GMT

It is interesting and evocative of the time, but does not look inviting and livable to me. Very severe vibe to that type of house for me.

Re: Restored 1757 House

Spacrazy — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 23:31:35 GMT

Gorgeous and absolutely fascinating. Thank you so much for sharing it here with us 💐💐

Re: Restored 1757 House

D Kay — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 23:51:13 GMT

Those stairs look kind of creepy to me. The house overall is kind of bare. Not very comfy looking.

Re: Restored 1757 House

cindyNC — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 23:55:27 GMT

@chessielady My style also. Love it!

Re: Restored 1757 House

faeriemoon — Sat, 15 Apr 2023 00:16:58 GMT

I can absolutely appreciate the historical significance, but I could never live there. Too spartan, and frankly, it's depressing.

Re: Restored 1757 House

PA Mom-mom — Sat, 15 Apr 2023 00:18:08 GMT

@Foxxee My husband and I have watched that house disintegrate our whole lives and bemoaned the fact that we couldn't do anything about it. My grandparents (eventually my mom) owned nearby land, so we drove by it every week. We were so happy when Phillip Bradley bought it to restore. This is the first look I've had inside, and it looks wonderful! The grounds outside of the house still need some TLC, but the spring house looks great. Hope the vision continues now that Phillip is gone.

Re: Restored 1757 House

Foxxee — Sat, 15 Apr 2023 00:21:23 GMT

@PA Mom-mom wrote:
@Foxxee My husband and I have watched that house disintegrate our whole lives and bemoaned the fact that we couldn't do anything about it. My grandparents (eventually my mom) owned nearby land, so we drove by it every week. We were so happy when Phillip Bradley bought it to restore. This is the first look I've had inside, and it looks wonderful! The grounds outside of the house still need some TLC, but the spring house looks great. Hope the vision continues now that Phillip is gone.

@PA Mom-mom

Wow! It's nice to hear more of the story.

Re: Restored 1757 House

PA Mom-mom — Sat, 15 Apr 2023 00:42:27 GMT

@Foxxee Thanks so much for posting! DH drives past it every day now, and we just have not been keeping up with the progress inside. It's kind of crazy that it should show up on the forums, because it isn't many people's idea of comfortable home decor. But we love it! Respect @Foxxee !

Re: Restored 1757 House

tiny 2 — Sat, 15 Apr 2023 01:12:38 GMT

@FoxxeeThank you for posting this interesting house. I'm glad someone stepped up to save it. I do find the colors not to my liking but those plate racks I am loving even though not my style at all. I think I will enjoy reading more about the story of this house.

Re: Restored 1757 House

We rescue cats — Sat, 15 Apr 2023 02:10:55 GMT

What a beautiful house, and so lovingly restored! I could live there pretty easily but would be adding some soft decor to it, florals, etc.....what a gorgeous home.

Re: Restored 1757 House

spiderw — Sat, 15 Apr 2023 19:28:01 GMT

I am happy this home was restored and saved. I do love the individual pieces of furniture, beautiful. While I admire the restoration, I would add rugs, put some art work on the walls and add decor to warm up the areas. I also would put curtains on the windows.

Re: Restored 1757 House

avid shopper — Sat, 15 Apr 2023 12:02:03 GMT

I love everything about this post and the house!

Re: Restored 1757 House

Oznell — Sat, 15 Apr 2023 12:13:02 GMT

@Foxxee , it's exciting to see a house with this provenance saved with such care! Stunning pieces of fine furniture, like that ornate secretary, oh my.

While I always have to have an eclectic interior that draws from vastly different periods, I do respect what these people have done.

Re: Restored 1757 House

gardenman — Sat, 15 Apr 2023 12:25:00 GMT

It's impressive in a Winterthur/museum type of way, but not especially comfortable or homey to me. I couldn't live like that.