Lemon Hill was built in 1798 on the site of the Robert Morris country
house called “The Hills.” Here he had his famous green houses with the
first lemon trees in Philadelphia, which ultimately gave their name to
the estate.
On Morris’ insolvency it was purchased by Henry Pratt, an opulent
merchant, who built the present house. The oval drawing room was of the
type then popular among the leaders of the government and society, found
also in the White House in Washington and in the homes of Alexander
Hamilton and General Henry Knox. The drawing room on the first floor and
dining room on the floor below are the principal rooms of the house, the
long windows on the south side giving a prospect of the river and being
balanced on the opposite wall by a pair of fireplaces. The curved
mahogany doors in these rooms are rich accents of colour against the
blue woodwork and buff walls. In the library is one of the most delicate
and beautiful of the early marble mantelpieces, with the legend of Leda.
Mr. and Mrs. Fiske Kimball, who occupy the house, have furnished it with
appropriate pieces of the late eighteenth century in the Heppelwhite and
Sheraton style. In the drawing room is a handsome suite of white and
gold furniture in the Louis XVI style, including a settee and twelve
armchairs. They were made in Philadelphia about 1800 for Edward Burd.
The hangings are of a classic pattern in blue and silver, and over the
mantels are a pair of colourful landscapes in the manner of Hubert
Robert.