Physick House – Philadelphia

March 29, 2020

A medical drama, a tragic soap opera, a favorite American treat, and a devastating epidemic…where can you hear these stories centered around one man in history? The Physick House in the Society Hill section of Philadelphia!

Built by Henry Hill in 1786 on the grounds of the former City Alms House, this unique Federal-style home stands alone in a neighborhood of row homes and takes on the shape of an almost perfect square. The arch fanlight above the door was imported from London and was the largest one in Philadelphia at the time. Hill was a man of social standing and the 32-room home contained beautiful marble-surround fireplaces and a ballroom. The floor-to-ceiling windows add a touch of elegance in addition to helping to keep the house cool in the summer. Unfortunately Hill did not have long to enjoy his beautiful new home before the yellow fever epidemic hit the city of Brotherly Love in 1793, and he succumbed to it. After remaining in the family for a number of years, a famous doctor going through a messy and very public divorce bought the home in 1815. Under the strong urging of his father, who believed his name was an omen of his future occupation, Philip Syng Physick (1768-1837) studied medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and eventually in London. A particularly skilled student, Physick quickly moved up through the ranks becoming a sought-after surgeon and then a professor and dean, training a whole generation of future physicians. Physick was one of the doctors working with yellow fever victims and contracted it himself. He credited Benjamin Rush’s methods of bleeding and purging with allowing him to successfully recover from the disease, and from that time on, the demand for his services as a surgeon began to multiply exponentially. Today he is considered the “Father of American surgery.”

My husband and I visited a few years ago when we were filling in some extra time waiting for my cousin’s wedding. We had intended to visit another historic house in the area but it was closed due to a special event and the host referred us to the Physick House instead. I’m glad we discovered it! The house was beautiful and interesting from an architectural perspective but the characters who formally occupied it were even more fascinating to learn about. The first surprise I had was walking into the foyer, I felt like it was a déjà vu moment. Turns out one of my favorite books, “Historic Houses of Philadelphia” used a photo of the foyer as its cover picture! I made sure to grab a photo of myself “in” my book.

Over time, the society that owns the home has made significant progress restoring the house to historical authenticity giving the visitor an accurate interpretation of Physick’s life and times. I remember thinking I wished I owned a home with such lovely, old-fashioned trimmings such as the Physick House has. I particularly enjoyed the huge windows which let so much light in. One intriguing detail I remember was the portrait of Elizabeth Emlen, his estranged wife.

The couple had 7 children together (4 of whom survived to adulthood), but Elizabeth shocked polite society when she decided to leave him, an action virtually unheard of in that era. I’m not sure why except that maybe she was creeped out by Philip’s fascination with cadavers. Our docent explained that in the 19^th century, obtaining cadavers for medical dissection was not an established process and many a medical student or hired “resurrectionist” was known to raid a recent grave for a specimen. Although technically illegal it was rarely prosecuted, especially since the posthumous victims were usually black and/or poor, marginalized in society without a voice.

The most engaging aspect of the house tour was the “medical room,” a museum of Dr. Physick’s instruments, materials, and inventions. Although considered “state-of-the-art” at the time, to the 21^st century viewer, the objects look downright horrifying! See his stomach pump invention or the tongs used to remove bladder stones. One creation is a tasty treat you can actually purchase at the museum. In conjunction with his pharmacists, Physick contrived a flavored carbonated beverage used to treat gastric disturbances. Take home a bottle of Dr. Phil’s Black Cherry soda when you visit!

Don’t miss the lovely garden in the side yard, set behind a street-facing low wall. Do take time to explore the surrounding neighborhoods as the Physick House is situated in a charming part of town known as Society Hill. Other notable features in this area are the Powel House, Head House Square, Spruce Street Harbor Park, and a handful of historic churches. For more ideas of what to combine a visit to Philadelphia with, please check out a previous blog post addressing this subject in depth. http://www.daytrippermom.com/20-philadelphia-day-trip-ideas/

Admission: $8/adults, $6/students and seniors, $20 limit for families

Hours: Tours on the hour 11AM-3PM, Thursday-Saturday (April-November), Weekends only in March and December. See website for more specifics.