Gas House and Community Garden

Glen Foerd’s first owner constructed this building as a "gas house" to fuel his own house as well as the surrounding residences in the Torresdale community. Gas for the buildings was manufactured every Monday and stored here until used. By 1903 with the introduction of electrictricity, gas was no longer needed for illuminating households. At that point, this structure was converted to a boathouse, and in 1915 it was redesigned as a Swiss chalet to be used as a residence or guest house. Please be respectful of the current residents while touring the grounds.

Across the road, you’ll see our twenty-plot community garden, where our neighbors rent space for growing their own vegetables.