1. ADDRESS OF HISTORIC RESOURCE (must comply with an Office of Property Assessment address)

Street address:__________________________________________________________________

Postal code:_______________

2. NAME OF HISTORIC RESOURCE

Historic Name:__________________________________________________________________

Current/Common Name:___________________________________________________________

3. TYPE OF HISTORIC RESOURCE

Building Structure Site Object

4. PROPERTY INFORMATION

Condition: excellent good fair poor ruins

Occupancy: occupied vacant under construction unknown

Current use:____________________________________________________________________

5. BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION Please attach a narrative description and site/plot plan of the resource’s boundaries.

6. DESCRIPTION Please attach a narrative description and photographs of the resource’s physical appearance, site, setting, and surroundings.

7. SIGNIFICANCE Please attach a narrative Statement of Significance citing the Criteria for Designation the resource satisfies.

Period of Significance (from year to year): from _________ to _________

Date(s) of construction and/or alteration:______________________________________________

Architect, engineer, and/or designer:_________________________________________________

Builder, contractor, and/or artisan:___________________________________________________

Original owner:__________________________________________________________________

Other significant persons:__________________________________________________________

1824 Chestnut Street 19103

Edward H. Trotter House

1824 Chestnut Street

1859 1933 1859 1859; c. 1922 storefront

Charles A. Rubicam, builder

Edward H. Trotter Charles F. Haseltine

Mixed-use commercial and residential

CRITERIA FOR DESIGNATION: The historic resource satisfies the following criteria for designation (check all that apply):

(a) Has significant character, interest or value as part of the development, heritage or cultural characteristics of the City, Commonwealth or Nation or is associated with the life of a person significant in the past; or,

(b) Is associated with an event of importance to the history of the City, Commonwealth or Nation; or,

(c) Reflects the environment in an era characterized by a distinctive architectural style; or, (d) Embodies distinguishing characteristics of an architectural style or engineering specimen; or, (e) Is the work of a designer, architect, landscape architect or designer, or engineer whose work

has significantly influenced the historical, architectural, economic, social, or cultural development of the City, Commonwealth or Nation; or,

(f) Contains elements of design, detail, materials or craftsmanship which represent a significant innovation; or,

(g) Is part of or related to a square, park or other distinctive area which should be preserved according to an historic, cultural or architectural motif; or,

(h) Owing to its unique location or singular physical characteristic, represents an established and familiar visual feature of the neighborhood, community or City; or,

(i) Has yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in pre-history or history; or (j) Exemplifies the cultural, political, economic, social or historical heritage of the community.

8. MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Please attach a bibliography.

9. NOMINATOR

Organization______________________________________Date________________________________ Name with Title__________________________________ Email______________________________

Street Address____________________________________Telephone____________________________

City, State, and Postal Code______________________________________________________________

Nominator is is not the property owner.

PHC USE ONLY

Date of Receipt:_______________________________________________________________________

Correct-Complete Incorrect-Incomplete Date:_________________________________

Date of Notice Issuance:_________________________________________________________________

Property Owner at Time of Notice:

Name:_________________________________________________________________________

Address:_______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

City:_______________________________________ State:____ Postal Code:_________

Date(s) Reviewed by the Committee on Historic Designation:____________________________________

Date(s) Reviewed by the Historical Commission:______________________________________________

Date of Final Action:__________________________________________________________

Designated Rejected 12/7/18

Philadelphia Historical Commission staff

215-686-7660 1515 Arch Street, 13th Floor

Philadelphia, PA 19102

February 6, 2020 February 7, 2020

February 7, 2020

19th & Sansom Corp

Leroy E Kean Inc.

19103 PA Philadelphia

5/20/2020

Laura.DiPasquale@phila.gov

Philadelphia Historical Commission February 6, 2020

1821 Sansom St

1824ChestnutStreet

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5.BoundaryDescription

Figure1.Theboundaryidentifyingtheparcelat1824ChestnutStreet.Source:CityAtlas.

SituateontheSouthsideofChestnutStreetatthedistanceof101feetEastwardfromtheEastsideof19thStreet.ContaininginfrontorbreadthonthesaidChestnutStreet26feetandextendingofthatwidthinlengthSouthward235feettoSansomStreet.

