Property Description

Discover the Ingersoll House, a timeless property steeped in history and brimming with charm. Located in the heart of Lower Gwynedd Township, Montgomery County, this remarkable estate offers a unique blend of historical elegance and modern potential, making it the perfect setting for your next venture.

Key Features:

• Historic Significance: The Ingersoll House is filled with rich history, providing a unique narrative and a special ambiance that is hard to find in the area.
• Spacious Grounds and Expansive Open Space: Situated on 1.21 acres, the property backs up to over 17 acres of dedicated open space which is deeded to remain as permanent open space, providing a serene environment, and ample privacy.
• Prime Location: Situated in Lower Gwynedd Township, known for its scenic beauty, rich history, and vibrant community. Enjoy easy access to major highways, excellent schools in the Wissahickon School District, and a variety of shopping, dining, and entertainment options.
• Restoration Opportunity: Although uninhabited for decades, the structure has been maintained and the Ingersoll House can be restored to its previous glory. The large home, along with a substantial barn, offers significant potential for those looking to invest in a historic property.

Don't miss your chance to own a piece of history in one of Montgomery County's most desirable locations and create a future filled with endless possibilities at the Ingersoll House.

The Ingersoll Estate: A Historic Gem

Nestled in an out of the way area of Lower Gwynedd on 1.12 acres and adjacent to 17+ acres of permanently preserved open space, lies the Ingersoll Estate. This historic structure, believed to date back to the early 1700s, is built atop an ancient spring that continues to flow today. This spring likely inspired the naming of the village of Spring House, a testament to the area's rich heritage.
The ingersoll House is located alongside Willow Run Creek, which feeds into Wissahickon Creek, further nourished by its underground spring. Before European settlers arrived, the Lenni-Lenape tribe inhabited the area, using it as a key trading stop on the Minsi Trail. This trail connected the Hudson River Valley with the Delaware Valley tribes, underscoring the strategic importance of the natural springs here.

The estate's history is intertwined with notable trails such as the Maxatawney, which later evolved into the Sumneytown Pike. Historical records from 1760 mention a "stone spring house" at the start of what is now Penllyn-Blue Bell Pike, cementing the estate's existence before that time. A barn on the property bears an inscription from 1787, linked to Ezekiel Cleaver, a descendant of one of Germantown's first settlers.

The Cleaver family owned the estate for 125 years, after which it passed to Philadelphia financier Francis Bond. His sister, Adelaide Josephine Bond, married Stephen Warren Ingersoll, linking the estate to the Ingersoll family. The Bonds' son, James, the famed ornithologist and inspiration for Ian Fleming's James Bond, spent his youth at the Ingersoll Estate.
The property gained its name through Edward and Emily Vaux Ingersoll, who inherited it from the Bond family. Tragically, Edward succumbed to the Spanish Flu in 1918 after returning from World War I. The last Ingersolls to reside there were Warren and Betty Ingersoll in the late 1990s.

The rich historical connections to the Lenni-Lenape tribe, the village of Spring House, and the prominent Bond and Ingersoll families make it a valuable historic site. Preserving this estate ensures that future generations can appreciate and learn from its storied past.

This research was conducted by Joe Langella of the Township’s Historic Advisory Committee.