Summer issue of Wissahickon Magazine

HAPPY TRAILS FOR PARK RIDERS

NEW LIFE FOR CARRIAGE HOUSES

ARTIST CARVES

A PATH TO JUSTICE

Wissahickon ISSUE

Wissahickon

Publisher John Derr

Editor

Carla Robinson

Production Manager

Blaise Brugger

Advertising Design

Blaise Brugger

Rush Kress

Marketing Manager

Leisha Shaffer

Advertising Representatives

Leslie Cerf

Diane Lauro

Contributors

Carla Robinson

Nancy Peters

Stacia Friedman

Kathy Boccella

Leisha Shaffer

Photography

Jeff Meade

Catherine Walter

Design Consultant

Richard Stein On

From the editor

This summer’s issue of the magazine finds most of us more than ready to put down our cares and go out and enjoy a long stretch of fresh air and sunshine.

After two years of isolating from friends, avoiding crowds and hesitating to hug one another, you can almost hear the collective sigh of relief as people put COVID restrictions behind them and get back to the normal routines of everyday life. And they’re doing it with gusto, if the people we’ve interviewed for this issue are any guide.

We’ve got grill master Sonya Combs encouraging us to become more adventurous with our food in a piece on backyard barbecues, local experts taking us behind the curtain to peek at some of our region’s most luxurious swimming pools, and the accomplished equestrian Nancy Peters giving us the local details on all things horses in the Wissahickon Valley Park.

We’ll meet artist Joe Boruchow, whose distinctive black and white cutouts — you’ve most likely seen them plastered on telephone poles and SEPTA bus shelters — are now the latest hot ticket in the art world and selling for up to $10,000.

Stacia Friedman introduces us to some of Chestnut Hill’s most charming architecture, the ever-popular carriage house, and last but not least, our newest contributor, Leisha Shaffer, uncovers a delightful gem of a summer getaway spot, Mt. Gretna.

We should count ourselves lucky to have so many interesting things to do and discover here in the Northwest Philadelphia region — all anchored by this treasure called the Wissahickon Valley Park.

So here’s to having a wonderful summer. Let’s make the most of this beautiful place we call home!

Carla Robinson Editor

Kenna A. (pictured right) moved to Masonic Village in September 2020. She found a nice home and friendly people, and something even more important.

“The sense of security and knowing there’s help right around the corner if I need it, but yet

Masonic Village’s Priority List grows longer each day with people seeking freedom from home maintenance, and convenient health care.

Whoa Nellie!

You’re hiking the lush woods of the Wissahickon Valley Park when you spot the tell-tale horseshoe shaped hoofprints, or catch the unmistakable whiff of fresh droppings. Horses? Are there horses in this park?

By NANCY PETERS

The answer is a resounding yes. Frequent park visitors have likely seen them - horses and riders in their single-file lines climbing up a rocky trail, or someone out on Forbidden Drive, perched in a horse-drawn carriage.

The Wissahickon Valley Park, with 57 miles of trails and a lush, 1,800-acre gorge that crosses forest and meadow before plunging down to the sun-dappled waters of the Wissahickon Creek, is home to a robust community of equestrian enthusiasts.

And it’s always been that way.

“The Wissahickon dates back to the age before cars even existed, which is why we have so many stables throughout this park,” said Kate Brown, head trainer and barn manager at Northwestern Stables on Northwestern Avenue at the top of Chestnut Hill. “The city of Philadelphia owns most of these barns, and it has managed to keep them up and running, through various nonprofits, so that the history of horses in this city does not get lost.”

In fact, it’s the riders of this city who saved the park from development, back in the Victorian era. They knew even then that opening it up to cars would eventually be its demise. And that’s how Forbidden Drive, the wide walking path that follows the creek from Northwestern Avenue to Lincoln Drive, got its name.

Built in the years between 1823 and 1856, the route then known as the Wissahickon Turnpike was used mainly by horse drawn carriages. But by 1920, motorists were beginning to crowd in - and park commissioners thought that was a great idea.

But the riders did not. And in 1921 some 1,000 came out on horseback to join about 12,000 pedestrians and form a successful protest parade. By 1924, the dirt thoroughfare was closed to motor vehicle traffic.

Riders and their barns

While the park is a favored destination for equestrians throughout greater Northwest Philadelphia, odds are high that park regulars are coming from one of its historic barns — each of which has its own distinct char-

Safety and etiquette

HIKERS, RUNNERS, CYCLISTS, dog-walkers, picnickers, and horse-back riders all contribute to the park’s unique urban culture.

This mixture of enthusiasts requires a great deal of common sense and courtesy. Horseback riders and carriage drivers are, of course, expected to control their horses at all times, ride at a reasonable speed, be careful around blind curves, and stay off wet or unsanctioned trails.

But they know they share the park with such potentially startling things as bicycles, strollers,

Above, riders follow Forbidden Drive on a bright afternoon in early summer.

At left, Letty frolics in the grass near her stable.

Below left, Letty is often a star attraction on park trails. Here children gather to pet her.