95’

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23

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140’

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131’-6”

26’

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6.ArchitecturalDescription

Figure2.Viewof1824ChestnutStreet,February2020.Source:PhiladelphiaHistoricalCommission.LocatedonthesouthsideofChestnutStreetonablockthattransitionedfromresidentialtocommercialduringtheearlytwentiethcentury,theItalianatebuildingat1824ChestnutStreetissurroundedbyhigh-styleandarchitecturallysignificantbuildings,suchastheBairFuneralHome(nowBoyds),theBelgravia,theAldineTheatre,andtheSamuelT.FreemanAuctionCompanybuilding.Thepargedbrownstonebuildingat1824ChestnutStreet,constructedin1859forEdwardH.Trotter,risesfourstoriesinheightandspansthreebaysinwidth(Figure2).Theparcelextendsafullblockfromnorthto

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south.Inplan,thebuildingconsistsofamainblockandrearell.Thecarriagehousehistoricallyassociatedwiththehousewasreplacedbyaone-story,utilitarianbrickbuildingin1907.1

TheEdwardH.TrotterHousehistoricallymirrored1822ChestnutStreetandwasbuiltafewmonthslaterthanitseasternneighborat1822Chestnut.Atthetimeoftheirconstructioninthemid-nineteenthcentury,the1800blockofChestnutStreethousedsomeofPhiladelphia’smostfashionablecitizensandwasanchoredbythepalatial,marble-cladJayneMansionjustwestofthepair(Figure3).Whilethebuildings’frontfacadesstillalludetotheupscaleresidentialdistrictinwhichtheywereconstructed,thearea’stransformationtoacommercialcenterresultedinseveralground-storyalterationstoaccommodatethebuildings’changesinuse.

Figure3.JayneMansionatsoutheastcornerof19thandChestnutStreets,with1824ChestnutStreetatfarleftshowingoriginalresidentialgroundfloor,c.1900.Source:PhillyHistory.org.

North(ChestnutStreet)elevation

ThenorthorChestnutStreetfaçadeoftheEdwardH.TrotterHouseisthefrontfaçade.Thethreeupperstorieshistoricallymatchedtheneighboringbuildingat1822ChestnutStreet,havingbeencladinyellowsandstonewithdecorativehoodsandprojectingsills.Thebuildingcurrentlyhasstuccoedwalls,thestuccoofwhichcoverstheoriginalyellowsandstone(Figure4).Thedecorativehoodshavebeenremoved,andthewindowsurroundshavebeensimilarlystuccoed,thoughastringcourseremainsbetweenwindows.Eachofthethreestoriesincludesthreebayswithdouble-hungwindowsthatwerehistoricallysegmentallyarched.Whileallthesamewidth,thewindowsgetprogressivelyshorteratthethirdandfourthstories.Adecorativewoodcornicecapsthefaçadeandfeaturesdoublerosettes1PhiladelphiaRealEstateRecord&BuildersGuide(PRERBG),v.22,1907,p.487.

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betweenbracketsandanappliedscrollbelow.Large,carvedendbracketscontainfloralmotifsandacanthusleaves.

Asitstandsnow,theEdwardH.TrotterHousepresentsthehistoryofChestnutStreetthroughthedichotomyofitsfaçade:withitsresidentialItalianateupperstoriesdistinctlyseparatefromitsearly-twentieth-centurystorefront.Astheblocktransformedfromresidentialtocommercial,alterationstothebuildingat1824ChestnutStreetlargelyfocusedonthecreationandadaptationofitsstorefront.By1921,thepairoflargefour-over-fourfirst-storywindowswasreplacedwithasinglestorefrontwindow;inthisearlycommercialiteration,thebuildingretaineditsentrydoorandelaboratelycarvedhood(Figure5).Inthefollowingyears,however,thestorefrontexpandedtoasystemthatengulfedmuchofthegroundfloor(Figure6).Withinafewyears,therichlydetailedbrownstonedoorwastradedforastreamlinedentrythatmatchedthestorefront.2Atthattime,thefirststorytransformedfromitsornatelydetailedbrownstonetoabuff-coloredlimestonecomposedinsimplerectilinearforms,withatallrectangularstorefrontopeningadjacenttoaresidentialentryofthesameheight(Figure7).Abovetheresidentialentryisatall,narrowtransomwithacentermullion.Theonlyornamentationistworosettesabovethestorefrontandentry.Asimplecornicedividestheground-storycommercialspacefromtheresidentialfloorsabove.

