Whitemarsh Foundation

Erdenheim Farm is located in southeastern Pennsylvania in Montgomery County's Whitemarsh and Springfield Townships. Thanks to the limestone bed that underlies much of this area, the land on which the farm is situated offers some of the best soil for growing grain in southeastern Pennsylvania, a fact that no doubt attracted German immigrant farmer Johann Georg Hocker, the first recorded owner of Erdenheim Farm. It was Hocker who gave the farm its name, which means "earthly home" in German.

Subsequent owners turned their attention from farming to livestock. In the early 1860s, a new owner, Aristedes Welsh, established a horse-breeding enterprise on the farm, raising racehorses that competed at Ascot, the Kentucky Derby and other prominent racecourses of the time. Since then and up through today, Erdenheim Farm has continued its historic association with horse breeding.

In 1912, the farm was purchased by George D. Widener Jr., scion of a wealthy Philadelphia family that made its money in the streetcar and railroad industries. Widener was a well-known Philadelphia philanthropist and director of the Land Title Bank and Trust, Philadelphia Traction Company, and the Electric Storage Battery Company. His primary passion, however, was horse breeding. One of his horses, Jaipur, won the Belmont Stakes in 1962. Mr. Widener's ownership of Erdenheim Farm was distinguished by his exceptional stewardship of the property, which included maintaining its special vistas and agricultural operations as well as breeding and training thoroughbred race horses.

Upon Mr. Widener's death in 1971, a portion of the farm was bequeathed to his nephew, Fitz Eugene Dixon, Jr., who then purchased other parcels to keep the property intact and as it had been maintained for generations. Mr. Dixon maintained the property as a "gentleman's farm," where he raised prize-winning Black Angus cattle, Cheviot sheep and thoroughbred horses, until his death in 2006.

In its present configuration, as it was maintained by Mr. and Mrs. Dixon, Erdenheim Farm consists of five parcels:

• The 98-acre Angus Tract: located along the south side of Flourtown Road between Thomas Road and Fountain Green Road and adjacent to the continuing care retirement community, the Hill at Whitemarsh.
• The 109-acre Sheep Tract: located along the north side of Flourtown Road between Stenton Avenue and the KYW radio tower property.
• The 113-acre Natural Lands Trust parcel: abutting the Dixon home and offices and bounded by Stenton Avenue, Flourtown and Thomas Roads, and the Whitemarsh Valley Country Club.
• The 101-acre Equestrian Tract: located along the east side of Stenton Avenue and bounded by Northwestern Avenue and West Mill Road.
• The 23-acre home and offices parcel: situated between Stenton Avenue and Thomas Road and adjacent to the NLT parcel.

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As one of the few remaining large farm tracts in southeastern Pennsylvania and the only one that still remains adjacent to the city of Philadelphia, Erdenheim Farm represents a unique and extraordinary example of our area's disappearing agricultural past.

As a significant green space, it also plays a critical environmental role, embracing a portion of the Wissahickon Creek and forming part of the greenway system that begins at the creek's source in Montgomery Township and extends south through 11 municipalities to the Schuylkill River. The Wissahickon and its tributaries are an important source of clean water for Philadelphia, and for this reason have been a focus for environmental protection for many years.

For the municipalities immediately surrounding the farm, there is no question about its significance and value. Considered the “jewel in the crown” of Whitemarsh Township, these 450 acres, with their inspiring vistas and glimpses into the life of a working farm, offer residents and passers-through alike a moment of respite and connection to simpler times.

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Public efforts to ensure the farm's preservation began in earnest in 2000 when community groups mobilized to preserve a portion of the farm containing a prominent view shed that was to be sold for development of a retirement community.

As a result of negotiations between community groups, the developer, and the Dixons, a number of agreements were reached that formed the basis for current farm preservation efforts, including creation of the Whitemarsh Foundation.

Pursuant to an agreement with Mr. Dixon, the Whitemarsh Foundation currently holds an option to purchase the 98-acre Angus Tract, located adjacent to the retirement community, the Hill at Whitemarsh, along Flourtown Road. The Foundation also seeks to preserve the Sheep Tract, a 109-acre parcel that lies across Flourtown Road from the Angus Tract and extends from the KYW property to Stenton Avenue. The Foundation's goal is to place both properties under conservation easements, ensuring that they will be permanently protected from development.

Another 113 acres of the farm were bequeathed to the Natural Lands Trust by George Widener Jr. and will be permanently protected from development.

The fourth large parcel, known as the Equestrian Tract, now belongs to Mr. and Mrs. Dixon's daughter, a horse lover. The property was recently deeded to her as part of Mr. Dixon's will.

Upon Mr. Dixon's death in August 2006, the Angus and Sheep Tracts were bequeathed to a trust, which has a fiduciary duty to realize fair market value for these properties. Valuation of the Angus Tract is currently under way.

Unless acquired or otherwise protected, these tracts could be sold for development.

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If efforts to acquire the Angus and Sheep Tracts are successful, the Foundation intends to maintain the property in a manner that preserves the land's multiple vistas and current agricultural character. In 2005, the Foundation commissioned a study to determine what kind of uses for the land would be both appropriate and affordable.

Criteria were established to guide the selection of options for future use:

• enable the public, especially children, to experience and appreciate farming
• be low intensity or passive in nature
• provide some level of environmental education
• offer revenue-generation opportunities
• provide public walking trails
• maintain existing views

A number of options, ranging from more active to passive uses, were identified that meet these criteria, including:

• continuation of the current sheep farming activity
• various mixed-use strategies involving preservation of a portion of the property as meadowland and dedication of the rest to low-intensity agribusiness such as a tree nursery, vineyard, pumpkin/berry patch, cropland, or community-supported agriculture.
• preservation of the entire tract as meadow with low-impact walking trails through portions of the property. These trails would link to the County's Cross-Country and Green Ribbon Trails.

The Foundation is still evaluating these options and seeking public input.

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