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| Normandy Farm is located in the
heart of Whitpain Township in
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The
property has been entered into the
National Register of Historic
Places, which is kept by the United
States Department of the Interior,
and is the official list of the
nation’s cultural resources worthy
of preservation. It includes
properties significant in American
history, architecture, archeology,
engineering and culture. These
resources contribute to an
understanding of the historical and
cultural foundations of the nation. |
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| Normandy Farm is well known to
many by the massive barn and its
three silos that peer over the red
and white structure’s metallic roof.
The white wall of stucco-covered
stone, with its distinctive peaked
gates, has surrounded the property
for over 75 years, adding to the
seclusion and mystique of this
historic American landmark. Behind
this wall lies something very
impressive but rarely seen up close.
We invite you to read about the
history of the property, the barn,
and its heritage as a landmark in
American engineering and culture. |
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Levering | 1730 – 1873
The history of the property on which
the barn and surrounding farm
complex stands dates back to the
early 18th century, when in 1730, it
was purchased by Jacob Levering.
Levering eventually passed the
property on to his daughter
Catherine and her husband Jacob
Heist. Around 1834, Jacob and
Catherine Heist built the “Franklin
House”, a tavern that offered food
and lodging to travelers on the
newly constructed road between
Norristown and Doylestown. That
historic tavern is believed to form
the core of what became the main
house, which sits at the corner of
what is now Route 202 and Morris
Road. |
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Singerly | 1873 – 1898
The land did not become recognized
as an influential farm until after
1873, when Mr. William Singerly, a
prominent business man from
Philadelphia, bought the property.
At 68 acres, the land was used by
Mr. Singerly as his country retreat.
In 1875, Mr. Singerly built the
immense barn, which still stands
today and remains one of the most
recognizable structures in the area.
At 214 feet long, 44 feet wide and
two stories in height, the barn
remains one of the largest on the
east coast. The property eventually
became known as “The Record Farm”,
after The Philadelphia Record
newspaper, which Mr. Singerly
purchased in 1877. After numerous
acquisitions of land, the farm
eventually grew to 825 acres and was
soon home to high-breed cattle,
sheep and horses. Mr. Singerly also
built several of the smaller
structures that served as housing
for his farm staff. |
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Wilson
| 1901 – 1913
Mr. Singerly died in 1898 and the
land parceled off over the next
several years to local farmers. In
1901, William Wilson purchased the
portion of land which consisted of
an 82 acre tract containing the
farmhouse and the barn. He held onto
the property for the next 12 years
until he sold the property to Ralph.
B. Strassburger in 1913. |
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Strassburger | 1913 – 1993
Ralph Strassburger was another
prominent business man and, like Mr.
Singerly, had a keen interest in
farming and agriculture. In 1911, he
married May Bourne, the daughter of
Commodore Frederick G. Bourne, the
president of the Singer Sewing
Machine Company. The couple received
$4 million from the Commodore as a
wedding present – it is believed
that this money was used to purchase
the property from Mr. Wilson. Mr.
Strassburger renamed the property
after Normandy, France, where he
honeymooned with his new wife. He
also held numerous properties in
France, which influenced many of the
design and archiectural
characteristics seen on the farm.
Ralph Strassburger originally used
the farm to breed thoroughbred
hourses, then Aryshire cattle. Mr.
Strassburger proceeded to build the
three silos, which remain three
distinctive features of the
property, to feed what grew to a
heard of 300 Aryshire cattles. He
also constructed the huge white
stucco walls, which still border on
two sides of the property today. The
Strassburgers eventually grew the
farm to 1,500 acres. Although Ralph
Strassburger died in 1959, Normandy
Farm remained in his family for the
next several decades. The farm
remained largely unused during this
time, although was dutifully watched
over by Arthur Rush, who kept and
maintained the property for the
Strassburger family for 45 years.
(Coincidentally, Ralph Strassburger
was also the newspaper business. He
acquired the Norristown Herald in
1921 and the Norristown Times in
1922. In 1923, he consolidated the
two papers and the “Times Herald”
was born.) |
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Vesterra | 1993 - 2000
The property was sold by distant
cousins of the Strassburgers to
Vesterra Corporation, who in turn
parceled off the land to local
developers. Finally, in 2000, the
property was purchased by an
affiliate of Hansen Properties,
Inc., owner of the Blue Bell Country
Club across the street, and
well-known real estate developer in
Montgomery County. |
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Hansen
| 2000 to date
Continuing the property’s tradition
as a prominent fixture in Montgomery
County’s history, Mr. Hansen has
developed the property into a
state-of-the-art conference center,
banquet facility and restaurant.
Plans to incorporate an elaborate
120+ room hotel were completed in
2003. In addition to the hotel
rooms, the East and West Gate Houses
have been completely restored to
provide guests with exquisite
accommodations. The Carriage House
and Manor House are currently under
renovation, and once completed both
will be reopened as additional guest
suites (expected opening is March of
2008). Officially on the National
Register of Historical Places,
Normandy Farm was renovated
according to strict historical
guidelines and is now restored to
its original magnificence and glory. |
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Normandy Farm re-opened to the
public in June 2003. |
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