Grumblethorpe

Had a lovely day visiting the generational home of the Wisters, a Philadelphia family of merchants and Quakers. This was their summer residence in Germantown, built by John Wister in 1744, which stayed in the family for nearly two centuries. Originally known as "John Wister's Big House," it came to be known as Grumblethorpe in the 18th century.

My primary interest in the Wisters surrounds Sarah "Sally" Wister who wrote a journal in 1777-1778 during which many important events of the American Revolution took place - the battle of Germantown, the siege and reduction of the forts below Philadelphia, the surrender of Burgoyne, the maneuvers at Whitemarsh, the march to Valley Forge and winter encampment there, etc etc.

Sally's family fled their home on Market Street (in Philadelphia proper) for the Foulke Mansion in North Wales, where Sally wrote her journal. Meanwhile, the Germantown residence became a headquarters for British Brigadier-General James Agnew, who was shot during the Battle of Germantown. He was taken back to the Wister house and bled to death in the parlor. Apparently his blood stains are still visible in the wooden floor (pictured above - I think it's more likely whatever the servants used to scrub it clean).

Also pictured is the original silhouette of Sally Wister, the face of the main house, and the Wister library. Because the house remained in the family for so long, passing through relatively few hands over the centuries, much of the property retains its original artifacts.

I hope Sallys secret is that she hates this game or character and thats why sh wont tell cuz youll kill her