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1. ADDRESS OF HISTORIC RESOURCE (must comply with an Office of Property Assessment address)
Street address:__________________________________________________________________
Postal code:_______________
2. NAME OF HISTORIC RESOURCE
Historic Name:__________________________________________________________________
Current/Common Name:___________________________________________________________
3. TYPE OF HISTORIC RESOURCE
Building Structure Site Object
4. PROPERTY INFORMATION
Condition: excellent good fair poor ruins
Occupancy: occupied vacant under construction unknown
Current use:____________________________________________________________________
5. BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION Please attach a narrative description and site/plot plan of the resource’s boundaries.
6. DESCRIPTION Please attach a narrative description and photographs of the resource’s physical appearance, site, setting, and surroundings.
7. SIGNIFICANCE Please attach a narrative Statement of Significance citing the Criteria for Designation the resource satisfies.
Period of Significance (from year to year): from _________ to _________
Date(s) of construction and/or alteration:______________________________________________
Architect, engineer, and/or designer:_________________________________________________
Builder, contractor, and/or artisan:___________________________________________________
Original owner:__________________________________________________________________
Other significant persons:__________________________________________________________
1822 Chestnut Street 19103
Elon Dunbar House
1822 Chestnut Street
1858 1933 1858 1858; c. 1923 storefront
Charles A. Rubicam, builder
Elon Dunbar Charles F. Haseltine
Mixed-use commercial and residential
CRITERIA FOR DESIGNATION: The historic resource satisfies the following criteria for designation (check all that apply):
(a) Has significant character, interest or value as part of the development, heritage or cultural characteristics of the City, Commonwealth or Nation or is associated with the life of a person significant in the past; or,
(b) Is associated with an event of importance to the history of the City, Commonwealth or Nation; or,
(c) Reflects the environment in an era characterized by a distinctive architectural style; or, (d) Embodies distinguishing characteristics of an architectural style or engineering specimen; or, (e) Is the work of a designer, architect, landscape architect or designer, or engineer whose work
has significantly influenced the historical, architectural, economic, social, or cultural development of the City, Commonwealth or Nation; or,
(f) Contains elements of design, detail, materials or craftsmanship which represent a significant innovation; or,
(g) Is part of or related to a square, park or other distinctive area which should be preserved according to an historic, cultural or architectural motif; or,
(h) Owing to its unique location or singular physical characteristic, represents an established and familiar visual feature of the neighborhood, community or City; or,
(i) Has yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in pre-history or history; or (j) Exemplifies the cultural, political, economic, social or historical heritage of the community.
8. MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Please attach a bibliography.
9. NOMINATOR
Organization______________________________________Date________________________________ Name with Title__________________________________ Email______________________________
Street Address____________________________________Telephone____________________________
City, State, and Postal Code______________________________________________________________
Nominator is is not the property owner.
PHC USE ONLY
Date of Receipt:_______________________________________________________________________
Correct-Complete Incorrect-Incomplete Date:_________________________________
Date of Notice Issuance:_________________________________________________________________
Property Owner at Time of Notice:
Name:_________________________________________________________________________
Address:_______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
City:_______________________________________ State:____ Postal Code:_________
Date(s) Reviewed by the Committee on Historic Designation:____________________________________
Date(s) Reviewed by the Historical Commission:______________________________________________
Date of Final Action:__________________________________________________________
Designated Rejected 12/7/18
Philadelphia Historical Commission staff
215-686-7660 1515 Arch Street, 13th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19102
February 6, 2020 February 7, 2020
February 7, 2020
19th & Sansom Corp
Leroy E Kean Inc.
19103 PA Philadelphia
5/20/2020
Philadelphia Historical Commission February 6, 2020
1821 Sansom St
1822ChestnutStreet
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5.BoundaryDescription
Figure1.Theboundaryidentifyingtheparcelat1822ChestnutStreet.Source:CityAtlas.SituateontheSouthsideofChestnutStreetatthedistanceof127feetEastwardfromtheEastsideof19thStreet.ContaininginfrontorbreadthonthesaidChestnutStreet26feetandextendingofthatwidthinlengthordepthSouthwardbetweenparallellinesatrightanglestosaidChestnutStreet235feettoSansomStreet.
