American history could be lost, if the home of Oscar Hammerstein II is not saved.
Oscar Hammerstein’s Highland Farm, Inc., which is currently being headed by William Hammerstein, Oscar’s grandson, is trying to preserve the property and turn it into a museum and education center.
Oscar Hammerstein II, one of the greatest American playwrights, who once owned a home that covered 72 acres throughout Doylestown, Pennsylvania, died in that very home in August of 1960.
Following his death, the Hammerstein family did not feel comfortable living in the house and ended up selling the property. Now, after almost a full 60 years has past, the property has dwindled to only 4.65 acres that is separated into four lots.
Two lots, where the actual house sits, is owned by Christine Cole, a board member of Oscar Hammerstein’s Highland Farm, Inc. Cole has been using the home as a bed and breakfast for about 10 years.
The other two lots, sitting behind the barn and pool in the backyard, are owned by a developer, who has been waiting to turn the entire property into multiple residential homes. The developer’s plan would be for the house to be demolished and turned into a cul-de-sac parking lot for the homes behind it.
“My father James Hammerstein always used to say, ‘We lived in many places, but Highland Farm was always our home,’” said William Hammerstein. “Of course, by the time of his telling, the family hadn’t lived there in many years. But between 1940-1960, ‘the farm,’ was the beloved location for Hammerstein family gathers. It was also the place where the Rodgers and Hammerstein partnership was formed, where all of the Rodgers and Hammerstein shows were written, where Oscar mentored Stephen Sondheim and where many causes were championed. So, when I learned in 2010 that the historic barn needs saving and the remaining 5 acres of the once 72-acre farm had been approved for a residential subdivision, I knew that I had to join with the current owner, Christine Cole, to prevent a potentially irreversible disaster.
“After much discussion, the solution became clear. Create a non-profit organization to buy the property and build a museum, theater and theater education center on it. This would honor Oscar’s legacy of great musical theater, mentorship and social engagement and create a wide range of other benefits too. It would add a much needed ‘regional’ theater and support local shops, restaurants, museums and inns by bringing additional foot traffic to the area. Most importantly, it would be of special benefit to young people, who would be encouraged to adopt Oscar as a role model.”
Oscar Hammerstein’s Highland Farm, Inc. needs to raise $2 million by the end of 2018 to be able to save the home. The money would go towards the purchase of the property, buying out the developer, paying off bills and paying for more engineering.
“But the real value to the place is the space, which is virtually identical to the way it was back then,” Hammerstein said. “There are a few unfortunate changes that we hope to change back, but really the integrity of this place is very much intact.”
Going out and raising $2 million hasn’t been the easiest for William Hammerstein, who has found out that his last name doesn’t always do him much good.
“Me being a Hammerstein also hurts our work, too,” he said. “It’s a sword that cuts two ways. For some people, they love that a Hammerstein is involved, it helps legitimize this in ways. But, for many people, they think that I or others in the family, can just write a check and make all of this happen, and that hurts.”
William, who has been leading the effort along with the overwhelming support of his wife, Mandee, not only wants to turn the house of Oscar Hammerstein II into a museum but have other ideas for the property as well.
“The barn in the back, the township approved for it to be returned to its original size,” Mandee said. “That will be turned into a Broadway browsing museum, with all kinds of fabulous exhibits dating back to Oscar I, Oscar II’s grandfather, who built the first theater in Times Square.”
Ted Chapin, the president and CCO of the Rodgers and Hammerstein company, offered his full support to the project to save Hammerstein’s home.
“Will Hammerstein is focused on making Highland Farm something important,” Chapin said. “His passion is palpable, and as someone who has been heading up the Rodgers and Hammerstein office for many years, I am thrilled to see him channeling a strong gene pool into new thoughts and plans for a place that had a far larger significance in American culture than we may realize.”
A total of 77 Academy Awards, Grammy Awards, Tony Awards and Pulitzer Prizes can directly be traced back to Oscar Hammerstein II’s home at Highland Farm.
Oscar Hammerstein’s Highland Farm, Inc. is a recognized 503(c)3 charitable organization and all gifts are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law. Donations can be made by mailing a check to: 70 East Road, Doylestown, Pa. 18901, or by clicking the donate button at: hammersteincenter.org. If you have any questions, please contact: 267-740-2961, info@hammersteincenter.org.