Figure4.Secondthroughfourthfloorsof1824ChestnutStreet,February2020.Source:PhiladelphiaHistoricalCommission.

2Photographsfrom1900,1921,and1933,aswellasdescriptionsofstorefrontalterationsavailableinthePhiladelphiaRealEstateandBuilders’Guide,providetheprogressionofchanges.Thoughthestorefrontof1822ChestnutStreetisnotentirelyvisibleinthe1933photograph,itlikelychangedataboutthesametimeandinthesamemannerasthestorefrontof1824ChestnutStreet.

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Figure5.April1921photographshowingthenow-demolishedJayneMansionatthecornerof19thandChestnutStreetswith1822and1824ChestnutStreetatleft.Notethatthestorefrontshavebeencreated,thoughtheoriginalentranceswereretained.Source:PhillyHistory.org.

Figure6.June1933photographwiththeAldineTheatreconstructedontheJayneMansionsite;thestorefrontsof1822and1824ChestnutStreet(farleft)havealreadybeenalteredtotheircurrentconfigurations,eliminatingtheresidentialuseatthegroundstories.Source:PhillyHistory.org.

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Figure7.Currentstorefrontof1824ChestnutStreet,February2020.Source:PhiladelphiaHistoricalCommission.WestElevation

Thewestelevationofthemainblockiscladinbrickwithnowindowopenings(Figure8).Themainblockremainsatfourstoriesinheight,followedbyathree-storyportionoftheell.Theellthenstepsdowntotwostories,withasmall,one-storyadditionattherear.Theentiretyofthehistoricstructure,includingthemainblockandrearell,occupiesapproximatelyhalfoftheparcel.

EastElevation

Theeastwallofthemainblockfunctionsasapartywallandisnotvisible.Theell,cladinbrick,featuresregularpunchedopeningsandissevenbaysdeep(Figure9).

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Figure8.Viewofthewestelevationof1824ChestnutStreet,2018.Source:Pictometry.

Figure9.Viewoftheeastelevationof1824ChestnutStreet,2018.Source:Pictometry.

1822

1824

1824

1822

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South(SansomStreet)Elevation

Attherearof1824ChestnutStreetisatallone-storyredbrickcommercialbuilding,currentlyoccupiedbyCavanaugh’sRittenhouseandknownas1823SansomStreet(Figure10),whichwasconstructedin1907,replacinganoriginalcarriagehouse.Thestructurewasextensivelyalteredin1966.Thefloorwasloweredandboththedoorandwindowopeningsonthefrontfaçadewereextendeddownwardtoaccommodatethenewinteriorfloorlevel(Zoningplan,11/29/1966).Interestingly,withtheextensionofthearchedwindowopeningdownward,theenlargedopeningtookontheappearanceofacarriagehouseopening.However,thebuildingwasneveracarriagehouse,butonlyresembledoneafterthe1966alteration.Thestructureisseeninitsoriginal1907forminaphotographshortlyafteritsconstructionandinitsalteredformina1980photograph(Figure11).Thisrearbuildingisconsideredtobenon-contributingforthepurposesofthisnomination.

Figure10.Rearbuildingat1824ChestnutStreet,knownas1823SansomStreet.February2020.

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Figure11.Left,1907photographof1823SansomStreet,justafterconstruction.Source:HistoricalSocietyofPennsylvania.Right,1980photographafteralterations.Source:ClioGroupsurveyform,PhiladelphiaHistoricalCommissionarchives.

Figure12.SansomStreetfaçadeofthestructureat1824ChestnutStreet,26February1931.Source:DallinAerialSurveyCompany,HagleyLibrary.

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Figure13.Floorplanoftheoriginalcarriagehousefrom1859insurancesurvey.Source:PhiladelphiaArchitectsandBuildings,CancelledFireInsuranceSurveys,PhiladelphiaContributionship(Archives),policynumber10272.

Lookingpasttheformerstructureat1823SansomStreet,therearofthesubjectbuildingat1824Chestnutisonlypartiallyvisiblefromthepublicright-of-way(Figure14).Thevisibleareasshowaredbrickrearellwithcorbelledcornice.Asecond-storyrearadditionappearstobecladwithplywood.

Figure14.Eastwallofrearbuildingandviewofrearellat1824ChestnutStreet.February2020.