95’
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6.ArchitecturalDescription
Figure2.Viewof1822ChestnutStreet.Source:PhiladelphiaHistoricalCommission.LocatedonthesouthsideofChestnutStreetonablockthattransitionedfromresidentialtocommercialduringtheearlytwentiethcentury,theElonDunbarHouseisanItalianaterowhouseat1822ChestnutStreet.Itissurroundedbyhigh-styleandarchitecturallysignificantbuildings,suchastheBairFuneralHome(nowBoyds),theBelgravia,theAldineTheatre,andtheSamuelT.FreemanAuctionCompanybuilding.Constructedin1858forElonDunbar,theyellowsandstone-cladbuildingat1822ChestnutStreetrisesfourstoriesinheightandspansthreebaysinwidth(Figure2).TheparcelextendsafullblockfromChestnutStreetatthenorthtoSansomStreetatthesouth.Inplan,thebuildingconsistsofamainblockandrearell.AcarriagehousehistoricallyfrontedSansomStreetattherearofthebuilding.Thestructureremainsbuthasbeenextensivelyaltered.TheElonDunbarHousehistoricallymirroreditswesternneighbor,thoughitwasthefirstofthepairtobebuilt.Inthemid-nineteenthcentury,the1800blockofChestnutStreethousedsomeof
1822ChestnutStreet
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Philadelphia’smostfashionablecitizensandwasanchoredbythepalatial,marble-cladJayneMansiontowestofthepairat1822and1824ChestnutStreet(Figure3).Whilethebuildings’frontfacadesstillalludetotheupscaleresidentialdistrictinwhichtheywereconstructed,thearea’stransformationtoacommercialcenterresultedinseveralground-storyalterationstoaccommodatethebuildings’changesinuse.
Figure3.JayneMansionatsoutheastcornerof19thandChestnutStreets,with1824ChestnutStreetatfarleftshowingoriginalresidentialgroundfloor,c.1900.Source:PhillyHistory.org.North(ChestnutStreet)elevationThenorthorChestnutStreetelevationoftheElonDunbarHouseisthefrontfaçade.Thethreeupperstorieslargelyreflecttheoriginalresidentialdesign,withtheyellowsandstoneexposedanddistinctiveItalianatefeaturesintact(Figure4).Eachofthethreestoriesincludesthreetwo-over-twosegmentally-archeddouble-hungwindowswithcarvedhoodsandprojectingsills.Whileallthesamewidth,thewindowsbecomeprogressivelyshorteratthethirdandfourthstories.Adecorativewoodcornicecapsthefaçadeandfeaturesarchedpanelswithrosettesbetweenbrackets,thoughanumberofrosettesarenowmissing.Large,carvedendbracketscontainfloralmotifsandacanthusleaves.Asitstandsnow,theElonDunbarHousepresentsthehistoryofChestnutStreetthroughthedichotomyofitsfaçade:withitsresidentialItalianateupperstoriesdistinctlyseparatefromitsArtDecostorefront.Astheblocktransformedfromresidentialtocommercial,alterationstothebuildingat1822ChestnutStreetlargelyinvolvedtheinstallationandadaptationofthestorefront.By1921,thepairoflargefour-over-fourfirst-storyresidentialwindowswasreplacedwithasinglestorefrontwindow;inthisearlycommercialiteration,thebuildingretaineditsentrydoorandelaboratelycarvedhood(Figure5).Inthefollowingyears,however,thestorefrontwasexpandedtotheentiretyofthegroundfloor(Figure6).
