THE ARCHITECTURE

In his detailed account book, Anthony Morris wrote on June 8, 1795, that “The Masons began to lay the stone of the new House.”

For the next six years, Anthony Morris documented the expenses of the construction of his late Georgian style house which crowned the hill of his farm just outside of Philadelphia.

Morris hired “T. Matlack, Architect,” likely Timothy Matlack (1739-1829) of Philadelphia and Lancaster, better known as a politician and ardent patriot, to design his manor house.

As important as the mansion was, of equal importance was Matlack's design of the two story stone springhouse and massive three level stone barn.

After the purchase of the property in 1813, George Sheaff began a series of renovations inside the house including the construction of the verandah on the north side, the addition of the portico on the main south façade, and the replacement of interior doors and moldings on the first floor. By 1856, during John Sheaff’s ownership, interior plumbing was installed and in the 1870’s new plaster cornices and ceiling medallions were added to the main rooms.

Caroline Sinkler’s ownership included extensive renovations under the supervision of architect Halfdan Hanson and interior designer Henry Davis Sleeper. The new work included the addition of the servants’ wing on the northwest corner, and a small rounded porch on the north side in the Colonial Revival style. The Highlands Historical Society was founded in 1975; along with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania comprehensive restoration of the buildings was underway.

Today, The Highlands is an historic home opened to the public for historic tours and private rentals. Visit this beautiful piece of Pennsylvania History.

Building Dates

If you are standing at the fountain in the center looking at the mansion, you are facing North.

Anthony Morris Ownership (1794 - 1808)
1794	Necessary (NE octogonal building; moved/rebuilt as a garden house c. 1820 - 25)
1794	Granary (Now gone)
1794 - 95	Mansion House
1797	NW octagonal smoke house (moved to present location c. 1922)
1799 - 1802	Ice House
1799 - 1800	Stone Barn
1799 - 1800	Springhouse

George Sheaff Family Ownership (1813 - 1917)
c. 1820 - 25	NE octagonal garden house (was the necessary)
c. 1820 - 25	SE garden wall & greenhouse (greenhouse now gone)
c. 1844	Crenelated wall
c. 1844	Gardener's gottage (stone section)
c. 1844	Potting shed

Caroline Sinkler Ownership (1917 - 1941)
c. 1920 - 22	SW garden wall, also added curve to west end of SE wall and guttresses to both
c. 1920 - 22	Excedra
c. 1920 - 22	Screening Wall (to hide greenhouse from formal garden and mansion)
c. 1920	Existing greenhouse (recently restored)
c. 1920	Pink Stucco addition to the gardener's cottage

return to top