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Figure15.Westwallof1824ChestnutStreetexposedowingtodemolitionofJayneMansion.May18,1921.Source:PhillyHistory.org

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7.StatementofSignificanceThepropertyat1824ChestnutStreet,knownastheEdwardH.TrotterHouse,ishistoricallysignificantandshouldbelistedindividuallyonthePhiladelphiaRegisterofHistoricPlaces.ThepropertysatisfiesCriteriaforDesignationC,D,andJasdelineatedinSection14-1004(1)ofthePhiladelphiaCode.Constructedin1859,thebuildingreflectstheenvironmentinaneracharacterizedbythepopularItalianatestyle,themostpopularstyleoftheCivilWarEra,satisfyingCriterionC.Additionally,thebuildingembodiesdistinguishingcharacteristicsoftheItalianatestyle,includingitslow-pitchedroofwithwideeavessupportedbydecorativebrackets,andtalltwo-over-twosegmentally-archeddouble-hungwindowswithdramaticcarvedhoodsandprojectingsills,satisfyingCriterionD.Withitsbrownstoneupperfloorsandcommercialgroundfloor,thepropertyrepresentsboththeresidentialdevelopmentoftheupper-classRittenhouseneighborhoodinthemid-nineteenthcentury,andthecommercialdevelopmentofChestnutStreetintheearlydecadesofthetwentiethcentury,satisfyingCriterionJ.

CriterionJ:Exemplifiesthecultural,political,economic,socialorhistoricalheritageofthecommunity.Untilthesecondquarterofthenineteenthcentury,CenterCitywestofBroadStreetremainedvirtuallyundeveloped,comprisedmostlyofopenfields,pastures,claypits,andscatteredclustersofhousingandindustrywithwharvesalongtheSchuylkillRiver.ThefirstsignificantphaseofresidentialconstructionwestofBroadStreetoccurredinthe1830s,owingtodevelopmentpressurefromthecity’sgrowingbusinessdistrictonresidentialpropertieseastofBroadStreet(Figure16).MirroringthedevelopmentofWashingtonSquaretotheeastonegenerationearlier,theblocksofChestnut,Walnut,SpruceandDelanceyStreetsaroundRittenhouseSquarequicklybecameafashionablelocaleforthehomes,churches,andculturalinstitutionsofthecity’sestablishedupperandupper-middleclassfamilies.Thesefamiliesemployedprestigiousarchitects,includingJohnHaviland,whodesignedthe1830’sColonnadeRowat15thandChestnutStreets,andThomasU.Walter,whodesignedtheporticoedEpiphanyEpiscopalChurchoppositeColonnadeRow.3Developmentmovedwest,beginninginearnestonthe1800blocksofChestnutandWalnutStreetsinthe1850s.Rowhouseslinedthewestsideof18thStreet(thencalledSchuylkill5th)betweenChestnutandSansomStreetsby1849,joinedbyasmatteringofotherbuildingsalongthenorthsideofChestnutStreet(Figure17).In1853,theimpressivebrownstoneTabernacleBaptistChurch,designedbyNewEnglandarchitectWilliamBoyington,wasconstructedonthenorthsideofChestnutStreet,westof18thStreet(Figure18).AdetailedprofileofthechurchinGleason’sPictorialDrawing-RoomCompanionatthetimeofitsconstructionnotedthat,“withinafewyearsseveralsplendidstructuresfordevotionalpurposeshavebeenreared,andthedistrictwestofBroadStreetmayclaimthehonorofhavingcontributeditsfullsharetothearchitecturaladornmentofthecity…Thiselegantbuildingisaboutbeingfinished,andinpointofbeautyofdesignandfinish,willrankwithanysimilarstructureinthecity.”4

3CarolineA.BenensonandJeffersonM.Moak.“CenterCityWestHistoricDistrict.”NationalRegisterofHistoricPlacesNominationForm.PennsylvaniaHistoricalandMuseumCommission,Harrisburg,September28,1987.4Gleason'sPictorialDrawingRoomCompanion(Boston),v.7,n.5,p.72(8/5/1854).

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Figure16:DetailoftheMapoftheCityofPhiladelphia,1831,showingnearlycompletedevelopmenteastofBroadStreetandspottydevelopmentwestofBroad.The1800blockofChestnut,locatedbetweenwhatwasthenknownasSchuylkillFourth(19th)andFifth(18th)Streetswasasofyetundeveloped.Source:GreaterPhiladelphiaGeoHistoryNetwork.