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Withinafewyears,therichlydetailedbrownstonedoorwastradedforastreamlinedentrythatmatchedthestorefront.1TheArtDecostorefrontwindowisframedwithglazedterracottamoldingsformedinfruit,pinecone,andbirdmotifs,whilethedoorwayfeaturesegganddartmoldingswithGreekkeysintheuppercornersofthedoorsurround(Figure7).Thefirst-storymasonrywasstuccoed,andtheword“Valiant,”advertisingtheJ.G.ValiantCompanythatoccupiedthebuildinginthe1920s,wasappliedabovethestorefront.Arelatedpaterafeaturingawomanwithapaintpaletteandbrushes,anodtotheValiantCompany’strade,hangsabovetheentrance.Anegganddartterracottacorniceseparatestheground-storycommercialspacefromthelargelyunalteredfaçadeabove.
Figure4.Theupperstoriesof1822ChestnutStreet.Source:PhiladelphiaHistoricalCommission.
1Photographsfrom1900,1921,and1933,aswellasdescriptionsofstorefrontalterationsavailableinthePhiladelphiaRealEstateandBuilders’Guide,providetheprogressionofchanges.Thoughthestorefrontof1822ChestnutStreetisnotentirelyvisibleinthe1933photograph,itlikelychangedataboutthesametimeandinthesamemannerasthestorefrontof1824ChestnutStreet.
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Figure5.April1921photographshowingthenow-demolishedJayneMansionatthecornerof19thandChestnutStreetswith1822and1824ChestnutStreetatleft.Notethatthestorefrontshavebeencreated,thoughtheoriginalentranceswereretained.Source:DepartmentofRecords,CityofPhiladelphia.
Figure6.June1933photographwiththeAldineTheatreconstructedontheJayneMansionsite;thestorefrontsof1822and1824ChestnutStreet(farleft)havealreadybeenalteredtotheircurrentconfigurations,eliminatingtheresidentialuseatthegroundstories.Source:PhillyHistory.org.
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Figure7.Currentstorefrontof1822ChestnutStreet.Source:PhiladelphiaHistoricalCommission.WestElevationThewestelevationofthemainblockfunctionsasapartywallandisnotvisible.Theportionoftherearellimmediatelyadjacenttothemainblockextendsthreestoriesinheight;theellthenlowerstotwostories.Theell,cladinbrick,featuresregularpunchedopeningsandissixbaysdeep(Figure8).Theentiretyofthehistoricstructure,includingthemainblockandrearell,occupiesapproximatelyhalfoftheparcel.
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Figure8.Viewfromthesouthwestoftherearof1822ChestnutStreet,2018.Source:Pictometry.EastElevationTheeastwallofthemainblockandrearellof1822ChestnutStreetfunctionssolelyasapartywallandisnotvisible.South(SansomStreet)ElevationAttherearof1822ChestnutStreetisatwo-storyredbrickcommercialbuildingwithmodernstorefrontsystem,currentlyoccupiedbyadrycleaneronthefirstfloorandofficesonthesecondfloor.Itisknownas1821SansomStreet(Figure9).Abuildingattherearfirstappearsonan1858Hexamer&LochermapandlikelyservedasacarriagehousefortheresidencefrontingChestnutStreet.By1910,therearbuildingwasconnectedwiththerearofthebuildingat1822ChestnutStreet.A1958zoningdocumentindicatesthatthefrontwallwasreplacedatthattime.Forthepurposesofthisnomination,therearbuildingisconsideredtobenon-contributing.
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Figure9.Rearbuildingat1822ChestnutStreet,knownas1821SansomStreet.February2020.LookingpastthebuildingfrontingSansomStreet,therearofthesubjectbuildingat1822Chestnutisonlypartiallyvisiblefromthepublicright-of-way.Throughthealley,onecanseearedbrickrearwallwithcorbelledcornice(Figure11).
Figure10.SansomStreetfaçadeofthecarriagehouseat1822ChestnutStreet,26February1931.Source:DallinAerialSurveyCompany,HagleyLibrary.
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Figure11.Westwallofrearbuildingandpartialviewofrearwallat1822ChestnutStreet.February2020.
