During June of 1776, the Second Continental Congress was underway in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Thomas Jefferson, one of the attendees, had obtained lodging within the city, but considered it quite uncomfortable, so he sought new accommodations.
On the outskirts of town, a well-known bricklayer, Jacob Graff, Jr., had built a comfortable two story home the previous year. Jefferson consulted with him about lodging and soon occupied one of the two fully-furnished upstairs bedrooms, and sitting room. At the time Graff built his home, it was on the outskirts of town, surrounded by fields with a stable nearby. The stable’s close proximity to the home resulted in an unending supply of flies which Jefferson considered a terrible nuisance.
The rural location provided the tranquil environment Jefferson needed to undertake the task he had been assigned – writing a declaration which would explain in detail the reason the Colonies sought independence from England. During the three week time period required to transcribe the document, Jefferson periodically entertained fellow Congressional delegates in the sitting room of the Graff House (a/k/a – Declaration House).
Built in 1775, the original Georgian Graff house was relatively small with two rooms on each floor, connected by a center staircase. In 1883, Graff House was torn down. During 1975, the Independence Hall Association rallied the call for the home to be rebuilt prior to the bicentennial. Photos of the original structure were consulted to maintain authenticity.
Prior to the original home being torn down, it was owned by two brothers, Simon and Hyman Gratz. Their sister, Rebecca, is said to have been an inspiration for the novels of two different authors – Thackeray’s Rebecca and Walter Scott’s Ivanhoe. In addition to being a home, the structure was later used as a print shop and a diner.
Today’s Graff House is located within the city limits of Philadelphia, at 701 Market Street and is cared for by the National Park Service. The artifacts inside are not those which were there at the time of Jefferson’s visit; however, the home has been decorated in a manner which mimics how the original home was likely furnished. Within the home, there is a bust of Thomas Jefferson and copies of the rough drafts Jefferson created prior to completing the final document.
Comments
The lodging may have the flies, but it was good that Jefferson had the quiet , necessary to work on the drafts of the Declaration of Independence. Too bad during restoration that everything could not have been designed like the original home, yet glad to hear that Jefferson's manuscripts were preserved and that Philadelphia preserved another part of that city's past. Well written article, they are always a pleasure to read. Thanks, Karen.
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