Below right, Letty nuzzles her friend Lucy in the stable yard.

Previous page, writer Nancy Peters takes her horse, Letty, out for a ride on Forbidden Drive.

umbrellas, and unexpected loose dogs - each of which can easily become an unexpected equestrian accident.

And sharing isn’t too hard if you follow some basic courtesy.

For instance, most riders will move off to the side of a trail to let others pass. But if it’s a narrow trail, however, sometimes it’s safer for others to step aside. Always ask permission before you approach a horse, control small children, and keep your dog leashed.

When developers threatened to carve up Wissahickon Park in the 1800s, riders were its staunch defenders

Catherine Walter

acter and community of riders.

Monastery Stables, located in the West Mt. Airy portion of the park is a friendly, full-care boarding and lesson barn. The six-acre complex includes a large horse barn, a small sheep barn, a mansion, a cottage, and a spring house as well as an outdoor riding arena and mowed fields for riding, grazing, and grooming.

The 1747 historic mansion is located on the site where the Brethren Church got its start. Its 22-stall converted former bank barn is now home to horses, ponies, and even a few miniature donkeys.

It’s also home base for the Philadelphia Saddle Club, a group of riders that operate a kind of equine co-op. Riders pay a regular monthly fee for access to the jointly-owned horses, and can ride without the responsibility and commitment of full ownership. Members range from 26 to 90 years old, and most are accomplished equestrians who enjoy both trail riding and working in the arena.

According to Diane Garvey, an active saddle club member, it’s an arrangement that’s worth its weight in gold.

“When I am riding in the Wissahickon, all my stress and worry peel away,” she said. “There is something so very peaceful about riding in the woods.”

Northwestern Stables, also a stone’s throw away from the Andorra Natural Area, is located on Northwestern Avenue at the northern end of Forbidden Drive. The facility, which has a stateof-the-art indoor arena, runs the most rigorous riding program of all the park barns.

In addition to lessons for beginners and people who are riding just for pleasure, it also trains competitive show-jumping teams. Still, it too makes good use of the park.

“We use trail riding to relax our show horses, and to give kids a taste of what it’s like to ride outside of the arena,” Brown said.

Similar to other Wissahickon barns, Northwestern’s mission is to serve and welcome people of all ages, incomes, backgrounds and equestrian disciplines. It offers boarding and a summer camp in addition to its lesson program, and hosts popular community events such as the Holiday Bazaar, its Haunted Horses Halloween event and a “Hippity Hoppity Horses” Easter egg hunt.

And for many of Chestnut Hill’s longtime residents, its most important role may be hosting the park’s annual Wissahickon Day Parade, held on the last Sunday in April since 1921, except for the last years which were canceled due to COVID.

The informal but festive parade features riders, horse-drawn carriages, and a variety of fancy costumes sported by both horses and humans as the procession makes its way from Northwestern Stables to the Valley Green Inn - an event that honors the original protest parade that saved the Wissahickon from vehicular traffic.

“The day is exciting with horses and carriages and people from around the greater Philly area -

all united to celebrate the historic day,” said Andrea Shumsky, a board member at Northwestern Stables and a regular parade day volunteer.

The smallest of the three park barns, Courtesy Stables in Roxborough, sits on the eastern side of the valley and has easy access to the beautiful trails that wind throughout Houston Meadow and the Andorra Natural Area. It makes regular use of the park’s network of trails and lessons, a summer camp, and boarding.

True to its name, the barn offers a relaxed atmosphere and welcoming program for pleasure riding. Its mission is to teach good horsemanship practices, confidence, and compassion to young people in the city.

Not all the local barns are in the park, however.

Cherokee Stable, often referred to as “The Blue Barn” because of the building’s bright blue exterior, is a small boarding facility on the eastern side of McCallum Street, on the Chestnut Hill side of the McCallum Street Bridge. It has four big grass grazing areas and is easily accessible to the Wissahickon and its glorious trails.

There’s also Wissahickon Farm, a relatively new and family-owned, 18-acre equestrian facility just north of the park. This stable offers fullcare boarding and leasing, and also hosts a pony club.

Don’t forget Erdenheim

And we can’t forget Erdenheim Farm’s lovely barns and pastures right off of Flourtown Road in Lafayette Hill.

Situated on close to 450 acres, Erdenheim Farm - a large historic farm that was purchased and preserved from future development by the McCausland family in 2009 - remains one of the last sanctuaries of pastoral life within the greater Philadelphia area. It is home to prize-winning Cheviot Sheep, Black Angus cattle, and Morgan horses.

“Erdenheim Farm has a rich equestrian history, dating back to the 1800s, and the McCauslands want to build on that,” said Dan Lurie, Erdenheim Farm’s manager, While most equestrians in the Wissahickon come from these stables, some ride in from as far away as North and West Philadelphia. Others trailer in from across the region.

So if you’re out hiking the trails and come across a horse and rider, they may have come from near or far. Everyone knows that the Wissahickon – with its excellent trails, beautiful scenery, and friendly people – is a wonderful place to ride.

