Happy Birthday, Ormiston

The pink and red-brick Georgian mansion known as Ormiston is one of those out-of-the-way architectural treasures in Fairmount Park that only seem to attract attention when they're decorated for Christmastime tours. But Ormiston deserves special notice; on May 15, the house will celebrate its 200th birthday. Edward Burd built this "good house at Schuylkill" as a summer home for himself and wife Elizabeth in 1798, the same year he was appointed Prothonotary of the Supreme Court. Now the Royal Heritage Society maintains the mansion and holds exhibitions like this summer's look at two centuries of fashion (Sundays 1-4 p.m., June through August). Attendees at the birthday party are asked to bring "presents" of $25 toward restoration of the house; for further info (and to hear a perfectly charming British accent), call Heritage Society President Jean Roberts at 247-5790.

Fri. May 15, 5-7 p.m., Bicentenary Birthday Reception, Ormiston Mansion. From the city take Kelly Drive to Gen. Grant's statue. Take a right onto Reservoir Drive, go a quarter of a mile until you see Ormiston at the top of the hill. Also accessible on the Fairmount Park Trolley route.

-David Warner