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7.StatementofSignificanceThepropertyat1822ChestnutStreet,knownastheElonDunbarHouse,ishistoricallysignificantandshouldbelistedindividuallyonthePhiladelphiaRegisterofHistoricPlaces.ThepropertysatisfiesCriteriaforDesignationC,D,andJasdelineatedinSection14-1004(1)ofthePhiladelphiaCode.Constructedin1858,thebuildingreflectstheenvironmentinaneracharacterizedbythepopularItalianatestyle,themostpopularstyleoftheCivilWarEra,satisfyingCriterionC.Additionally,thebuildingembodiesdistinguishingcharacteristicsoftheItalianatestyle,includingitslow-pitchedroofwithwideeavessupportedbydecorativebrackets,andtalltwo-over-twosegmentally-archeddouble-hungwindowswithdramaticcarvedhoodsandprojectingsills,satisfyingCriterionD.Withitsbrownstoneupperfloorsandcommercialgroundfloor,thepropertyrepresentsboththeresidentialdevelopmentoftheupper-classRittenhouseneighborhoodinthemid-nineteenthcentury,andthecommercialdevelopmentofChestnutStreetintheearlydecadesofthetwentiethcentury,satisfyingCriterionJ.ElonDunbarElonDunbarwasborninPlymouth,Connecticutin1801andsettledinPhiladelphiaabout1830.DunbarwasawealthydrygoodsmerchantwithvariousPhiladelphiafirmsincludingO’Brien&Dunbar,Dunbar&Welling,andDunbar,Brooke&Dunning.Heretiredin1847.HewasafoundingmemberofandactiveintheChurchoftheHolyTrinityonRittenhouseSquare.Dunbardiedathisresidenceat1822ChestnutStreetin1877.2CriterionJ:Exemplifiesthecultural,political,economic,socialorhistoricalheritageofthecommunity.Untilthesecondquarterofthenineteenthcentury,CenterCitywestofBroadStreetremainedvirtuallyundeveloped,comprisedmostlyofopenfields,pastures,claypits,andscatteredclustersofhousingandindustrywithwharvesalongtheSchuylkillRiver.ThefirstsignificantphaseofresidentialconstructionwestofBroadStreetoccurredinthe1830s,owingtodevelopmentpressurefromthecity’sgrowingbusinessdistrictonresidentialpropertieseastofBroadStreet(Figure12).MirroringthedevelopmentofWashingtonSquaretotheeastonegenerationearlier,theblocksofChestnut,Walnut,SpruceandDelanceyStreetsaroundRittenhouseSquarequicklybecameafashionablelocaleforthehomes,churches,andculturalinstitutionsofthecity’sestablishedupperandupper-middleclassfamilies.Thesefamiliesemployedprestigiousarchitects,includingJohnHaviland,whodesignedthe1830’sColonnadeRowat15thandChestnutStreets,andThomasU.Walter,whodesignedtheporticoedEpiphanyEpiscopalChurchoppositeColonnadeRow.3Developmentmovedwest,beginninginearnestonthe1800blocksofChestnutandWalnutStreetsinthe1850s.Rowhouseslinedthewestsideof18thStreet(thencalledSchuylkill5th)betweenChestnutandSansomStreetsby1849,joinedbyasmatteringofotherbuildingsalongthenorthsideofChestnutStreet(Figure13).In1853,theimpressivebrownstoneTabernacleBaptistChurch,designedbyNewEnglandarchitectWilliamBoyington,wasconstructedonthenorthsideofChestnutStreet,westof18thStreet(Figure14).AdetailedprofileofthechurchinGleason’sPictorialDrawing-RoomCompanionatthetimeofitsconstructionnotedthat,“withinafewyearsseveralsplendidstructuresfordevotional
2ObituaryforElonDunbar,Inquirer,2August1877,p.2;FredericA.HoldenandE.DunbarLockwood,DescendantsofRobertLockwood(Philadelphia,1889),p.309-311.3CarolineA.BenensonandJeffersonM.Moak.“CenterCityWestHistoricDistrict.”NationalRegisterofHistoricPlacesNominationForm.PennsylvaniaHistoricalandMuseumCommission,Harrisburg,September28,1987.
