The end of the Civil War and the beginning of the 1870s introduced a new era in West Philadelphia's development as a suburb. It was a period of rapid changes and growth. There were changes in the types and designs of the dwellings. There was an increase in the variety and density of the construction. There was an influx of institutions to the area. Finally, paralleling all this was an expansion of services both private and public. Sewers, water, gas lines and paved streets along with the expansion of railroad and street car lines was crucial to support the expanding suburb.
Finance: Banking and Savings Associations.
One of the keys to expanding the scale of real estate operations was
to be able to borrow more money. This was true for both the developers
and buyers. For the former, the entry of members of Philadelphia's
banking houses into the real estate market appears to have brought advances in financing as well as greater capital. For the home buyers, the answer came in the formation
of savings associations that pooled money and then loaned it to members.
Two of the most influential bankers in West Philadelphia were Clarence H. Clark and Anthony Drexel. Clark was a speculator himself, buying and assembling plots of land. Many of the transactions involved Nathaniel B. Browne, who had developed blocks in the 1850s. In the 1860s and 70s, Browne seems to have focused more on conveyancing, leaving the construction end of things for Clark. Clark initially worked with directly various builders, however by the late 1870s, his properties are going to an intermediary, William S. Kimball, who actually develops them. At the same time, Browne was working to bring the University of Pennsylvania to West Philadelphia. His efforts were eventually rewarded, and the University bought land to build on in 1868.
Clark's initial investments appear to be personal. However as a member of a large and successful private banking house, it is possible the bank was making loans or backing Clark. In 1876, Clark opened a new West Philadelphia bank, Centennial National. Real Estate announcements in the 1880s suggest that this bank was providing cash or mortgage loans to developers. This would further suggest that Clark, and perhaps other bankers had seen that they could profitably finance construction on their own and other properties. Furthermore, by using a chartered bank, there was less personal risk.
During this period, it was not yet a common practice for banks to provide mortgages to help people purchase houses. A person or family could either rent, rent with an option toward purchase, or purchase outright (perhaps obtaining a personal loan). One solution that developed in Philadelphia was the loans association. In these associations, members would contribute regularly to the fund. When a member wished to purchase a house, the association would review their credit and provide a loan. This made home ownership available to a broader spectrum of people than had been previously possible. In the ensuing decades, these associations were credited to helping make Philadelphia a "city of homes". While there was squalor and ghettos, nothing equivalent to the tenements of New York existed.
Building Patterns
In the same spirit of the previous generation of speculators, the new
developers also lived amongst their creations. Clark, Drexel, Browne
and most others built houses for themselves and lived in West Philadelphia.
So, it is little wonder they worked diligently to maintain the character
of their creations. A description in 1875 noted "This neighborhood
is now, and must ever remain a lovely blending of all that is most beautiful
in city and country". The developers continued to insure their streets
remained free of shops, the houses were set back from the sidewalk,
and porches, fenced yards, and trees lined the streets. Deed restrictions,
covenants (and much later, zoning) often were employed to retain these
characteristics. Sometimes their houses had to share the block with pre-existing
working class homes, but generally this was avoided.
Not all of West Philadelphia was developed this way. The areas along the eastern part of Market Street remained a mix of commercial, retail, and industrial. Mills and factories also existed at Angora and in Eastwick for example; while farms and estates continued to operate until swallowed by a real estate operation. Nor was it just dwelling houses being built. Besides the University of Pennsylvania, other institutions saw the advantage of cheaper land, and healthier surroundings outside the city center. Many of these were societies to help poor, orphaned, and the aged.
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from Vieira, 1902 |
A big influence on the area was the Centennial Exposition. This fair covered much of what is now West Fairmount Park. Throngs of people came to see the buildings, grounds, and exhibits meant to show off the nation's latest and greatest as well as its heritage. To handle all these people, the railroads and street car companies laid new track and expanded services. A new terminal was built at Market Street. Almost across the street, at 32nd and Market Streets, was Clarence Clark's new Centennial National Bank (still standing). For the bank's architects, Clark chose Frank Furness and George Hewitt.
Architecture
The bank's architecture indicates Clark was associating himself with
a new generation of architects working in Philadelphia. By 1870 the
era of Samuel Sloan was drawing to a close. It was the beginning
of what we frequently call Victorian, and what they generally called Queen
Anne or Modern. While exhibits about colonial America at the
Centennial Exposition are credited with sparking a rival in colonial style,
it would be almost two decades before that aesthetic would make its way
into West Philadelphia architecture. However the mid 1870s do appear
to be the turning point for architects in Philadelphia in terms of training
and design. The 1860s had already seen an adoption of Gothic and
Second Empire for houses, but in a rather literal and some would say superficial
way. Instead what became practiced was rational planning mixed with
design that explored surfaces, color, and motifs. In this way historicism
and natural forms were used freely, and one can sense an overall preference
for the sublime.
"Kimball
Block"One of the most basic changes of the new era was the appearaence of the row townhouses, albeit suburbanized. This was accompanied by filling in spaces left open in the older parts of West Philadelphia and opening smaller streets between the larger ones. All of this increased the density of the new suburb. Single family houses and twins continued to be built, but primarily on the edges and on larger streets.
In the late 1860s townhouses had a more urban, and therefore upper class
appeal, compared to say a village house. But in keeping with suburban
setting, these townhouses were often built with porches and yards.
Their exteriors and interiors reflected fashionable materials and designs.
Together, these characteristics would further seperate the suburbanized townhouses from the existing working class rows nearby. It should noted that mansions still abounded.
In 1875 it was remarked "Fortunately, Chestnut Street and its neighbors
to the south have been almost completely monopolized by the suburban residences
of wealthy citizens, who have adorned their homes with spacious grounds,
with trees and flowers and have planted shade trees along the streets..."
 McArthur is best known as architect of Philadelphia City Hall. This sketch and plan of his own West Philadelphia house demonstrates his command of the latest domestic architectural trends as well. "House of John McArthur", Scientific American. June 18, 1881 |
House near 49th Street Station, photographed about 1891 |
Commuter service was one determining factor of where the new suburban development successfully
occurred. Most of this was dictated by the street car
lines. According to their own accounts, the real estate men of West
Philadelphia were lobbying for more rapid transit and succeeding.
However, regular railroad service also played a role. For example,
Powelton's proximity to the main terminal made it quite convenient to residents.
An even more striking example was the emergence of a community around the 49th Street
Station that jumped ahead of the general expansion west from old Hamiltonville.
Construction of the Mill Creek Sewer. This exact location of this photograph has been given as Sansom around 43rd Street. However real estate atlases of the time do not reveal a cluster of buildings like the ones pictured in that location. Print & Picture (Castner) Collection, The Free Library of Philadelphia. . |
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