“We love our home for horses in the park, our extended barn community, and hosting visitors who want to enjoy the beauty of these special animals,” said Kim Murphy, the President of the Boarders and Stewards of the Monastery at Monastery Stables. “We also thank the many volunteers - at our barn and throughout the park - who dedicate themselves to the preservation, protection, and safety of the Wissahickon.”

English or Western? The saddle makes the rider

IN THE WISSAHICKON, most riders are using the “English” style, which means they’re using small saddles and a bridle with a noseband, which is a leather strap around their horse’s nose. These riders sit up straight in the saddle, keeping a rein in each hand, and will also “post,” or rise up and down in the saddle with the horse’s rhythm, while trotting.

When not on the trails, English riders are often found in one of the Park barns doing ring work, where they ride in an arena and practice training their horses, working on subtle commands, and even jumping over small and large jumps.

Western riders use a much larger saddle which has a “horn” in the front, which is traditionally used for roping and securing cattle. Western bridles don’t have the noseband, and riders will typically hold both reins in one hand. They also don’t post at the trot, but sit further back in the saddle in a more relaxed manner.

Riders use the park year-round, but it’s usually only in the summer that you’ll catch them actually splashing in the creek.

A horse is a horse, of course, of course, but what kind are these?

AT LEAST A DOZEN different kinds of horses can be seen throughout the Wissahickon.

The most common is the quarter horses, which are somewhat stocky, sound “cowboy horses” and are well suited to the park’s rocky trails and unexpected encounters.

Off-the-track thoroughbreds are tall, lean, fast, and can be quite spirited. An appendix is a cross between a quarter horse and a thoroughbred and, ideally, combines the common sense of the former with the agility of the latter.

If you spot a small and particularly nimble horse it might be an Arabian, and a compact little horse with a white mane and tail is probably a Heffelfinger. The big and powerful looking horses are probably one of the draft horse breeds, such as a Clydesdale or Percheron.

These breeds come in all colors - black, white, chestnut (reddish manes and tails), or bay (dark brown with black manes, tails, and lower legs). Paints and pintos are horses with large patches of white and black or brown, and buckskins are handsome tan horses with black manes and tails.

Chestnut Hill Carriage Houses

Once they were utilitarian outbuildings on great estates. Today, many (like Skip DiMarco’s loving restoration, shown here) have found new life as family homes.

By STACIA FRIEDMAN

British Cavalry Captain C.W.E. de Moleyns was photographed in the late 1920s atop a white horse in front of the Valley Green Inn, along with three of his young riding students. At the time, Chestnut Hill was still at the peak of prosperity. An avid equestrian, de Moleyn, had leased a large stable just off of Germantown Avenue, and hung a sign, “Chestnut Hill Riding School.”

Then the Depression hit, and riding lessons quickly became an unnecessary extravagance, according to the Chestnut Hill Conservancy archives. Unable to maintain the stable, de Moleyns had his beloved horses put down and, later, shot himself in the harness room.

Today, that former stable with a picturesque gambrel roof is just one of a number of charming carriage houses in Chestnut Hill - albeit one of the finest. Painted a sunny yellow with white shutters, the ground floor serves as a three-car garage while the second floor contains two spacious apartments with a deck and a large, private garden. Ivy grows over a decorative trellis on the ground floor.

But it is the mid-19th century garden cottage next door that brings to mind a sense of enchantment. “It was called Miss Potter’s Pine Palace,” said Lawrence Walsh, the current property owner. “Miss Potter was the principal of Springside School and resided here for twenty years.” Set back from the cobblestone driveway and barely visible through an arched wooden arbor and wrought iron gate, the two-story cottage with a working fireplace is now a rental unit.

Both structures are located behind an 1882 Italianate house designed by the founding dean of Penn’s Architecture School, Warren Powers Laird, who also designed the Germantown Trust Bank (now Wells Fargo Bank) on the southeast corner of Germantown and Evergreen Avenues.

History

In the 1700s, horse-drawn carriages were a status symbol for the upper class in Great Britain, as fans of the TV series “Bridgerton” and Jane Austin novels are well aware. With carriages came the necessity for stables near the homes of the elite. It took almost a century for this trend to travel across the Atlantic. It was initially adopted by residents of the Northeast, where roads were more serviceable than out West.

By the time Henry Houston was turning farmland into lush estates for Philadelphia’s captains of industry, the wealthy resided primarily near Rittenhouse Square and kept their carriages and horses on narrow side streets such as Van Pelt Street.

Unlike carriage houses in the city, the ones built in Chestnut Hill were constructed of the same material and design as the main house. Depending on the size of the house and the wealth of the owner, there could be both a carriage house and a stable on the property, each containing a second floor living space for the stableman and coach driver.

With the advent of cars in the early 20th century, stables and carriage houses were converted

into garages. Living spaces were used initially to house staff: caretakers, gardeners, cooks and governesses.