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purposeshavebeenreared,andthedistrictwestofBroadStreetmayclaimthehonorofhavingcontributeditsfullsharetothearchitecturaladornmentofthecity…Thiselegantbuildingisaboutbeingfinished,andinpointofbeautyofdesignandfinish,willrankwithanysimilarstructureinthecity.”4
Figure12:DetailoftheMapoftheCityofPhiladelphia,1831,showingnearlycompletedevelopmenteastofBroadStreetandspottydevelopmentwestofBroad.The1800blockofChestnut,locatedbetweenwhatwasthenknownasSchuylkillFourth(19th)andFifth(18th)Streetswasasofyetundeveloped.Source:GreaterPhiladelphiaGeoHistoryNetwork.
Figure13:Detailofthe1849J.C.SidneyMapoftheCityofPhiladelphia,showingdevelopmentslowlycreepingwestward.Bythistime,afewbuildingshadbeenconstructedonthe1800blockofChestnutStreet.Source:GreaterPhiladelphiaGeoHistoryNetwork.
4Gleason'sPictorialDrawingRoomCompanion(Boston),v.7,n.5,p.72(8/5/1854).
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ThedivisionoftheestateofEdwardShippenBurdbyhisexecutorsinthelate1840sopenedalargeblockofundevelopedlandeastofSchuylkill4th(19thStreet)betweenChestnutandSansomStreetstodevelopment.In1858,drygoodsmerchantElonDunbarpurchasedaportionofthatlandfromJosephHarrisonJr.5Dunbar,alongwithneighboringpropertyownerRobertDeSilver,commissionedCharlesA.Rubicamtobuildlargebrownstonemansionsat1822and1820ChestnutStreet,respectively.6Dunbarsoldtheadjoininglotat1824ChestnuttoEdwardH.Trotter,whointurnhiredRubicamtoconstructabuildingofthe“samecharacteranddimensions”thefollowingyear.7Rubicamwas“anextensivebuilder,”who“enjoyedanexcellentreputation,andsomeofthebestandmostsubstantialbuildingsinthiscitywereerectedunderhissupervision.”8Thebrownstoneresidences,whichweresituatedonlots25to26feetwide,extendedthefull235-footdepthtoSansomStreet,wheretheirstableswerelocated.Rubicam’shigh-styledesignswereinkeepingwiththebracketedItalianatestylesthatwouldcometocharacterizetheRittenhouseneighborhoodbetween17thand20thStreets,butwerelaudedasbeing“fittedupinthefineststyle”and“amongthefinestthathavebeenmadeonChestnutStreetfordwellings.”9Withthecompletionof1824ChestnutStreet,the1800blockofChestnutStreetwasnearlyfullybuiltoutby1860,withthenotableexceptionofalargeparcelatthesoutheastcornerof19thandChestnut,whichwouldbecomehometotheimpressiveJohnMcArthur,Jr.-designedSecondEmpiremansionforDr.DavidJaynefollowingtheCivilWar(SeeFigure3).
Figure14:Left,detailof1858Hexamer&Locheratlasshowingthe1800blockofChestnutStreet.Notethat1824Chestnut,builtin1859,doesnotappearonthemap.Source:GreaterPhiladelphiaGeoHistoryNetwork.Right,TabernacleBaptistChurchandtheneighboringbrickresidences,1854.Source:Gleason’sPictorialDrawingRoomCompanion(Boston),v.7,n.5,p.72.
5PhiladelphiaDeedBookADB-16-67.6RobertDeSilverpurchasedanundevelopedlotin1857fromJosephHarrisonJr.(PhiladelphiaDeedBookADB-18-294),whohadpurchasedalargeblockoflandfromtheBurdestatein1852(PhiladelphiaDeedBookTH-55-99).7“AFineImprovement,”PublicLedger(Philadelphia,Pennsylvania),8March1859,p.1.8“Well-KnownCitizenDeceased,”Inquirer,15September1876,p.3.9Ibid.
