Blocks with many homes in original condition (appearance-wise)

**Kukla65th** · 08-10-2011, 10:43 AM

If you have photos of blocks in the city where homes look to be uniform in appearance, or very close to original appearance, post them here.

It's not that easy to find large rows of homes, for examples, with uniform paint schemes, original porch columns (no wrought iron!), no aluminum siding and well-painted. So let's see where we find some examples.

I'm aware of the irony of my not posting such a photo at this time...but I'll be back. Hope to see what others have seen.

Note block and community in which you found the homes.

**Kukla65th** · 08-10-2011, 10:45 AM

Okay...something to tide over until original photo can be posted:

A screenshot of a particulary well-kept and uniform block in North Philadelphia's "Swampoodle" "North Penn" whatever you want to call it:
2215 W FIrth STreet, Philadelphia, PA - Google Maps

**Lolly** · 08-10-2011, 11:17 AM

Originally Posted by Kukla65th

Okay...something to tide over until original photo can be posted:

A screenshot of a particulary well-kept and uniform block in North Philadelphia's "Swampoodle" "North Penn" whatever you want to call it:
2215 W FIrth STreet, Philadelphia, PA - Google Maps

I would hardly call all that aluminum capping over so many of those cornices "original."

**Kukla65th** · 08-10-2011, 12:15 PM

Originally Posted by Lolly

I would hardly call all that aluminum capping over so many of those cornices "original."

Thank you for the constructive comment. Again, as close to original. Agreed. Aluminum capping isn't original...but I was struck by how many homes on that block and others around it had original brick facade colors and a minimum of other modifications especially as compared to many similar North Philadelphia blocks.

**Poweltonian** · 08-10-2011, 03:44 PM

The North side of the 3700 block of Hamilton is pretty close to being original...except for one enclosed porch. Houses are from about 1870.

3715 Hamilton St, Philadelphia, PA - Google Maps

**Lolly** · 08-10-2011, 08:23 PM

Originally Posted by Kukla65th

Thank you for the constructive comment. Again, as close to original. Agreed. Aluminum capping isn't original...but I was struck by how many homes on that block and others around it had original brick facade colors and a minimum of other modifications especially as compared to many similar North Philadelphia blocks.

Sorry, didn't mean to sound critical of you. I just shake my head whenever I see that sort of thing. That said, I also often wonder if those misguided things actually serve to preserve what's under them. I like to imagine that one day folks will uncover and restore the beauty beneath.

**Mr Morley** · 08-11-2011, 01:28 AM

Originally Posted by Poweltonian

The North side of the 3700 block of Hamilton is pretty close to being original...except for one enclosed porch. Houses are from about 1870.

3715 Hamilton St, Philadelphia, PA - Google Maps

There are a fair number of blocks like that in Powelton. I recently discovered photo of my "home" block, taken in 1959, which show it's almost unchanged in 40 years, and with the exception of one set of twins, basically unchanged since it was built.

It helps that most additions/changes to houses in the neighborhood were made before about 1920.

**Kukla65th** · 08-11-2011, 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by Lolly

Sorry, didn't mean to sound critical of you. I just shake my head whenever I see that sort of thing. That said, I also often wonder if those misguided things actually serve to preserve what's under them. I like to imagine that one day folks will uncover and restore the beauty beneath.

Typically capping does hide an intact cornice on the types of homes I posted in that screenshot link. Where capping typically covers dismantled, formerly rich looking, cast iron is on bay windows where pieces were pried off to allow the siding mounts to sit level against the building...pity.

**Kukla65th** · 08-11-2011, 12:31 PM

Originally Posted by Poweltonian

The North side of the 3700 block of Hamilton is pretty close to being original...except for one enclosed porch. Houses are from about 1870.

3715 Hamilton St, Philadelphia, PA - Google Maps

Indeed, quite original looking! Beautiful block.

**Kukla65th** · 08-11-2011, 12:35 PM

This link depicts the 2600 block of N. Douglas Street in "North Penn" or "Swampoodle". Too far south to be Allegheny West. No matter, it's North Philly to most of us.

2600 N. Douglas Street, Philadelphia, PA - Google Maps

What strikes me is that virtually all homes' facades were never painted, and some look to have been power washed. I would go so far as to wonder if this block was part of some long-ago grant-funded program for facade restorations...can't be sure. Some people have painted the stone trim around windows, and a few places have fiberglass awnings, but the homes look largely as one might have expected them to many decades in the past when other similar blocks, too, would have looked this way. Unfortunately, there are a few abandoned homes, but the street is relatively well-maintained. This block terminates on the north end at Lehigh Avenue.

**Kukla65th** · 08-11-2011, 12:37 PM

A similar block to my other posts...this one 2700 block E. Plum Street in Bridesburg.

plum street, 19137 - Google Maps

**Kukla65th** · 08-11-2011, 12:40 PM

One more for today...
One of my favorite blocks in West Philadelphia: 5900 block of Ellsworth Street in Cobbs Creek section. Remarkable as homes are not painted from original brick color, porches are largely still original with few iron replacement columns, and porches aren't tipping. Homes are really rare for W. Philly in that almost all of them still sport their cast iron pediments on top of the cornices. Really handsome homes typical of early 1900's W. Philly middle class housing.

5900 Ellsworth Street, 19143 - Google Maps

**Kukla65th** · 08-11-2011, 12:44 PM

I lied about the previous post being my last...

I think the person that owns the home at the following link should get a commendation for preserving the entire original facade. Imagine when all the homes looked like this. You have Tudor and some mild Gothic influences here. West Philadelphia really looked cooler prior to aluminum siding's wrath. I think you'll see which house I mean, readily:

6240 Spruce Street, 19143 - Google Maps

**Mr Morley** · 08-12-2011, 02:15 AM

North side of the 4000 block of Spring Garden St:

4000 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA - Google Maps

which I bring up largely so I can post this:

4001 Spring Garden St is largely as built, but it's amazing what a difference a few minor details make. Those Japanese-style porches are completely insane, and it's amazing they survived on the house until at least 1950 (the date of the photo).