In 1886, when architects G.W. and W.D. Hewitt built Henry Houston’s Norman Gothic castle, Druim Moir, they designed a carriage house, caretaker’s house and stable. Today that stable, which still has the names of Houston’s three horses, and the caretaker’s house are the property of Springside Chestnut Hill Academy.

“The caretaker’s house is the school’s business office and it’s super charming,” said Jennifer McHugh, the academy’s director of development. “Before the pandemic, we kept a chicken coop next to it. We use the stable as storage space. It still has the original double barn door.”

McHugh also noted that when classes go

into the surrounding woodlands for nature study, they often come across pieces of the original Druim Moir spired roof that was flattened in the early 20th century to give it a more modern appearance.

Restoration

Other former carriage houses in Chestnut Hill have been repurposed as single family homes, thanks to extensive renovation. A former stable built in 1925 in the stately Georgian style of the main house was converted into a six-bedroom, four-bath, two-story home in 1986.

It has all the architectural details of a luxury home, including exposed wooden beams, a gas fireplace and a wine room. There is an open

Chestnut Hill Conservancy Archives

kitchen that would satisfy Martha Stewart, plus a hot tub and walled garden. Set far back from the main road, and all but hidden behind old-growth trees, the average dog walker or driver would not know it is there.

Meanwhile, an even smaller, identical version of the stable and main building, right down to its Georgian red bricks and white pillars, had originally been built as a playhouse. That too, has been converted into living quarters.

Sometimes, previous renovations do not hold up to contemporary use. Seven years ago, when Anthony “Skip” DiMarco purchased an 1800s Chestnut Hill carriage house, it had already been converted to a family home. But not one in which he wanted to live. “The former tenants had all but destroyed the property’s original architectural details,” he said.

A semi-retired developer and former restaurateur, DiMarco teamed up with the lead architect at Ralph Fey, AIA Architects, of Doylestown, which specializes in luxury equestrian and residential dwellings.

“Bringing a beautiful, historic building back to its original state makes the hair on the back of

Facing page left, once Druim Moir’s caretaker cottage, now administrative offices for Springside Chestnut Hill Academy

Facing page center, Jenna McHugh at what was Druim Moir’s stable, also part of the SCH campus.

Facing page bottom, Another former stable now houses several apartments above a garage.

Avove, Skip DiMarco’s luxurious new living room

Left, DiMarco monitors reconstruction of his carriage house

my neck stand up,” DiMarco said.

Fey ticked off the many changes that brought the carriage house back to its original glory. “Sand-blasting the exterior stone, adding cedar-shake siding, oak plank floors, exposed floor joists, and wrought iron hardware. Dropped steel beams, honed slate fireplace surrounds, and marble and zinc countertops. The centerpiece is the minimalist steel and wood staircase that sits as a sculptural element.”

“When I come home, I am so happy when I walk in the door,” DiMarco said. “The kitchen is my favorite room and I love my den.”

Perks include a temperature-controlled wine room, steam shower, master bath beverage bar, an exterior bocce court, as well as a newly-constructed detached two-car garage and storage loft.

For a final touch, DiMarco ordered a black walnut dining table and two sliding barn doors, both made from reclaimed wood, from Stable Tables in Flourtown. Philadelphia decorator Ashli Mizell designed the interior and Toni Ann Flanigan, founder of Philadelphia Gardens, Inc. designed the patio and plantings. A former swimming pool now sprouts wild flowers.

Facing page top, British Cavalry Captain C.W.E. de Moleyns, with three of his young riding students..

Ralph Fey Architects

Carving out a pathway to justice

For Joe Boruchow, art and justice are intertwined. His passionate views about social justice inspire his unique artwork made from carving intricate patterns, scenes or portraits from sheets of black paper.

By KATHY BOCCELLA

“That’s been my process,” he said in a second floor room that serves as both art and music studio in the Germantown home where he lives with his wife and five-year-old son. “There’s a symbiosis between the two.”

For nearly 20 years, his black-and-white cutouts, no bigger than a sandwich, have been transformed into posters, large-scale public art murals, and gallery installations that now sell for up to $10,000. They’ve been plastered on telephone poles, mailboxes, old buildings, SEPTA bus shelters - whose advertising windows he opened with a gadget jury-rigged by a friend. One of the most prominent sat across from the Union League on South Broad Street, showing a Confederate flag and a suited figure fleeing with a suitcase full of cash, while figures toil below in the subway.

In taking the spirit of activism and applying it to his art, Boruchow has blurred the thin black lines between the two.

For his latest cause, the war in Ukraine, he is selling T-shirts with a cutout of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and plans to donate the money to Razom for Ukraine, a nonprofit that supports democracy and human rights. In the picture, Zelenskyy stands in Kyiv’s central plaza with “Would Not Leave His City” written at the bottom.

“I really believe this is a fight for liberal democracy and it’s a thing that’s going to define the way the world goes in the next 50 years, whether we’re going to have an autocratic supremacy for the next 50 years,” he said. “We should go all in on Putin. He’s our era’s Hitler.”

