*UPDATED* Hey: We’re News! WHYY’s NEWSWORKS Swings By for the Scoop

NEWSWORKS.org is local public TV station WHYY's online community news source (they also partner with a lot of other newspapers, social media, reporters, etc. to create a huge database of all kinds of info/issues in the Philly region. They've got an active FaceBook page, with lots of sharing and discussion. Not sure how scribe Emily Brooks found us, but she was eager to tour the mansion, and hear all about our collaboration with East Falls...

Maeve the Naughty Newel Post Lamp

Decorating a historic house is always a challenge -- it's not like you can just hop off to Target for another leaded glass assembly or some hand-beveled balustrades. And when's the last time you browsed an aisle of newel post lighting fixtures? True story: I didn't even know how to spell "newel post" when I opened Felicte's latest photo, cryptically titled "Meet Maeve." And there she was, already up on her pedestal, the front banister of...

Felicite’s STEAMPUNK POTTY

"Confessions of a Window-Peeker," I might title this post, although since it's about Hohenadel House's new bathroom that'd probably give off the wrong impression, d'oh. But I am pretty nosy, which I pronounce "noosy" for some reason (BTW, anyone know why locals add an extra "o" when we say it out loud? Or is the word "newsy"...?). Whatever ya call it, I  loooooooooove seeing how people fix up their homes, and how their spaces serve them. What...

Philadelphia Historian Joseph Minardi Likes Fish Tacos

Also -- he's a way nice guy to come out from South Philly to share his thoughts on Hohenadel House with us. And to take our picture, although of course in retrospect now it'd make more sense if it was Joseph Minardi in the frame with Sean and Felicite...  But he was the one with the giant camera, so we instinctively deferred. You also tend to trust a guy with such a well-honed eye for detail & composition. Joe's recent book on East...

Protected: Historic Preservation — MG Labetti Associates Signs On

UPDATE; The owners of Hohenadel House parted ways with Michael Labetti Associates over the Summer and are not supporting the work this company has done. Boo. That's all we can say about recent developments at Hohenadel House -- Sean and Felicite are in dispute with Mike Labetti and it's unfortunate how things have turned. Keep your eyes on Yelp, I guess, for details? Meanwhile this glowing review no longer stands. Sean & Felicite have lots...

What we know

Hohenadel House's 2012 realtor listing at  OldHouseDreams.com, with more photos and some neighborhood commentary. 1912 Italian Renaissance - Philadelphia, PA Huge proportions and old-world glamour await your finishing touches 6 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, separate dining room with original wood ceilings, formal living room, large, light filled great room many windows overlooking the yard. This home also includes a separate carriage house with 2 CAR...

Who designed Hohenadel House?

An Italian villa by Samuel Sloan (shown above). Elements of the facade, particularly the gables on either side and the Palladian window above the entrance, are reminiscent of Hohenadel House.   Who built this place?   It's the first question anyone asks about an old house they can't seem to ignore. And Hohenadel is a place that demands attention. Walking our dog through East Falls, we've often looked up at the ravaged walls and wondered...

Metal Detecting — Old Coins in a New Light

Well whaddaya know.  1964 is a big year for coin collectors.  I've pocketed TONS of street change over the years, and every quarter seemed pretty standard. Every dime & nickel. The pennies, sometimes you'd find one of those "One Cent"-ers that are kinda old but worth, like, three cents instead of one, big whoop (still, I save them in a box so whatever). Anyway, I've always figured that if I found a collectible coin, I'd know it was worth...

The Privy on Privies: Where’s the Hohenadel Outhouse?

A million years ago, I saw a TLC-type show on privy digging that blew my mind.  Just the idea! It's so obvious but I never had once considered it: Wherever there's a house built before running water, there's an outhouse buried in the yard somewhere.  An old pit, long covered-over and forgotten. And the thing about these old potty holes, they tend to have lots of neat stuff in 'em. Ewww, no -- not that. All the,  ahem, "organic waste" breaks...

What’s Up With These Dutch Murals in a German House?

Germany doesn't corner the market on "Hohenadels" -- that's a Dutch name, as well. But there's no disputing that John William Hohenadel, owner of Falls Brewery and likely past resident of the East Falls house, was German. So we're kinda scratching our heads over these lovely-creepy murals uncovered in the house's basement: These murals look Dutch to us. The photos above were just quickie snaps, we'll be updating soon with full-sized images that...