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Figure15:Inthemid-nineteenthcentury,thecharacterofthe1800blockofChestnutStreetappearedsimilartothatofitscounterparttothesouthalongWalnutStreet,shownhere,withlargefour-storyItalianatehomesbuiltforthecity’supperclassresidents.Source:FreeLibraryofPhiladelphia,CastnerCollection,itemnos.pdcc01258(left)andpdcc01268(right).
Withinafewshortdecadesafterthisresidentialdevelopment,ChestnutandWalnutStreetswestofBroadStreetevolvedintoanareaofretail,banking,andotherprofessions;thestreetscapetransformedfromitsresidentialcharactertooneoflowandhigh-riseretailandofficebuildings.Hintsofthechangestocomewereevidentasearlyas1888,whenadoctors’officebeganoperatingoutof1822ChestnutStreet,buttheearliestandmostsignificantchangetothe1800blockofChestnutStreetoccurredin1896,whentworowhousesonthenorthsideofChestnutStreetweredemolishedtomakewayforaneleven-storyWilsonBrothers-designedProfessionalBuilding(SeeFigure17).TabernacleBaptistChurchwasreplacedbytheeight-storyBelgraviaHotelin1902,and1820and1818ChestnutweredemolishedfortheJ.T.Windrim-designedOliverBairCompanybuildingin1907.Dr.DavidJayne’smansion,alreadyinpoorconditiondespitebeingonly55yearsold,gavewayfortheAldineTheatrein1921.Theremainingthree-and-one-halftofour-storyresidentialbuildingsonthe1800blockofChestnutStreetwererefacedorreplacedwithaheterogeneouscollectionofearlytwentieth-centurycommercialdesigns.Only1822and1824ChestnutStreetsurvivedrelativelyunscathed,theirresidentialgroundfloorsretaineduntiltheearly1920s,whenstorefrontswereaddedtoaccommodatethechangingusesandcontextofthebuildings.Aroundtheturnofthecentury,followingacatastrophicfireinhisofficeandgalleriesattheHaseltineBuildingat1416-18ChestnutStreet,famousartdealerCharlesF.Haseltinemovedhishomeandoperationsto1822and1824ChestnutStreet.From1901untilhisdeathin1915,1822and1824ChestnutStreetarelistedinterchangeablyasHaseltine’shomeandgalleries.10Haseltinepurchased1824ChestnutStreetin1906,whichheappearstohavealsorunasanapartmentbuildingforatime.Followinghisdeathin1915,Haseltine’scollectionwereauctionedoff,andthebuildingsat1822and1824ChestnutStreetsold.InkeepingwiththecommercialdevelopmentofChestnutStreet,storefrontswereaddedtothepropertiesandleasedtocommercialtenants,includinganopticians’officeand
10ThePhiladelphiaInquirer(Philadelphia,Pennsylvania),13Dec1903,p.29.
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millineryshop.Theupperfloorscontinuedtheirresidentialuse,andappearmuchthesameastheydidfortheirfirstowner,ElonDunbar,in1858.
Figure16:Detailofthe1910G.W.BromleyatlasofPhiladelphiashowingthechangingcharacterofChestnutStreet.Source:GreaterPhiladelphiaGeoHistoryNetwork.
Figure17:Left,an1899viewoftheWilsonBrothers-designedProfessionalBuildingwhichreplacedearlierresidentialrowhousesat1831and1833ChestnutStreet,fromTheOfficialOfficeBuildingDirectoryandArchitecturalHandbookofPhiladelphia,TheCommercialPublishingandDirectoryCo.,Philadelphia,1899,p.526.Right,thesameviewin1963.Source:PhiladelphiaHistoricalCommission.
