Oaks Cloister

Oaks Cloister, is the name of the former residence of architect, Joseph Miller Huston. Constructed in 1900, the mansion is located at 5829 Wissahickon Ave,, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19141, in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was the home and studio of Philadelphia-born Joseph Huston (1866-1940), architect of the Pennsylvania Capitol. The Tudor style home incorporates architectural elements and work by many capital artists. Oaks Cloister was fully restored to its original glory in 2012, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2019.

History

Huston Family (1900–1955)

Joseph Miller Huston was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1866. He trained and worked as an architect during college and graduated from Princeton University in 1892. Huston founded his own firm in 1895, just a few short years after starting his career with famous Philadelphia architect, Frank Furness. Huston designed Oaks Cloister creating an eclectic blend of English Tudor and Swiss Chalet influences.

Huston designed portions of ''Oaks Cloister'' during the construction of his best known work, the Pennsylvania State Capitol. ''Oaks Cloister'' is an eclectic blend of Tudor and Craftsman styles, with the Beaux-Arts flair of the capital project mixed-in. ''Oaks Cloister'' became a test lab and an intimate sampler of the capital's architectural features. This is evident with Huston's use of scaled design mock-ups and identical detailing throughout the home. Huston lived at ''Oaks Cloister'' until his death in 1940.

Post Huston Family (1955–2002)

''Oaks Cloister'' remained in the Huston family until 1955 when it was bought by Reverend Wilbur and Mrs. Loice Gouker. The Goukers worked tirelessly and lovingly to preserve the rich history of Oaks Cloister. A short video was created showcasing the home during the Goukers' ownership. The video was produced by the Pennsylvania Capital Preservation Committee and called, "''Oaks Cloister—The Home of Capitol Architect Joseph Huston''". After the Goukers sold the home c.1994, the property fell into disrepair and eventually was left abandoned.

Restoration (2002–2012)

After years of dereliction, this esteemed estate appeared to be doomed. In 2002, Dr. Russell Harris and Mr. John Casavecchia acquired the property, saving it from impending demolition. The rebirth of this relic took more than a decade of painstaking restoration efforts by ONeal Studios. Bringing the mansion back to its original glory proved to be a monumental task. However, this dedicated labor of love did not come without its fair share of rewards. Many hidden treasures were unearthed during construction and brought back to life from the dilapidated ruins.

Every space in the century old, 20-room mansion has been restored to its original beauty. Some of the more distinguished refurbished areas include:
* The Ballroom- Possibly the most dramatic restoration project was the transformation of the home's ballroom. When the project began, the ceilings and carved panels above the fireplace were covered in thick, dark soot and dirt. After some research, it was discovered that Huston had imported the hand-carved stone fireplace from Caen, France

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