Built to Be Remembered, Ready to Transform
Not every house is granted the privilege of telling its story. Some, like the one located at 907 Thomas Avenue in Cinnaminson, reveal their past patiently, leaving subtle clues for those perceptive enough to notice them. From its very beginning, this residence was conceived not merely as a structure, but as a legacy meant to endure in memory.
The first sign of that intention emerged from within its own walls: a copy of The Philadelphia Inquirer dated December 10, 1911, intentionally placed there by Lawrence Lippincott, the home’s original owner and builder. While time has erased many details, the meaning remains clear—this house was built not only to stand, but to be remembered.
Its original design reinforces that idea. In the dining room, a button embedded in the floor recalls an era of precise domestic order, when household staff responded to silent signals. Every space was designed not just for its residents, but for a carefully structured way of life that reflected the customs and status of its time.
The grounds sloping toward the creek held another secret: a residence once designated for household staff, whose story remained unknown for years. The discovery of a wallet containing a Cinnaminson High School meal card bearing the name Gordon Greene helped piece that history together. This led the Armijos family to contact the Greene family and invite Gordon’s brother to the property, where he accurately identified the remains of the former servants’ house. The site, complete with interior cooking quarters and a nearby outdoor fireplace, was a place of childhood games and fond memories, affectionately referred to by two of his sisters as “the dollhouse.”
Completing this remarkable estate was a carriage house with an apartment on the upper level—an exceptional feature even among the distinguished homes of Cinnaminson and Riverton. By the 1960s, the house entered a new chapter of life. The Greene family filled its halls with laughter, secrets, and youthful energy. Eight siblings grew up exploring every corner, gathering in the basement, and sharing memories connected by a string telephone tucked near a spiral staircase.
The family patriarch, a practicing attorney in Moorestown, chose the property for its strategic location directly across from the Riverton Country Club, with the clear intention of hosting and entertaining his clients. Nothing was left to chance; every detail was carefully considered.
Years later, an antique mirror suspended by two chains revealed yet another hidden chapter. Relocated for restoration, it concealed a handwritten restoration note dated May 15, 1979, signed by Charles Hordis, then the home’s new owner. Under his care, the house flourished as a space for art, music, and generous hospitality, even earning a place in the 1986 Candlelight Riverton Tour.
Today, 907 Thomas Avenue stands on the threshold of a new transformation. The home is beginning its next chapter in partnership with Aroma’z Home Flooring—not to erase its past, but to carry it forward. For when a house with memory chooses to evolve, its future is always worth watching.