Figure17:Detailofthe1849J.C.SidneyMapoftheCityofPhiladelphia,showingdevelopmentslowlycreepingwestward.Bythistime,afewbuildingshadbeenconstructedonthe1800blockofChestnutStreet.Source:GreaterPhiladelphiaGeoHistoryNetwork.

ThedivisionoftheestateofEdwardShippenBurdbyhisexecutorsinthelate1840sopenedalargeblockofundevelopedlandeastofSchuylkill4th(19thStreet)betweenChestnutandSansomStreetsto

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development.In1858,ElonDunbarpurchasedaportionofthatlandfromJosephHarrisonJr.5Dunbar,alongwithneighboringpropertyownerRobertDeSilver,commissionedCharlesA.Rubicamtobuildlargebrownstonemansionsat1822and1820ChestnutStreet,respectively.6Thefollowingyear,Dunbarsoldtheadjoininglotat1824ChestnuttoEdwardH.Trotter,merchant,whointurnhiredRubicamtoconstructabuildingofthe“samecharacteranddimensions.”7Rubicamwas“anextensivebuilder,”who“enjoyedanexcellentreputation,andsomeofthebestandmostsubstantialbuildingsinthiscitywereerectedunderhissupervision.”8Thebrownstoneresidences,whichweresituatedonlots25to26feetwide,extendedthefull235-footdepthtoSansomStreet,wheretheirstableswerelocated.Rubicam’shigh-styledesignswereinkeepingwiththebracketedItalianatestylesthatwouldcometocharacterizetheRittenhouseneighborhoodbetween17thand20thStreets,butwerelaudedasbeing“fittedupinthefineststyle”and“amongthefinestthathavebeenmadeonChestnutStreetfordwellings.”9Withthecompletionof1824ChestnutStreet,the1800blockofChestnutStreetwasnearlyfullybuiltoutby1860,withthenotableexceptionofalargeparcelatthesoutheastcornerof19thandChestnut,whichwouldbecomehometotheimpressiveJohnMcArthur,Jr.-designedSecondEmpiremansionforDr.DavidJaynefollowingtheCivilWar(SeeFigure3).

Figure18:Left,detailof1858Hexamer&Locheratlasshowingthe1800blockofChestnutStreet.Notethat1824Chestnut,builtin1859,doesnotappearonthemap.Source:GreaterPhiladelphiaGeoHistoryNetwork.Right,TabernacleBaptistChurchandtheneighboringbrickresidences,1854.Source:Gleason’sPictorialDrawingRoomCompanion(Boston),v.7,n.5,p.72.

5PhiladelphiaDeedBookADB-16-67.6RobertDeSilverpurchasedanundevelopedlotin1857fromJosephHarrisonJr.(PhiladelphiaDeedBookADB-18-294),whohadpurchasedalargeblockoflandfromtheBurdestatein1852(PhiladelphiaDeedBookTH-55-99).7PhiladelphiaDeedBookADB-32-372.Trotterowned1824ChestnutStreetuntil1864,whenhesoldittoEliW.Bailey(PhiladelphiaDeedBookLRB-29-381);“AFineImprovement,”PublicLedger(Philadelphia,Pennsylvania),8March1859,p.1.8“Well-KnownCitizenDeceased,”Inquirer,15September1876,p.3.9Ibid.

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Figure19:Inthemid-nineteenthcentury,thecharacterofthe1800blockofChestnutStreetappearedsimilartothatofitscounterparttothesouthalongWalnutStreet,shownhere,withlargefour-storyItalianatehomesbuiltforthecity’supperclassresidents.Source:FreeLibraryofPhiladelphia,CastnerCollection,itemnos.pdcc01258(left)andpdcc01268(right).

