The Betsy Ross House

 I was able to visit Philadelphia recently and tour the Betsy Ross House. 

The structure is located at 239 Arch Street and was built in 1740.  This is a view of the building today.

Here is the view across the street. The area has always been a busy commercial district and the structure was not originally not intended to be a residence, but a commercial shop. Its proximity to the Delaware river helped make the city a thriving center of commerce.

Here is a historic photo from the early 1900's

Here is a historic photo from the 1920's

Many of the exterior facades of the buildings including the Betsy Ross House have a fire mark plaque - look at the second floor on the top right.  These designate that the home is insured against fire.

Betsy Ross and her husband John Ross rented the shop in 1773 for their upholstery shop.  She continued to live there after his death with her 2nd and 3rd husbands, John Ashburn and John Claypoole through 1786.  Her first husband John Ross died of injuries during the Revolutionary War only three years into their marriage. The original structure was 16 feet wide and 25 feet deep with roughly 400 square feet on each of the basement, first floor, second floor and smaller attic.  In 1760, an addition was added to the rear of the house which 351 square feet at each of the levels except the attic.

By 1920, the house sandwiched between two commercial structures at 239 Arch Street had become known as the “Birthplace of Old Glory.” During the last decades of the 18th century and for much of the 19th century, however, it was a small, nondescript, colonial period building. Its rise to fame began in the 1870s, as the nation prepared to celebrate its centennial in 1876.

Here is an artists rendition of the original house and the addition on the rear.

The shop was many things over the years including an apothecary, tailor shop, a tavern, a liquor store, a cigar shop, and a shoe shop until in 1892-1896 it was converted to a museum/souvenir shop.  In 1898, an association was formed to raise money to restore the building.  One of the fundraisers was the sale of a 10 cent certificates:

The certificates were sold through 1935.

By 1903, enough money was raised to purchase the property and ownership was transferred to Charles Weisgerber, one of the associations founding members.  He lived in the house and gave tours until 1932.  In 1936, a Philadelphia businessman,  A. Atwater Kent donated $25,000 for the restoration of the house. What we see today are the results of that restoration.  Kent also purchased the buildings on each side of the building and removed them to create a "civic garden"  The renovated complex was donated to the city of Philadelphia in 1941. In 1964 a building was added to the rear of the courtyard to be used as a gift shop and admission office.

The rear parlor was the first room on the tour and where guest would have been received and entertained.  It is believed that this is where Betsy entertained George Ross, Robert Morris and General George Washington and brokered the deal to produce the country's first flag. 

Here is a post card from the 1940's of the same room.

The upholstery workshop was at the front just off the street.  Betsy started as an upholstery apprentice when she was twelve years old. Note that the smaller historic window was restored and replaced the large window that was added at some point in the 1800's.  The front door to the shop was also moved to the original side.

A wood finial detail on the stairs at the ceiling.  It was not possible to get a photo of the stairs because the space was so small.  I don't know how they got furniture up the tiny narrow stairs?

The second floor was Betsy's bedroom above the shop.  It is said that she probably did most of the work on the flags here in private so that she wouldn't be caught and charged with treason.

Here is a post card image of the same room.

This is a picture of another bedroom on the second floor.  It is not known who would have slept here. One source suggested that she may have rented out the room to boarders.

Under the shop in the basement was a large storage room.  There were workers in period costumes demonstrating tasks.  This nice lady showed us how they did laundry in the late 1700's.

This basement window still has it original hardware

The brick floors helped keep the basement cool.  In addition to food, Betsy stored supplies for her upholstery shop here.  This is the ladder to the street.(see the photos of the front of the house)  In addition to a storage room, Betsy made ammunition cartridges for the revolutionary army down here.

Over this well-worn threshold at the rear of the house in the basement was the hearth  kitchen.

A view of the kitchen door and a reminder that we are in a basement out the windows.

Not a lot has changed since this post card from the 1940's

A replica of the original flag hangs in the courtyard.  It is said that the original design was to have six sided stars, but Betsy talked them into five pointed stars because should could sew them faster.

The graves of Betsy and John Claypoole were relocated to the courtyard as part of the bicentennial events in 1976.

This fountain with bronze cats and stones for each of the 13 colonies was added to the courtyard in 1977.  Note the relocated graves in the back.

Sources:


"The Stars and Stripes" - Godey’s Lady’s Book, July 1895, Philadelphia, Pa.

"History of Betsy Ross" - HistoricPhiladelphia.org

"Was this her house?" - UShistory.org