HomeDiagramsDatabaseMapsForum About
     

Go Back   SkyscraperPage Forum > Photography Forums > My City Photos


Reply

 
Thread Tools Display Modes
     
     
     
     
  #1  
Old Posted May 10, 2007, 5:48 PM
Swinefeld's Avatar
Swinefeld Swinefeld is offline
Corporate logo
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: The Big Scrapple
Posts: 5,515
West Philly: Spruce Hill: Sexytime!

Spruce Hill
Part of West Philadelphia’s “Streetcar Suburb


The growth of Spruce Hill is tied to the expansion of various forms of transportation. With the arrival of horsecar lines, and later, electric streetcars, Philadelphians of some means were able to escape the hot and crowded city into West Philadelphia’s rural setting starting in the mid-19th century. The first speculators snatched up farmland beginning in 1851 and started planning “streetscapes”. Large twin homes of various styles were built on “Hamilton Terrace”, (now 41st St). The name Hamilton Terrace was derived from the name given to that particular part of West Philadelphia, “Hamiltonville”. William Hamilton’s estate The Woodlands being the first prominent mansion in the area was the reason for this designation. Shortly after its completion, the first permanent bridge across the Schuylkill River at High (now Market) Street was built in 1805.

West Philadelphia’s development really took of after the construction of the Chestnut Street Bridge in 1857. Followed by the horsecar lines (c. 1860) and electric trolley (1894) and the University of Pennsylvania’s move (1872), Spruce Hill and surrounding communities exploded in population. Farms and forest groves were replaced by churches, homes, and businesses. The new Market Street Elevated Line (1907) allowed development to expand even further west. New businesses proliferated at the new elevated stations on 40th, 52nd and 60th Streets. After Word War I, the automobile made the new neighborhood of Garden Court a reality.

Many of the extant structures from Spruce Hill’s growth period were designed some of Philadelphia’s most prominent architects. Samuel Sloan, G. W. and W. D. Hewitt, Willis G. Hale, Henry E. Flower and others are well represented within the Spruce Hills Historic District. Most of the surviving buildings are in excellent condition or are undergoing renovations. A number of old residences are currently being used as Penn student housing. Neighboring University City has seen a recent construction boom and the “Penntrification” of the immediate area has resulted in staggering increases in property values in Spruce Hill. So much so, many long time residents, many of whom are poor, are feeling the pinch.

JMM

Where the hill is Spruce Hill?






Things are looking up at the 4247 Locust Apartments.






St. Marks Square, which runs between Walnut St and Locust St and 42nd and 43rd, was designed by the Hewitt Brothers.


The painted ladies of Pine Street.














“Kimball Block” at 42nd and Pine, designed by William S. Kimball. These homes all had porches facing 42nd St. at one time.










Looking south from 42nd and Pine.


The doors of the Woodland Presbyterian Church.






Damn phone lines!


A spacious twin on 41st and Pine.








The Rotunda (1911) at 4012 Walnut was designed by Carrere and Hastings. It began as the First Church of Christ, Scientist, it’s now a concert venue.






West Philadelphia, born and raised...


The Romanesque Revival Sedgley Apartments at 45th and Pine, built c. 1900.








A. Lynn Walker’s Stonehurst Apartments (c. 1900) at 419-425 S. 45th Street in the Romanesque Revival style.








The Masjid Al-Jamia Mosque at 43rd and Walnut


Meeting the needs of West Philadelphia’s growing Muslim population are Halal Middle Eastern eateries.








Located near 45th and Spruce are these c. 1907 Tudor Revival houses.




4200 block of Walnut, showing residences by Samuel Sloan.


































At 40th and Spruce we see the Hamilton Family Estate.


Looking west on the 4000 block of Spruce Street, one of the best preserved mid 19th century suburban streetscapes of Philadelphia.


Some grand old homes on Spruce St at Preston St.


Petite Preston Street between 40th and 41st.


























The Hewitt Brothers, George W. and William D., are responsible for designing many of the structures in West Philadelphia.


One of the most noted examples of their work is this Spruce Street row (1888) at 4206-18 Spruce Street.


Done in the then fashionable Queen Anne Revival style, this picturesque row looks much as it did over a century ago.


















The Philly tradition continues.


A view of Melville Street.






The Clermont Apartments at 44th and Walnut.








The lovely Tudor.






Some outdoor dining on Baltimore Avenue.


































Across from Clar Park on Baltimore Avenue are these late Victorian twins.






Intrusive modern architecture rubbing shoulders with Tudor Revivals on Osage Avenue.


Porches along Osage Avenue.






Looking down 46th Street towards Baltimore Avenue. In the distance can be seen the golden dome of Henry Dagit’s St. Francis De Sales Roman Catholic Church (1906).


Stately homes on 46th Street north of Baltimore Avenue.












That’s all
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #2  
Old Posted May 10, 2007, 5:57 PM
crisp444 crisp444 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 920
Oh my god! This is awesome, and I'm generally not a fan of Philly. Following your pictures, this neighborhood appears to be more diverse than any that I've ever seen in the city: European, African, Middle Eastern, Indian, Asian people all out and about.. not the typical Philly 'hood! Thanks for the pictures, they make me want to visit Philly and give it a third chance.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #3  
Old Posted May 11, 2007, 3:14 AM
Swinefeld's Avatar
Swinefeld Swinefeld is offline
Corporate logo
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: The Big Scrapple
Posts: 5,515
Quote:
Originally Posted by crisp444 View Post
Oh my god! This is awesome, and I'm generally not a fan of Philly. Following your pictures, this neighborhood appears to be more diverse than any that I've ever seen in the city: European, African, Middle Eastern, Indian, Asian people all out and about.. not the typical Philly 'hood! Thanks for the pictures, they make me want to visit Philly and give it a third chance.
It's also the most liberal part of Philly, by far. These people make me look like William Crystal. And Crisp, you should definately revisit Philly and by all means, talk to me first.