Withinafewshortdecadesafterthisresidentialdevelopment,ChestnutandWalnutStreetswestofBroadStreetevolvedintoanareaofretail,banking,andotherprofessions;thestreetscapetransformedfromitsresidentialcharactertooneoflowandhigh-riseretailandofficebuildings.Hintsofthechangestocomewereevidentasearlyas1888,whenadoctors’officebeganoperatingoutof1822ChestnutStreet,buttheearliestandmostsignificantchangetothe1800blockofChestnutStreetoccurredin1896,whentworowhousesonthenorthsideofChestnutStreetweredemolishedtomakewayforaneleven-storyWilsonBrothers-designedProfessionalBuilding(Figure21).TabernacleBaptistChurchwasreplacedbytheeight-storyBelgraviaHotelin1902,and1820and1818ChestnutweredemolishedfortheJ.T.Windrim-designedOliverBairCompanybuildingin1907.Dr.DavidJayne’smansion,alreadyinpoorconditiondespitebeingonly55yearsold,gavewayfortheAldineTheatrein1921.Theremainingthree-and-one-halftofour-storyresidentialbuildingsonthe1800blockofChestnutStreetwererefacedorreplacedwithaheterogeneouscollectionofearlytwentieth-centurycommercialdesigns.Only1822and1824ChestnutStreetsurvivedrelativelyunscathed,theirresidentialgroundfloorsretaineduntiltheearly1920s,whenstorefrontswereaddedtoaccommodatethechangingusesandcontextofthebuildings.Aroundtheturnofthecentury,followingacatastrophicfireinhisofficeandgalleriesattheHaseltineBuildingat1416-18ChestnutStreet,famousartdealerCharlesF.Haseltinemovedhishomeandoperationsto1822and1824ChestnutStreet.From1901untilhisdeathin1915,1822and1824ChestnutStreetarelistedinterchangeablyasHaseltine’shomeandgalleries.10Haseltinepurchased1824ChestnutStreetin1906,whichheappearstohavealsorunasanapartmentbuildingforatime.Followinghisdeathin1915,Haseltine’scollectionwasauctionedoff,andthebuildingsat1822and1824ChestnutStreetsold.InkeepingwiththecommercialdevelopmentofChestnutStreet,storefrontswere

10ThePhiladelphiaInquirer(Philadelphia,Pennsylvania),13Dec1903,p.29.

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addedtothepropertiesandleasedtocommercialtenants,includinganopticians’officeandmillineryshop.Theupperfloorscontinuedtheirresidentialuse,and,althoughsomewhataltered,appearmuchastheydidfortheirfirstowner,EdwardH.Trotter,in1859.

Figure20:Detailofthe1910G.W.BromleyatlasofPhiladelphiashowingthechangingcharacterofChestnutStreet.Source:GreaterPhiladelphiaGeoHistoryNetwork.

Figure21:Left,an1899viewoftheWilsonBrothers-designedProfessionalBuildingwhichreplacedearlierresidentialrowhousesat1831and1833ChestnutStreet,fromTheOfficialOfficeBuildingDirectoryandArchitecturalHandbookofPhiladelphia,TheCommercialPublishingandDirectoryCo.,Philadelphia,1899,p.526.Right,thesameviewin1963.Source:PhiladelphiaHistoricalCommission.

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CriterionC:Reflectstheenvironmentinaneracharacterizedbyadistinctivearchitecturalstyle.CriterionD:Embodiesdistinguishingcharacteristicsofanarchitecturalstyleorengineeringspecimen.Forthedesignofhisnewhouse,EdwardH.Trotterchoseahigh-styleversionofthepopularItalianatestyle,whichdrewinspirationfromfifteenth-centuryItalianpalazzodesign,theclassicaldetail,elegance,andgravitasofwhichwere“deemedeminentlysuitableforsymbolizingprosperityandsocialpositioninalimitedspace.”11Dominantduringtheperiodfrom1855to1870,theItalianatestylelentitselfwelltonumerousbuildingforms,includingurbanandruralresidences,commercial,andinstitutionalbuildings.Nationally,theItalianatestylewasthemostpopularstyleofthe1850sforurbanrowconstruction.ThefacadesofItalianRenaissancepalazziofferedaprototypeforJohnNotman’sAthenaeumonWashingtonSquareof1845-47(Figure22)andforThomasUstickWalter’sLewis’sRowof1849(Figure23).WalteradoptedthecharacteristicsofaRenaissancefaçadeusingbrownstoneinsteadofbrickonthisrowandmanyothercommissionsinPhiladelphia.Notmanandotherswereresponsibleforthedesignsof1618,1620,and1622LocustStreet,allconsideredtobeexcellentexamplesinPhiladelphiaoftheItalianatestyle(Figure24)alongwiththelaterItalianaterowhousesonthe2000blockofWalnutStreet,whichshowcasethehighfrontstoopwhichwasoriginallyfoundonthesubjectbuilding(Figure25).12

Figure22.AthenaeumofPhiladelphiaat219S.6thStreet.Source:SteveMinor,Flickr.

