As a long time Center City Philadelphia REALTOR®, I am
often asked about the history of downtown Philly. Here are
a few tidbits I find interesting about some of my favorite
areas to help people buy Center City condos: Society Hill,
Rittenhouse Square, and Delancey Place.
Society Hill ~
As you might think the name implies, it's neither an
elevation nor the site and badge of social position. It's
actually named for the Free Society of Traders to whom
William Penn made liberal concessions of land and
privileges.
In 1683, its assets included a sawmill, a glasshouse and a
tannery. In the 18th century, Society Hill was removed from
the avenues of commerce and given the residential character
it retains today.
It fell upon hard times in the 20th century, but today it
is a model of urban renewal and urban amenity in a historic
setting. Society Hill is now a vital part of the city and
encompasses the land from the Delaware River to Washington
Square and from Walnut Street to Lombard Street.
One of Society Hill's many charms is that its homes are not
museums, but are lived in by Philadelphians who love 18th
and 19th century houses. And, people who enjoy the
hassle-free lifestyle provided by living in Center City
condominiums, which are spread fairly evenly throughout the
area.
Rittenhouse Square ~
One of William Penn's original five squares, Rittenhouse
Square was known as the southwest square until 1825 when it
was named for the astronomer-clockmaker, David Rittenhouse
(1732-96).
This amazing man of universal talents — one of many
in 18th century Philadelphia — was a descendant of
William Rittenhouse, who built the first paper mill in
America in Germantown. David Rittenhouse was at various
times a member of the General Assembly and the State
Constitutional Convention, president of the Council of
Safety, president of the American Philosophical Society and
the first director of the United States Mint. He was also
Professor of Astronomy at the University of Pennsylvania
and inventor of the collimating telescope.
Since the first house facing the square was erected in
1840, Rittenhouse Square has always denoted quality. During
its next century the Square kept its residential quality.
In 1913, the architect Paul Cret, who was one of the men
responsible for Benjamin Franklin Parkway and many of its
buildings, designed the Square's entrances, central plaza
with the stone railings, pool and fountain. To have lived
near or on the Square was a mark of prestige.
Today, almost all private homes are gone, but it's still
prestigious to live in one of the many high-rise
Rittenhouse Square Condominiums. There are several houses
still standing in the area, but many have been converted
into apartments and Brownstone-style Condo Buildings. Even
though cooperative apartments and Philadelphia condominiums
displaced private dwellings in the last three decades, some
of the Old Guard still live on here — in Center City
condos in the sky rather than family mansions.
Delancey Place ~
There are a myriad of things to see on Delancey Place:
• Caryatids (female statues) as mullions (vertical
window separators) on the window of 1810 Delancey Place,
perhaps the only ones in the city
• Acanthus leaves and grape design on the ironwork
fence at 1823 Delancey Street
• Leaded and stained glass windows at 1821 Delancey
Street
• The small garden with the iron fence at 1835
Delancey Street
From the vantage point of the garden we can have a fine
view of 1900 Delancey Place, now the offices of a law firm.
Designed by Frank Furness, it is generally considered one
of the finest examples of his townhouses. The ornate
decoration and the oval window above the entrance door give
it a distinctive appearance in this age of austerity in
architectural decoration. Be sure to observe the cherubim
and seraphim on the pediments.
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Want to live in one of these historic locations in either a
Society Hill Loft or one of the many Rittenhouse Square
Condominiums? Let me help you find the Philadelphia condo
to fit your needs and desires. Give me a call today at
215-521-1523 or email me at Mark@CenterCityCondos.com.
Mark Wade
http://www.CenterCityCondos.com
Prudential Fox and Roach REALTORS
530 Walnut St.
Philadelphia, PA 19106
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