For Boruchow, the Russian dictator is the lat-

Top

Far

Near

est in a rogue’s gallery of leaders he’s attacked in previous works. The strength of his political convictions has driven his art and life since he was a child, the son of psychiatrist parents, who grew up in Arlington, Va.

Meeting a mentor

His father was an art collector who took him on buying trips to galleries. When he was about 12 he got to meet one of his heroes, pop artist Keith Haring whose social activism around AIDS and safe sex drove his later work, and who inspired Boruchow’s first public art project when he copied Haring’s famous Free South Africa print and plastered it around his school. The artist, who died in 1990, gave him a

Top left, a cutout of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

right, ‘Watchtowers’ adorns a row house on the 900 block of Dickinson Street.

left, a ‘Black Lives Matter’ cutout which was enlarged for use as a bus shelter sign.

Center left, the artist models his Volodymyr Zelenskyy t-shirt.

left, Mr. Boruchow is a musician as well as a visual artist.

Bottom photo, a series of posters adorns the front of former trolley station now used as an art space.

Previous page, Joe Boruchow in his studio.

Splish splash

Always a symbol of wealth and luxury, backyard swimming pools have turned into something akin to a necessity after two years of pandemic lockdowns.

By CARLA ROBINSON

The families and friends who once formed COVID hangout “pods” are now used to spending that kind of time together - and are looking for summer hangout space.

“Covid really just changed everything, especially when it comes to swimming pools,” said Ellen Nalle Haas of Kurfiss Sotheby’s International Realty. “Two years ago we were even getting calls from people in Manhattan seeking not only houses to buy immediately, but houses to buy immediately with swimming pools.”

And it still hasn’t let up, she said. Haas is now getting calls from people who, if they can’t buy a pool right away, are looking for houses with yards big enough to accommodate one.

“We call it the COVID construction boom,” said Doug Lacey, owner of JC Pool and Spa in Phoenixville, Pa. “Anyone who’s an outdoor pool service provider - from installers to landscapers - are booked solid through this year, and potentially next year also.

“People have been trapped at home for so long,” he continued. “They’re thinking they may as well turn their own backyards into a vacation spot, since they’re not going anywhere.”

The same is true for Michael Ciarrochi, vice president and co-owner of Armand Aquatech Pools Inc., a luxury pool designer with a client base on the Main Line.

“Last year we built more pools than we had in the entire decade prior,” Ciarrochi said.

A lifestyle statement

While some people will always reject a pool, in most cases people who spend more than $2 million for a home are going to expect that it comes with a pool.

And today’s pools are much more than a fancy hole full of blue water. They’ve become more of a lifestyle statement - a luxurious and convivial way to signal that you’re totally of the moment.

According to Bruno Morganheira, a designer at Crystal Clear Signature Pools in Southampton, Pa., more and more customers are asking for a modern-style pool with technology that’s totally up to date.

“What homeowners love now is automationthey want to be able to control everything from their cell phone,” he said.

That means everything - the temperature of the water, the intensity and the color of the LED lighting, the force of the jets if there’s a spa involved and the speed of the pumps if there’s some kind of waterfall feature.

“All those little functions that you used to have to walk back to the pool panel to turn on and off - they want to be able to just open their phone and work it from there,” Morganheira said.

They’re also looking for more natural options than the old-fashioned chlorine.

“If they’re putting in a new pool, more and more they’re asking for salt pools,” said real estate agent Marilou Buffum, an agent with BHHS Fox & Roach in Chestnut Hill. And landscaping is important, too, she said.

“They want it heated and filtered of course, but the sighting of it also matters, as does the landscaping around it,” she said. “People who want a pool definitely want to have it almost as an extension of their house, the way they are doing their patios to become extensions of their living space,” Buffum said.

A house she sold recently is a case in point, she said. The pool, which is nestled into a historic curved stone wall, sits in a multi-level garden

just off the living space of the house, and has a view that looks over the park.

“That pool was definitely a point of major interest,” she said.

Cost and Construction

It’s definitely possible to install a fiberglass pool with a vinyl liner for $40,000 to $50,000, but luxury is a different animal altogether.

Baseline costs for these pools, which are typically made by hand out of specialty cement and not off-the-shelf pieces and parts, are typically $150,000 to $200,000.

But those costs can easily double or even triple once you start adding extra features and landscaping.

“It can go well beyond that - especially if we’re also putting in an outdoor kitchen, a fireplace, or a pool house. We’re really creating a total outdoor environment,” Morganheira said.

The same is true for Ciarrochi, whose family-owned business has been building high-end pools for three generations. Their pools cost more, he said, but they’re uniquely designed to complement a specific landscape, and they last forever.

“We don’t build cookie-cutter pools,” Ciarrochi said. “Each pool is unique, and tailored to

“

People have been trapped at home for so long they’re thinking they may as well turn their backyards into a vacation spot.

the site — and I have had the pleasure of updating some of the pools my grandfather installedthey’re still in great shape.”

Armand pools are all steel-reinforced concrete, with a sand and cement mix called gunite. It’s a labor-intensive and expensive process.

“But it lasts forever and it’s very forgiving — it allows us to create any kind of shape we want,” Ciarrochi said.