MJ, I wish I could really do the neighborhood justice. It's too nice.

Much obliged, folks.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #4  
Old Posted May 11, 2007, 3:36 AM
djvandrake's Avatar
djvandrake djvandrake is offline
I'm going slightly mad.
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: California
Posts: 787
What an incredible group of photos of an incredible city! Those old homes are just fantastic. What a wonderful neighborhood!
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #5  
Old Posted May 13, 2007, 12:07 AM
the Misanthropist the Misanthropist is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 105
Quote:
Originally Posted by Swinefeld View Post
It's also the most liberal part of Philly, by far.
It looks rather wealthy as well.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #6  
Old Posted May 10, 2007, 7:29 PM
ColDayMan's Avatar
ColDayMan ColDayMan is offline
B!tchslapping Since 1998
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Columbus
Posts: 19,889
Fantastic.
__________________
Click the x: _ _ X _ _!
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #7  
Old Posted May 10, 2007, 7:36 PM
Evergrey's Avatar
Evergrey Evergrey is offline
Eurosceptic
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Pittsburgh
Posts: 24,339
I love that Green Line Cafe
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #8  
Old Posted May 10, 2007, 7:39 PM
Rufus's Avatar
Rufus Rufus is offline
Person
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 247
Another fabulous West Philly thread. Thank you, Swine. I appreciated looking at your other streetcar suburb threads, and also the auto-oriented Garden Court, too. This area of West Philly is one of the more interesting areas of the city and I can only expect it will continue to get very pricey. The housing stock there is superb.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #9  
Old Posted May 10, 2007, 8:27 PM
skylife's Avatar
skylife skylife is offline
I'm usually right.
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Portland, Maine USA
Posts: 7,356
Fan-fooking-tastic!
__________________
An inglorious peace is better than a dishonorable war. - Mark Twain
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #10  
Old Posted May 10, 2007, 8:35 PM
jeremai's Avatar
jeremai jeremai is offline
@LaidByMonty
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Baltimore, USA / Wales, UK
Posts: 380
There are some really beautiful houses in this set, and some beautiful pictures too; you could probably sell some of them to the owners... except maybe for that guy in the green t-shirt who looks like he's coming to torch you.
__________________
Laid by Monty: Celebrating the architectural heritage of Montague Burton's Art Deco shops in the UK & Ireland
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #11  
Old Posted May 10, 2007, 9:05 PM
PhillyRising's Avatar
PhillyRising PhillyRising is offline
America's Hometown
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Lionville, PA
Posts: 11,777
This just made me want to touch myself!

That's right...this is Philly!
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #12  
Old Posted May 10, 2007, 9:04 PM
arbeiter's Avatar
arbeiter arbeiter is offline
passion for patterns
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 10,336
I didn't believe you could ejaculate without any actual touching, but I stand corrected. SPRUCE HILL IS SPOOGE HILL.
__________________
you should know that I'm womanly wise
my website/blog. or, my flickr site.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #13  
Old Posted May 10, 2007, 10:00 PM
JManc's Avatar
JManc JManc is offline
Dryer lint inspector
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Houston/ SF Bay Area
Posts: 37,789
i like philly.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #14  
Old Posted May 10, 2007, 10:17 PM
Boris Boris is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,730
Beautiful architecture. PHilly's georgous.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #15  
Old Posted May 10, 2007, 10:51 PM
Cambridgite
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Wow, nice neighborhood. I really want to go on a US east coast tour...starting with Philly!!
That neighborhood looks like it's booming! It reminds me of many of Toronto's streetcar suburbs. Truly, if it weren't for the title of the thread, I would have guessed those pics were of Toronto.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #16  
Old Posted May 10, 2007, 10:39 PM
Capsule F Capsule F is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: 16th and green
Posts: 1,911


I once knew some 4th floor dwellers in this building, its not bad.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #17  
Old Posted May 10, 2007, 11:19 PM
thesunsetdist's Avatar
thesunsetdist thesunsetdist is offline
I love soul music
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: san Francisco
Posts: 23
Man, this makes me want to take a trip out to Philly. Dope pics!!!
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #18  
Old Posted May 10, 2007, 11:38 PM
erasercut erasercut is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 225
Wow! I can't believe that I've never heard of this place. One of the most appealing places that I've seen in a long time.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #19  
Old Posted May 10, 2007, 11:39 PM
Derek Derek is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 9,540
nice pictures!
__________________
Portlandia
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #20  
Old Posted May 11, 2007, 12:54 AM
bpg88's Avatar
bpg88 bpg88 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,604
Quite an amazing hood.
Reply With Quote
     
     
This discussion thread continues

Use the page links to the lower-right to go to the next page for additional posts
 
 
Reply

Go Back   SkyscraperPage Forum > Photography Forums > My City Photos
Forum Jump


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 3:38 PM.

     
SkyscraperPage.com - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.