Burholme park
Encyclopedia
Fox Chase, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Fox Chase is a neighborhood in the Northeast Philadelphia section of the United States city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The origin of the name comes from The "Fox Chase Inn" which opened in 1705...
neighborhood of Philadelphia. The park and the Robert W. Ryerss Museum and Library was a gift of the last descendant of the Ryerss family, a prominent Philadelphia family. Robert W. Ryerss died on Feb. 18, 1895 at the age of 65 and left his estate to Mary Reed, his wife of eight months and the head housekeeper of the Ryerss Mansion
Ryerss Mansion
Ryerss Mansion, also known as Burholme Mansion, is a historic mansion in the Fox Chase neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.The house was built by merchant Joseph Waln Ryerss in 1859 overlooking Burholme Park, one of the highest vistas in Philadelphia...
for 27 years. He left everything to her under the condition that upon her death the best part of his land and much of his estate would be left to the “People of Philadelphia, forever” as a museum and public lending library. Mary Reed Ryerss spent the rest of her life traveling around the world collecting objects for the Museum and planning for the library and park.
Fox Chase Cancer Center announced on January 16, 2010 that it was abandoning its efforts to expand into the park.
History of the estate
The Ryerss Mansion was built in 1859 by Joseph Waln Ryerss, a wealthy importer of goods from Asia and president of the TiogaTioga
-Communities:In the United States:*Tioga, California, former name of Bennettville, California*Tioga, Louisiana*Tioga, New York, a town in Tioga County*Tioga County, New York, a county at the Pennsylvania border*Tioga, North Dakota, a city in Williams County...
railroad company, to be the family's summer home. The Waln family, who intermarried frequently with the Ryerss family, were descendants of Nicholas Waln, who sailed on The Welcome with William Penn
William Penn
William Penn was an English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, the English North American colony and the future Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was an early champion of democracy and religious freedom, notable for his good relations and successful...
in 1682. The Waln and Ryerss families were part of the Philadelphia social elite.
The Ryerss family
The Ryerss family were philanthropists and early animal rights activists. Robert’s stepmother, Anne Ryerss, would care for elderly and sick work horses on the Burlhome estate. When she died in 1888, she left $30,000 to care for "aged and infirmed" horses and an additional $40,000 to create and maintain a hospital. Robert W. Ryerss bought an 80 acre farm in BustletonBustleton, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Bustleton section of Northeast Philadelphia is located in the Far Northeast, north of Rhawnhurst and Fox Chase and south of Somerton; sitting between Roosevelt Boulevard to the east, the city boundary to the west, Red Lion Road to the north, and Pennypack Park to the south, it is centered at...
and became the first president of the Ryerss Farm for Aged Equines until he retired in September 1894. The facility was among the first in the United States to protect horses and large animals. Today the Ryerss Farm for Aged Equines still exists in Pottstown, Pennsylvania
Pottstown, Pennsylvania
Pottstown is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States northwest of Philadelphia and southeast of Reading, on the Schuylkill River. Pottstown was laid out in 1752–53 and named Pottsgrove in honor of its founder, John Potts. The old name was abandoned at the time of the...
.
Robert W. Ryerss was instrumental in helping create the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals and the Anti-Vivisectionist Society of Pennsylvania. Visitors to the museum can see the family’s pet cemetery and the many portraits the Ryerss commissioned of their pets.
When Joseph W. Ryerss died in 1868 he left the estate to his only son Robert, W. Ryerss. Robert W. Ryerss was educated at the University of Pennsylvania Law School
University of Pennsylvania Law School
The University of Pennsylvania Law School, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the law school of the University of Pennsylvania. A member of the Ivy League, it is among the oldest and most selective law schools in the nation. It is currently ranked 7th overall by U.S. News & World Report,...
, but because of the family’s wealth, he was able to live a life of leisure, while using much of his inheritance for philanthropic purposes. He traveled around the world and collected objects to display in the home. In addition he was an avid reader. When he died he left his library of 11,000 books to be used as a public library. The Ryerss Public Library was one of the first public libraries in the city. On May 14, 1910 Burlhome Park and the Ryerss Museum and Library opened to the public.
The Park
Burholme Park provides fields for sports organizations. There are three baseball diamonds, a football field, and three soccer fields. The Park also contains a playground and is a popular place for sledding, due to the park's large hill. The park is situated next to Jeanes Hospital and Fox Chase Cancer CenterFox Chase Cancer Center
The Fox Chase Cancer Center is a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center research facility and hospital located in the Fox Chase section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The main facilities of the center are located on property adjoining Burholme Park...
, as well as a Mini-golf/Driving Range.
Fox Chase Cancer Center announced on January 16, 2010 that it was abandoning its efforts to expand into the park. The cancer center decided not to appeal a Commonwealth Court decision against its plans. In December 2008, Judge John W. Herron ruled that Fox Chase was not entitled to build on 19.4 acres (78,509.1 m²) of the 65 acres (263,045.9 m²) park. The hospital had appealed that decision to Commonwealth Court.