History

A brief history of Chamounix Mansion

Philadelphia merchant George Plumstead joined this long roster of owners in 1799 when he bought 27 acres of the parcel that had previously belonged to Pennsylvania Governor Thomas Mifflin.

George Plumstead hailed from a prominent and powerful Philadelphia family.

Since the roads were not well developed and waterways were a common means of travel in those days, the original entrance was apparently on the side facing the Schuylkill River. The first floor contained the living room and a dining room, which flanked the central hall and stairway. On the second floor were the bedrooms. The kitchen was in the basement at about the spot where the present kitchen is now located. The original cooking and baking oven can still be seen.

Unfortunately, George Plumstead seemed far from a success. When he died on April 5, 1805, at the age of thirty-nine, he had accumulated an enormous debt of $40,000. Since he left no will, his wife and John Craig became joint administrators of the estate. Because the debt was so large, the Commonwealth forced Mrs. Plumstead to sell almost all the property and every object the family owned at an auction in order that their four children, three girls and one boy, could be reared in a "proper manner."

A publisher of law books, Benjamin Johnson later bought the property for $4,498.40. In 1813, Johnson sold twelve of his property's twenty-seven acres, including Chamounix Mansion, to Benjamin Warner. Unfortunately, Warner was unable to pay his mortgage and after his death in 1828, the land was foreclosed.

However, Joseph Warner, Benjamin's brother and one of his heirs to his estate secured the property. In the 1830's, Joseph Warner acquired a fire insurance policy from the Philadelphia Contributorship for the house. In the policy, the Mansion was referred to as "Chamounix," and so remains to this day.

The Mansion remained very much the same as in George Plumstead's day. At that time there was a platform on top of the roof surrounded by a balustrade, a circular portico on the north side, and on the east side, a piazza. The roof supports for these porches were four plain columns each. The Carriage House, a later addition to the Mansion, was completed in 1836. It provided for the carriage and stables and it also included a second floor, which accommodated more servants. In 1849 there was a second insurance survey taken and no significant changes were recorded.

In August 1853, the land and house were sold to Topliff Johnson, who died in that same year. Topliff's heirs purchased a fire insurance policy in 1856. The survey of that policy describes the house much as it is today. The house was lengthened seventeen feet to measure 45 by 47 feet. Two rooms were added on the first floor, making it four instead of two. Between two rooms on the south side, there were folding doors. A second set of stairways was installed. A dumbwaiter was also installed to bring food from the kitchen to the main floor. There were five rooms and a bathroom on the second floor. In the garret (attic) on the third floor, there were five rooms and a storeroom. These renovations occurred between 1849 and 1856.

The Johnson family was ultimately forced to give up both their land and the house in 1867 when an act of the assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania appropriated the grounds for public use; this site was to become Fairmount Park. This act included Chamounix and its grounds. Information on the management of the Mansion at that time is unclear, except that for a time, it served as a boarding house and restaurant between the months of June and September. In the early 1950's the Mansion was used as a refreshment stand, eventually falling into disrepair.

Despite its physical problems, Chamounix Mansion was selected as the site. An architect serving on the AYH National Board drew up plans for converting the building. Furnishings were solicited and put in place, house parents were recruited, and Chamounix was ready for business. In July of 1964 a dedication ceremony was celebrated at Chamounix Mansion. Frederic Mann represented the City, and Dr. Paul Dudley White, the celebrated Boston physician and honorary president of American Youth Hostels, gave the main dedication speech.

- Researched by
William S. Leech, Historical Consultant
Marjorie S. Winer, Research Associate