Philadelphia (Chestnut Hill) -- Butterworth Garden

The home of Mr. and Mrs. J. Warner Butterworth, this site was located on Crefeld Street in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia. Sloping downhill toward Wissahickon Creek, the property was well-suited for the terrace that was the focus of its garden design. It is likely that Thomas W. Sears, who took the photographs of the garden, was also its landscape architect, although it may have been the work of his firm, Sears & Wendell. In 1913 Sears had worked with Charles L. Borie, Jr., of the architectural firm Zantzinger, Borie & Medary, on the design of Chanticleer, and the same firm was responsible for the 1915 design of the Butterworth house. The terrace at the back of the house featured an outdoor seating area and views of surrounding woodlands, along with an adjacent flower garden. Stonework compatible with the stone used in the house solidly grounded the design, but was softened by plantings of shrubs and flowering trees.

Persons and firms associated with the site include J. Warner and Alice Wood Butterworth (former owners, circa 1915-1930); Thomas W. Sears (landscape architect, circa 1915-1920); Sears & Wendell (landscape architects, circa 1915-1920); and Zantzinger, Borie & Medary (architects, circa 1915-1920).