West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb Historic District

The West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb Historic District is an area of West Philadelphia listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It represented the transformation of Philadelphia's rural farmland into urban residential development, made possible by the streetcar, which provided easy access to Center City.[2] This is an early example of the streetcar suburb.

West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb Historic District
College Hall (and Logan Hall) viewed from Woodland Ave., ca. 1892.
LocationRoughly bounded by University of Pennsylvania campus, Woodlands Cemetery, Poweltown Avenue, 52nd Street, and Woodland Avenue
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Coordinates39°57′1″N 75°12′45″W
Area640 acres (260 ha)
Architectmultiple
Architectural styleQueen Anne, Colonial Revival, Classical Revival
NRHP reference No.97001669[1] (original)
100002341 (increase)
Significant dates
Added to NRHPFebruary 5, 1998
Boundary increaseApril 17, 2018

Development had proceeded during the 19th century to about 43rd Street. The arrival of electrified streetcars in 1892 accelerated development to the west and southwest.[3][4]

Noted Philadelphia church architect Isaac Pursell (1853-1910) designed the contributing Christ Memorial Church (1887) at 4233-4257 Chestnut Street.[5]

See also

References

  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb Historic District
  3. "Studio 34's Eponymous Trolley, or, A Short History of Route 34". Retrieved 2008-03-11.
  4. Rodin, Judith (2007). The University & Urban Revival. University of Pennsylvania. p. 26. ISBN 978-0-8122-4022-1. streetcar suburb West Philadelphia.
  5. Seventh Annual Endangered Properties List, Preservation Matters: The Newsletter of The Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, Winter 2010


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