Historic John Penn House in Society Hill re-lists for $2.45M

Down $200K

By Melissa Romero Jan 24, 2017, 3:00pm EST

A living room in the John Penn mansion with a chandelier, hardwood floors, and portraits on the walls. — The John Penn mansion is back on the market for $2.45 million.

New year, fresh start: The historic John Penn mansion in Society Hill has re-listed with a smaller price tag after spending some time off the market this winter.

The large 7-bedroom, 4.5-bath home first listed in April 2016 for $2,650,000. It stood pretty without any bites, and chopped $200,000 off its asking price in September. After the listing was removed in December, it’s now back on the market for the $2,450,000.

Here’s the site’s significance: It was originally the home of John Penn, the last colonial governor of Pennsylvania and William Penn's own grandson. His home stood on the lot beginning in 1766. Benjamin Chew, the last colonial chief justice of the state, then owned the property, followed by Juan de Miralles, the first Spanish diplomatic representative to the United States.

The site ultimately served as the winter headquarters for George Washington from 1781 to 1782. So it makes sense why he and Martha were so close to the Powell family—the power couple lived next door.

While the home did undergo a renovation in recent years, it’s still pretty magnificent, with its grand ballroom, crown molding, and hardwood floors.