11SuzanneSpellen,“ItalianateArchitecture.”Brownstoner,April6,2016.12BobbyeBurkeetal,HistoricRittenhouse:APhiladelphiaNeighborhood(Philadelphia:UniversityofPennsylvaniaPress,1985),48-49.

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Figure23.1500blockofPineStreet,Lewis’sRow.Source:GoogleStreetView,2019.

Figure24.1600blockofLocustStreet.Source:GoogleStreetView,2018.

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Figure25.2000blockofWalnutStreet.Source:GoogleStreetView,2017.DistinguishingcharacteristicsoftheurbantownhouseadaptationoftheItalianatestylefoundat1824ChestnutStreetincludeitslow-pitchedroofwithwideeavessupportedbydecorativebrackets;tallsegmentally-archeddouble-hungwindows,originallywithdramaticcarvedhoodsandprojectingsillsasevidencedinhistoricphotographs,andwindowheightsdifferentiatedbyfloorlevel.13Thebuildingat1824ChestnutStreetpresentsamorestylishversionofthebrick-frontedItalianaterowhousesfoundthroughoutPhiladelphia.Whilethearchitectof1824ChestnutStreetisnotknown,itsoriginalappearancewasverysimilartothatofthebuildingthatstoodat1804ArchStreet,ac.1853townhousedesignedbyStephenDecaturButtonanderectedforB.A.Fahnestock(Figure26;left).Button’sfaçadefortheFahnestockhouseat1804ArchStreetcanbecontrastedwithThomasUstickWalter’sdesignforanunidentifiedtownhouse(Figure26;right).WhereWalterwasrestrained,drawingfromhisearlierGreekRevivalwork,Button,accordingtoarchitecturalhistorianJefferyCohen,“dressedhisfaçadewithaninsistentrichnessandfloridornament.Arches,encrustedwithstonetiaras,adoptavarietyofcurvingprofiles,withonlyaweakindicationoftheirspringinglevelsratherthanmorearchitectonicshapesortreatments.Beneaththesearchesround-headedwoodentracerytopsthepairedrangesoflightsineachwindow,withaninterveningcircleatthefirst-andfourth-floorlevels.ThesealludetoearlyRenaissancepalacesinVenice,anadmixturethatinfusedtheItalianatestyleofthe1850swithadditionalrichnesscomparedtothemorerectilinearRomanmodelsthathadreignedinthelate1840s.Byitsdecorativecelebrationanditsnewimposingscale,thisinflectedItalianatestyleservedespeciallytocelebratethewealthandannouncethepresenceofthosewhowerenewlyarrived,botheconomicallyandsocially.Asimilarstyleandmotivemarkedthe

13“ItalianateVilla/ItalianateStyle1840-1885.”PennsylvaniaArchitecturalFieldGuide.PennsylvaniaHistoricalandMuseumCommission,http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/portal/communities/architecture/styles/italianate.html.

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newcommercialpalacesthenrisinginPhiladelphia’soldcenter.”14ThesameyearthatButtondesignedtheFahnestockhouse,1853,hedesignedanItalianatecommercialbuildingat920-22ChestnutStreetforElonDunbar,theoriginalownerof1822ChestnutStreet,thepropertynextdoortothesubjectproperty(Figure28).15Buttonisalsoknownforerecting“manyofthehandsomestprivateresidencesaroundRittenhouseSquare.”16ItislikelythatButtondesignedtheEdwardH.TrotterHouse.

Figure26.Left:B.A.FahnestockTownhouseat1804ArchStreet.Source:O’Gormanetal,p.103.Right:“UnidentifiedTownhouse.”Source:O’Gormanetal,p.93.14JamesF.O’Gorman,JeffreyA.Cohen,etal,DrawingTowardBuilding:PhiladelphiaArchitecturalGraphics1732-1986(Philadelphia:UniversityofPennsylvaniaPress,1986),103-104.15OntheDunbarbuildingsat920-22ChestnutStreet,see:“LargeContract,”PublicLedger,9February1853,p.2.OnPhiladelphia’scommercialarchitectureofthe1850s,see:WinstonWeisman,“PhiladelphiaFunctionalismandSullivan,”inJournaloftheSocietyofArchitecturalHistorians,vol.20,no.1,March1961,p.3-19.16“TheOldestArchitect:StephenD.ButtonCelebrateshisEightiethBirthday,”TheTimes(Philadelphia),16June1892,p.7.

