Philadelphia. Only a few old Colonial houses now
remaining have them, and for the most part they are entrances to
countryseats in the present suburbs rather than to residences in the
city proper. The Highlands and Hope Lodge have such porches to which
reference has already been made in connection with the houses
themselves. Of scant architectural merit, the porch at Hope Lodge may
possibly be of more recent origin than the house. Except for the narrow
double doors the entrance to The Highlands is strongly reminiscent of
New England doorways and porches. Both have hipped roofs so low as to be
almost flat.

A splendid example of the gable roof or pedimental porch more typical of
Philadelphia architecture is that at Upsala. Although displaying free
use of the orders, it is regarded as one of the best in America. On a
square stone platform reached by three broad stone steps, slender,
fluted Doric columns, with engaged columns each side of the doorway,
support a roof in the form of a pediment of generally Ionic character,
the architrave and cornice being notable for fine-scale hand tooling. It
will be noticed that the motive of the cornice with its jig-sawed
modillions, rope molding and enriched dentil course suggests Ionic
influence; that of the architrave, with its groups of five vertical
flutings in alternation with an incised conventionalized flower, Doric.
The same entablature is carried about the inside of the roof, projecting
over the doorway to form a much favored Philadelphia doorhead supported
by flanking engaged columns. The doorway itself is distinctly of
Philadelphia type, high, relatively narrow, and deeply recessed, with
the soffit of the arch and the cheeks of the jambs beautifully paneled
and a handsome semicircular fanlight above the single eight-panel door
but with no side lights. The effect of the keystone and imposts, also
the enrichment of the semicircular architrave casings are
characteristic. The paneling of the door consists of pairs of small and
large panels in alternation, the upper pair of large panels being
noticeably higher than the lower pair.

Of far more modest character is the porch of the old Henry house, Number
4908 Germantown Avenue, long occupied by Doctor W. S. Ambler. It is much
smaller, extremely simple in its detail and of generally less pleasing
proportions. Two slender, smooth columns and corresponding pilasters on
the wall of the house support a pediment rather too flat for good