Still, supply chain issues and rising costs for labor are pushing prices up enough to raise eyebrows, even in this luxury market,

“We’re seeing anywhere from a 5 to 20 percent swing in the price of products, both raw materials and finished goods,” Ciarrochi said. “For instance, due to recent legislation that mandates energy-efficient motors, we can only use pumps that are made in China and Italy. And it’s really hard to get your hands on those pumps.”

Who are the people putting in such extravagant outdoor oases?

“It really can be anyone,” Ciarrochi said. “I’ve had the honor of working with professional athletes as well as the owners of some of our local sports teams. One client may be one of the leading surgeons in the country, while others are young people in their 20s or 30s who just happened to have a great idea when they were in college, and patented a product you may have seen on “Shark Tank.”

“I’ve even had some arms dealers as clients,” he added. “That’s why your cell phone doesn’t work when you go onto their property.”

Modern design is hot in luxury pools right now, but there’s always demand for a more natural look, according to two of our region’s luxury pool designers, Armand Aquatech Pools Inc. and Crystal Clear Signature Pools.

Clockwise from top left on facing page: a formal design complete with pool house and fountains; a lap pool is tucked against a dramatic stone wall; pool or pond? this pool blends with the landscape; fountains and umbrella ‘islands’ enliven this pool; an informal pool complements its near-rural setting.

Previous page: a rectangular pool is nestled into a naturalistic setting with grass and shrubbery surrounding a flagstone border.

In the swim

SWIMMING POOLS originally became popular in the United States during the mid- to late-19th century.

Their designs remained simple and rectangular, especially because keeping the water clean and sanitary wasn’t easy until the advent of modern filtration systems and chlorination.

As time went on, though, swimming pools slowly became more elaborate, and were often clad in white ceramic subway tiles associated with cleanliness in the 1910s and 1920s.

When they first became popular during the mid- to late-19th century, they were primarily used for exercise and bathing.

But then the Hollywood films of the 1940s and 1950s began portrayed them as places of leisure and luxury, where famous actors and actresses casually basked in the sun or took an afternoon dip in glamorous swimsuits.

They became even more popular in postwar America, when newer technologies made pool construction easier.

Soon, backyard swimming pools were popping up across the country and taking new shapes and sizes, with curved kidney-shaped pools becoming all the rage.

Even today, pools have remained a hallmark of high design and a must-have in just about every celebrity property or vacation home.

Summer barbecue season has arrived, and it promises to be an especially busy one. Many backyard enthusiasts who spent the last two years of COVID sprucing up their patios and gardens are now more than ready to show off their handiwork and host friends and family.

They’re also kicking their menus up a notch. Mt. Airy resident Sonya Combs, who has been running her catering business Smokin’ Sone Fresh Grill for the past eight years, said she’s noticed that people are getting more adventurous this year — choosing larger and more unusual cuts of meat with a wider range of flavorings.

Instead of cooking up individual steaks, for instance, she’ll drive out to Lancaster County, where she knows the meat is fresh and organic, and pick up a giant tomahawk steak.

“It’s like a giant ribeye with a long bone in it - it looks like something you’d see in the Flintstones,” she said. “So instead of doing individual steaks we’ll cook that up and have it family style, with everyone gathering around and sharing it.”

Combs prefers to order her meats locally, she said, but for some of the larger or more unusual cuts she needs to look elsewhere. When alligator meat is on the menu, for instance, she needs to order all the way from New Orleans.

“That’s not exactly something I’d be able to find at Reading Terminal,” she chuckled.

Charcoal vs. Propane?

Nothing beats cooking favorite foods over an open flame. But there are many ways to do that — and pretty much everyone has strong ideas about which choice is best.

For those with no special devotion to charcoal, a propane grill is worth all the love it gets. It can light up in a matter of seconds, it cooks the food evenly and reliably and it presents much less fuss when it’s time to clean up. Who doesn’t love fast cooking and even faster cleanup? Just a short brush to clean the grate, and boom — done!

But charcoal aficionados — like Combs — will rave about the extra flavor they get with the smoky fuel, and the distinctively rich drippings that vaporize and flavor the food. The sizzling sounds those drippings make when they hit the burning glow of well lit coals is, of course, also part of the magic, as is the distinctive smell of flaming charcoal.

“I am definitely a charcoal person,” Combs said. “I will use propane if I need something quick, or if I’m doing seafood and I want more control over the heat. But there’s nothing like that deep smoky flavor that you get with charcoal.”

She’s also pretty picky about her wood. She’ll take a long drive outside the city to pick up pecan, apple, mesquite and hickory wood chips so she can be sure they haven’t been treated with any chemicals.

Chillin’ and grillin’ in the backyard

By CARLA ROBINSON

Blackened angus tomahawk steak

(Serves 2-3)

Ingredients:

2-3 lb. Angus Tomahawk Steak

Olive Oil

1 tsp Butter

Spice Mixture — combine 1-tsp each: salt, pepper, garlic powder, chili powder, Cajun seasoning

Supplies:

Long Grilling Tongs

Sheet Pan

Aluminum Foil

“I get my wood from Meadow Creek Barbecue Supply out in Lancaster County,” she said. “I know that wood is pure.”

