209 N. Wynnewood Avenue†

"George Goodman, architect for MacNamee & Bethel, is preparing for a fine residence, stable and porter's lodge to be erected, at Narberth Park, by Mrs. Fuller, a Pittsburg lady of large means." —Philadelphia Builders' Guide, 6/11/1889

A Pittsburg lady of large means

Margaretta T. Fuller, identified by the Philadelphia Inquirer as a sister of Andrew Carnegie,^[1] had purchased in Narberth Park 20 lots (5 acres) for "a handsome country house". In a September update on her project, the Builders' Guide added, "a lake or body of water, 550 feet long by 150 feet wide, with an island, rustic bridge, spring house, etc., are to be constructed."

Crystal Lake

This would be a large lake, indeed, of 1.9 acres. A month earlier, the Philadelphia Inquirer had also mentioned a lake in a brief account of Narberth Park: "In the park a lake is being constructed 50 feet wide and 700 feet long, in the centre of which will be an island 26 by 60 feet, containing a rustic bower house. The lake will cost over $10,000, and is to be stocked with swans. There will be an asphalt drive around it and the island will be reached by rustic bridges and gondolas."

A portrait yet more fulsome gushed forth from the Philadelphia Record on May 3, 1890, page 3:

Continuing down Windsor Avenue we are surprised and delighted to find a beautiful large lake that surrounds an island, with a pretty bridge leading thereto. We are informed that the name of the lake is Crystal, on account of it being pure spring water. But hark! What is that? Looking to the south we behold a beautiful fall of water, which sparkles in the sun like a million diamonds as it splashes against the rocks and continues down the book between the well-kept banks that look like rows of dark green velvet. Looking to the northwest we see the picturesque residence of Mrs. M. T. Fuller. It is built on 20 Lots, on the top of the hill to the right of the lake adjoining the residence of Mr. Henry C. Gibson.

The swans! The gondolas! The rustic bower! The million sparkling diamonds! Surely, both descriptions of this Main Line Xanadu refer to the same lake, featured in advertising since June 1889. Even the smaller version (a mere 0.8 acres) would have stretched half the length of today's Narbrook Park, from Windsor Avenue to the horeshoe at #21 Narbrook.

And yet, no lake appears on any local property atlas north of the railroad until 1919. Crystal Lake must have been short-lived, at most 1889-1896. It had disappeared by the publication of A. H. Mueller's 1896 property atlas.

Court-Hey

The property was purchased in 1899 by liquor dealer Edward T. Maguire who re-named it "Court-Hey".^[2] According to Victoria Donohoe, it was considered for the site of St. Margaret's Church in 1901, but was not available. Edward, Sr. died in 1905 and his children sold the property in 1909.^[3]

Neither the Fullers nor the Maguires were ever counted in the census as Narberth residents; both maintained city homes and considered Narberth a "country house". In 1909 publisher James and Elizabeth Artman were the first to make it their principle abode. They reestablished a lake, much more modest than Crystal Lake at ¼ acre, with an island, rustic bridge and shelter. They expanded the house's attic into a full third floor, into the building that is pictured below. Artman also subscribed to the Narbrook Park project, successfully acquiring in the 1915 drawing three lots adjacent to his property.^[4]

The Lakeview

In 1923 Artman and his partners sold Chilton Publishing, and Artman retired. George Esslinger, grandson snd namesake of the founder of Esslinger Beer (1868-1980), acquired the estate in 1924 and converted it into the swanky Lakeview Apartments in 1925. The pond and its hill became a sledding and skating attraction for local youngsters; it attracted wildlife, too, as the years went by and the lake silted up. Victoria Donohoe recalled the noise complaint by a neighbor demanding the borough "do something about the frogs!"

Narberth Memories

My Dad lived there until '40 when he returned from Portugal with his new French bride. I found an advert for the apt, with "maids quarters" and fire places. Pretty swanky digs. Elizabeth J. Artman, scion of one of the families who started Chilton Publishing, owned it up to at least 1919. It was converted to apt in 1925.

—Christophe Dean

"Artman's", known later as "Uffner's", was a single family home back in the early part of the 20th century. It must have been a coal/oil burning beast. By the time the Jordans moved into the Park in the early '40s, the house had been broken up into four apartments on the first and second floors with servants quarters/extra bedrooms located on the third floor. I spent a lot of time at the Taber's home with Steve. Their apartment was on the ground floor towards Wynnwood Road. It had a large shared basement suitable for all kinds of activities the most productive of which was a basement darkroom in which we developed and printed photos. Less productive but still entertaining were long after school sessions of Canasta and Samba that included George Redpath.

—Jim Jordan

The 1950s were not kind to the Lakeview. A fire destroyed the stable/garage. Trees felled during Hurricane Hazel did extensisve damage, not all of which was repaired. Occupancy dwindled.

In 1956 I was delivering the Evening Bulletin newspaper to one or two renters in Lakeview Apts, so it was occupied then.

Some years after that the separate stable/garage burned down late one evening. It was dark and the blaze was spectacular against the night sky. Apparently kids had been smoking in the loft earlier and had left behind something that was smoldering.

—Dick Slama 6/22/2022

There was a lot of tree damage not only to the house itself, but many large trees came down on the property from Hurricane Hazel. The damage to the main house was such that I don't think the owners thought it was worth repairing. The trees against the structure were removed, but the broken windows and structural damage was not repaired.

Slowly, year after year, maintenance was declining. Eventually, the late 1950's, I believe, one single woman was renting. She had a baby. I heard rumors she was a prostitute. She used to buy gasoline at O'Bryan's Mobil Service on Forrest at Haverford Aves. where I worked in those days, even up to 1966. She had a baby in the car. She had very little money for gas, for example about 50 cents. Once she needed oil but didn't have the money to buy it.

Henry, I believe that was the African American's name, who lived in West Phila., was the "custodian" of the main house. He and his teenage sons tore down the structure about 1960.

The house was vacant for several years.

—Ted Goldsborough 6/22/2022

Raphael Uffner, the Lakeview's last owner, in 1961 began selling off lots to develop Narwyn Lane, and the lake disappeared for the last time into a culvert that empties into Indian Creek in Narbrook Park. With it went the frogs and skaters.

The Fuller/Maguire/Artman/Lakeview parcel was from 1889 one of the largest in the borough.^[5] By the time of its subdivision, it remained the second largest private property in Narberth, exceeded only by Albrecht's Nursery at Meeting House & Montgomery.

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