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Figure27.1824ChestnutStreet.Source:CBRE.com.

Asevidencedbyitspopularity,Italianatearchitectureknewnoclassboundaries,andwasusedonearlier,moresimplebuildingsaswellashigher-stylefacadessuchasthoseat1822and1824ChestnutStreet.Theoften-incorporatedhighsquaretowersoftheItalianateVilladesignmadethestyleanaturalchoiceforupscalehomesofthenewlyrich;however,thebracketsandotherarchitecturedetails,madeaffordablebynewmethodsformachineproduction,wereeasilyappliedtosimplecottagesandtownhouses.Newtechnologiesalsomadeitpossibletoaffordablyproducecast-irondecorationsbeginninginthemid-nineteenthcentury,makingtheItalianateafavoredstyleofthisperiodforpracticalyetelegantdesignsofurbantownhouses.Whilethefaçadeof1824ChestnutStreetdoesnotspecificallyfeaturecast-irondetailing,onecanseetheinfluenceofitspopularityatthistimeviathefluidityanddetailofthedramaticcarvedhoodsandsillsatthewindowsinacirca1900photograph(Figure3),whichstandinstarkcontrasttotheearlierrectilineardesignswhichcharacterizedearlyItalianatetownhousedesign.Italianateremainedapreferredhousestyleintheregionthroughthe1870s,andisavisualhallmarkoftheRittenhouse-areastreetscape.17

17LelandM.Roth,AConciseHistoryofAmericanArchitecture(NewYork:Harper&Row,1979),118-121;“PicturesqueItalianateArchitectureintheU.S.”https://www.thoughtco.com/the-italianate-house-style-178008.

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Figure28.920-22ChestnutStreet,designedbyButtonforElonDunbar,theoriginalownerof1822ChestnutStreet.Source:Baxter’sPanoramicBusinessDirectories,AthenaeumofPhiladelphia.

Figure29.Floorplanfor1824ChestnutStreetfrom1859.Source:PhiladelphiaArchitectsandBuildings,CancelledFireInsuranceSurveys,PhiladelphiaContributionship(Archives),policynumber10141.

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ConclusionInsummary,thebuildingat1824ChestnutStreetmeritslistingonthePhiladelphiaRegisterofHistoricPlaces,satisfyingCriteriaforDesignationC,D,andJ.ThebuildingreflectsthedevelopmentofChestnutStreetfromthemid-nineteenthcenturythroughtheearlytwentieth-century,aswellastheenvironmentinaneracharacterizedbythepopularItalianatestyle,whichwasnationallythemostpopularstyleofthe1850sforurbanrowconstruction,satisfyingCriteriaforDesignationCandJ.Additionally,thebuildingembodiesdistinguishingcharacteristicsoftheItalianatestyle,includingitslow-pitchedroofwithwideeavessupportedbydecorativebrackets,andtallsegmentally-archeddouble-hungwindows,originallywithdramaticcarvedhoodsandprojectingsills,satisfyingCriterionD.

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8.MajorSourcesCited

Benenson,CarolineA.andJeffersonM.Moak.“CenterCityWestHistoricDistrict.”NationalRegisterofHistoricPlacesnominationform.PennsylvaniaHistoricalandMuseumCommission,Harrisburg,September28,1987.

Burke,Bobbye,OttoSperr,HughJ.McCauleyandTrinaVaux.HistoricRittenhouse:APhiladelphia

Neighborhood.Philadelphia:UniversityofPennsylvaniaPress,1985.

O’Gorman,JamesF.,JeffreyA.Cohen,GeorgeE.ThomasandG.HolmesPerkins.DrawingTowardBuilding:PhiladelphiaArchitecturalGraphics1732-1986.Philadelphia:UniversityofPennsylvaniaPress,1986.

Roth,LelandM.AConciseHistoryofAmericanArchitecture.NewYork:Harper&Row,1979.ThePhiladelphiaInquirer.Variousadvertisementsandarticles.AccessedFebruary4,2020.

Newspapers.com.