Preparation is key

Getting the best out of any grill comes down to time, and preparation — especially if you’re tackling a large or unusual cut of meat. According to Combs, that means first making the extra effort to mix up a brine or a marinade, and then settling in for a long slow cook.

“A lot of the larger meats require a brine,” she said. “Then I’ll smoke it on low (250 degrees) for about six hours, then finish it off with a high heat. You want to cook it slowly over low heat to give it that nice smoky flavor, but then you also really

Preparations:

Remove steak from refrigeration. Allow to sit at room temperature for 1 hour. Pre-heat an outdoor grill to the highest heat setting. Close the lid. If using charcoal, heat and prepare coals for direct cooking. Season steaks generously on all sides with olive oil and spice mixture.

Allow the spice mixture to penetrate the steak. Sear the steak for 6 to 8 minutes (depending on desired internal temperature) on each side. Allow flames to kick up the sides! Transfer the steak to a sheet pan. Cover tightly with foil. Let rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Slice... Enjoy!!

want that crust at the end.”

Of course your menu includes much more than meat. A successful barbecue host sends everyone home sated, and stuffed with delicious foods. Classic sides include homemade baked beans, potato salad and/or coleslaw, or course.

But sides are also trending toward the more adventurous, according to Combs. Her catering menu, for instance, includes citrus roasted beets and lemon scented quinoa.

Kids love home-baked macaroni and cheese and chicken fingers are always popular with them.

And you definitely can’t forget the s’mores. Make sure you’ve got plenty of marshmallows, crackers and chocolate bars on hand. Gathering round the fire to roast those gooey slabs of sweetly delicious summer can make the perfect

Sonya Combs wows her guests with charcoal-grilled tomahawk steaks. Find her at smokinsone.com

ending to a wonderful evening.

Setting the stage

You want your patio and garden to be a luxurious extension of your home. Consider it an outdoor room — your home-based getaway spot.

Toss the hard cast iron furniture of yore and reach for comfy furniture, arranged for lounging, and accessorized with lived-in touches like throw pillows, outdoor rugs, colorful lanterns.

Some source of shade is also a good idea, whether it’s an obliging tree that’s already there, something you’ve put in a pot or even a carefully-placed, angled umbrella. If you’ve thought ahead, you’ve already planted aromatic herbs like lavender or rosemary in your garden, which can add a delightful scent to the air. And don’t be afraid to cut a few flowers for your vases or decorative pots.

Outdoor string lights can add a relaxing vibe, and tablecloths are a nice touch too. Hurricane candle holders can help keep low lights flickering. Don’t forget a few fluffy blankets in case the evening air turns chilly. Citronella candles or some insect spray are always a good idea, as bugs can be a real killjoy.

And last but not least, don’t forget to charge your bluetooth speakers! The right playlist can set the perfect tone.

A bygone era awaits down the turnpike in Mt. Gretna

By LEISHA SHAFFER

Do you ever find yourself wistfully yearning to return to a time when life was simpler? You don’t need to wax nostalgic or wish for a time machine. You just need to take a short trip down the Pennsylvania Turnpike to visit a place where you can step out of your car and feel you’ve been transported into another time.

This hidden gem is Mt. Gretna, a small Victorian-era summer retreat nestled into the natural landscape of Central Pennsylvania, just off the Lebanon-Lancaster exit and minutes north of the site of the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire.

If you’ve never heard of Mt. Gretna, you aren’t alone. Most people outside of the immediate area haven’t. It’s not a tourist trap and you won’t see any billboards promoting it. But once you have visited and experienced all it has to offer, you are likely to gratefully gush “I would have never known about this place if it wasn’t for you” to the person who let you in on the secret.

This 130-year-old community is rooted in its rich history. The idyllic, transformational magic of the town is a result of the celebration and preservation of that history, which is carefully stewarded by its full-time and summer residents.

History at Every Turn

According to the Mount Gretna Area Historical Society, founder Robert Coleman envisioned his family estate as a destina-

tion. During the 1880’s, he established the Cornwall-Lebanon Railroad, put a station stop at Mt. Gretna, and created a popular recreation park there. He also built a dam on Conewago Creek to create Lake Conewago.

But it was the serendipitous convergence of two religious groups searching for summer retreat locations that created the heart of today’s Mt. Gretna.

The summer of 1892 was the founding moment. A local United Brethren camp meeting seeking a new location leased 30 acres from Coleman. By their first camp meeting that summer, 100 cottages had been built.

At the same time, people who were interested in forming a Pennsylvania Chautauqua were looking for a location, and Coleman obliged. The first Chautauqua was held in the summer of 1892 on the land adjacent to the camp meeting.

The Chautauqua Movement, which originated as a summer educational experience and retreat for Sunday school teachers, reached more than 200 locations across the country at its height.

