John Otto + Mary Ella Keim

Jenkintown Road (north of Tookany Creek Parkway), Cheltenham, Pennsylvania

1893-94 | Residence - Alterations | Demolished

“Nichols…has…made drawings for a house for Mrs. John O. Keim to be built at Cheltenham, Pa., size 104 x 48 feet with fine porches, colonial finish throughout the interior. There is a large reception hall running through the house, breakfast room, dining room, kitchen, laundry, pantry, sitting room, library, den and parlor on the first floor with a large play room connected by covered porches. The second floor contains two bath rooms, nursery and chambers. Separate stairway communicates with rooms on the second and third floor for the servants. It is to have electric lighting and steam heat.” (October 18, 1893)

—

John O. Keim worked in the traffic and operating departments for the Reading Railroad for 19 years, and then worked for the Delaware and Lancaster Railroad. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, “He was in charge of Port Richmond when the strike of 1887 occurred, and it was largely owning to his masterly handling of the men there that the [Reading Railroad] was able to win the fight.'“

He did not die until 1941, so it is interesting to note the wording of this advertised commission: while Minerva did complete designs for many widows, Mary Ella Keim’s husband remained very much alive—all the more interesting, then, that she specifically was listed as the client for this commission.

In terms of style, this house is unlike any other (known) project in Minerva’s portfolio; this can be attributed to the fact that Minerva was hired to complete alterations for an existing house.