T oday, the Pennsylvania Chautauqua at Mt. Gretna is one of only seventeen remaining. And its presence is alive as ever. The influence of Chautauqua and its pillars – Arts, Education, Religion and Recreation – are woven into the character, culture, and values of Mt. Gretna.

Upcoming events

IF YOU PLAN TO DRIVE up to Mt. Gretna for a day, schedule your trip around one of the signature events in August.

Mt. Gretna Tour of Homes – August 6th Get a glimpse of the iconic cottages and gardens of Mt. Gretna on this annual self-guided tour which benefits Gretna Music. Tickets are $20 in advance.

gretnamusic.org/tour-of-homes

The Original Mt. Gretna Cicada Music Festival – August 8th to 16th Six nights of “Music on the Mountain” at the Playhouse, featuring tributes to the artists of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. Tickets are $20.

originalcicadamusicfestival.com

48th Annual Mt. Gretna Outdoor Art Show – August 20th & 21st – This two-day event features artists and artisans from across the country. (The Summer Craft Market is the same weekend.) Admission is $12 and proceeds benefit Mt. Gretna community organizations. mtgretnaarts.com

Lively arts

Gretna Theatre – Gretna Theatre is America’s oldest summer stock theatre, performing since 1927. Bernadette Peters, Sally Struthers and Charlton Heston have all graced the stage at Gretna. The 2022 summer schedule features five performances as well as a Kids Series. Tickets range from $15-$39 ($10 for Kids Series performances).

gretnatheatre.org

Gretna Music – Gretna Music presents a slate of gospel and jazz performances throughout the summer as well as the Gretna Music For Kids program. Most performances are held at the Mt. Gretna Playhouse and prices vary by performance.

gretnamusic.org

Mt. Gretna Summer Concerts – It’s always a fun and interactive night at the Tabernacle for Larry McKenna’s Summer Concerts. Spanning the Greatest Hits of Broadway to the music of The Crooners, The Beatles, and Motown, these tribute performances are guaranteed to take you back and get at least your toes tapping. Admission is on a “pay what you want” basis.

larrymckenna.com/mgsc.html

Chautauqua Summer Programs – Lectures, art classes, children’s programs, films, and more are part of the Pennsylvania Chautauqua summer series. Registration is required. pachautauqua.info.

Above, the cottages of Mt. Gretna, which are carefully tucked into the natural setting of the Chautauqua, are a highlight of the Gretna experience.

Left, the 700-seat Mt. Gretna Playhouse is the site of Gretna Theatre performances and many concerts throughout the summer.

Facing page, shaded porches invite visitors to ‘set a while.’

Photos courtesy of Visit Lebanon Valley

Charming Chautauqua

The first thing to do when you arrive at Mt. Gretna is to take a deep breath and exhale. As the quiet and the natural beauty envelop you, you can feel the hectic pace of life melt away.

The first impression of Mt. Gretna, the one that will stick with you, is the quaint, colorful cottages which dot the less than quarter-square mile area. Just about every cottage has a porch; most are charming wraparounds with gingerbread trim. The porches are a centerpiece of the Gretna lifestyle, providing the stage for relaxation and social life and the common bond that fosters the convivial nature of the community.

The roots of the founding groups are evident in the physical design of Mt. Gretna today. The camp meeting section is a walkable community of about 250 cottages connected by a network of pathways and a few roads. The Tabernacle, an open-air auditorium constructed in 1899, is the site for religious services and musical performances.

The Chautauqua section features streets named after colleges, with about 200 cottages tucked into the landscape between the towering trees. The Mt. Gretna Playhouse and the Hall of Philosophy, site of summer programs and community events, are also included.

If you are expecting a resort with a mission to entertain you, then Mt. Gretna might not be the spot for you. That’s not to say that Mt. Gretna isn’t

entertaining. Quite the contrary. It is a beehive of activities, steeped in the arts and nature. But Gretna is a go-at-your-own-pace experience where half of the fun is exploring all it has to offer.

Mt. Gretna area offers some features you might expect from a summer resort and some you might not.

Mt. Gretna Lake & Beach features floating wooden docks, over-the-water swings, canoeing, and a picnic area. The Clarence Schock Memorial Park at Governor Dick, a public park right next door, provides 1,110 acres of hiking, bouldering, and an observation tower with 360-degree views. You can take a few swings at the miniature golf course or go for a spin at the roller rink with its old-fashioned wooden floors. And a must-visit spot is the Jigger Shop, an iconic old-fashioned ice cream parlor, established in 1895.

But it’s the arts that really define the Gretna experience.

Whether it’s the regular performances at the Gretna Theatre, which is one of America’s oldest summer stock theaters, the ongoing series of gospel, jazz and kids music performance at the Mt. Gretna Playhouse or the summer concert series at the Tabernacle there is always something to enrich and entertain. And don’t forget the Pennsylvania Chautauqua summer series of lectures, art classes, films and children’s programs.

For more information, go to mtgretna.com and visitlebanonvalley.com.

In case you need advice, a porch rules sign instructs you in how to relax in Mt. Gretna.