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CriterionC:Reflectstheenvironmentinaneracharacterizedbyadistinctivearchitecturalstyle.CriterionD:Embodiesdistinguishingcharacteristicsofanarchitecturalstyleorengineeringspecimen.Forthedesignofhisnewhouse,ElonDunbarchoseahigh-styleversionofthepopularItalianatestyle,whichdrewinspirationfromfifteenth-centuryItalianpalazzodesign,theclassicaldetail,elegance,andgravitasofwhichwere“deemedeminentlysuitableforsymbolizingprosperityandsocialpositioninalimitedspace.”11Dominantduringtheperiodfrom1855to1870,theItalianatestylelentitselfwelltonumerousbuildingforms,includingurbanandruralresidences,commercial,andinstitutionalbuildings.Nationally,theItalianatestylewasthemostpopularstyleofthe1850sforurbanrowconstruction.ThefacadesofItalianRenaissancepalazziofferedaprototypeforJohnNotman’sAthenaeumonWashingtonSquareof1845-47(Figure18)andforThomasUstickWalter’sLewis’sRowof1849(Figure19).WalteradoptedthecharacteristicsofaRenaissancefaçadeusingbrownstoneinsteadofbrickonthisrowandmanyothercommissionsinPhiladelphia.Notmanandotherswereresponsibleforthedesignsof1618,1620,and1622LocustStreet,allconsideredtobeexcellentexamplesinPhiladelphiaoftheItalianatestyle(Figure20)alongwiththelaterItalianaterowhousesonthe2000blockofWalnutStreet,whichshowcasethehighfrontstoopwhichwasoriginallyfoundonthesubjectbuilding(Figure21).12
Figure18.AthenaeumofPhiladelphiaat219S.6thStreet.Source:SteveMinor,Flickr.
11SuzanneSpellen,“ItalianateArchitecture.”Brownstoner,April6,2016.12BobbyeBurkeetal,HistoricRittenhouse:APhiladelphiaNeighborhood(Philadelphia:UniversityofPennsylvaniaPress,1985),48-49.
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Figure19.1500blockofPineStreet,Lewis’sRow.Source:GoogleStreetView,2019.
Figure20.1600blockofLocustStreet.Source:GoogleStreetView,2018.
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Figure21.2000blockofWalnutStreet.Source:GoogleStreetView,2017.DistinguishingcharacteristicsoftheurbantownhouseadaptationoftheItalianatestylefoundat1822ChestnutStreetincludeitslow-pitchedroofwithwideeavessupportedbydecorativebrackets;talltwo-over-twosegmentally-archeddouble-hungwindowswithdramaticcarvedhoodsandprojectingsills,andwindowheightsdifferentiatedbyfloorlevel.13Withitsyellowsandstonefaçade,thebuildingat1822ChestnutStreetfurtherpresentedamorestylishversionofthebrick-frontedItalianaterowhousesfoundthroughoutPhiladelphia.Whilethearchitectof1822ChestnutStreetisnotknown,itsoriginalappearancewasverysimilartothatofthebuildingthatstoodat1804ArchStreet,ac.1853townhousedesignedbyStephenDecaturButtonanderectedforB.A.Fahnestock(Figure22;left).Button’sfaçadefortheFahnestockhouseat1804ArchStreetcanbecontrastedwithThomasUstickWalter’sdesignforanunidentifiedtownhouse(Figure22;right).WhereWalterwasrestrained,drawingfromhisearlierGreekRevivalwork,Button,accordingtoarchitecturalhistorianJefferyCohen,“dressedhisfaçadewithaninsistentrichnessandfloridornament.Arches,encrustedwithstonetiaras,adoptavarietyofcurvingprofiles,withonlyaweakindicationoftheirspringinglevelsratherthanmorearchitectonicshapesortreatments.Beneaththesearchesround-headedwoodentracerytopsthepairedrangesoflightsineachwindow,withaninterveningcircleatthefirst-andfourth-floorlevels.ThesealludetoearlyRenaissancepalacesinVenice,anadmixturethatinfusedtheItalianatestyleofthe1850swithadditionalrichnesscomparedtothemorerectilinearRomanmodelsthathadreignedinthelate1840s.Byitsdecorativecelebrationanditsnewimposingscale,thisinflectedItalianatestyleservedespeciallytocelebratethewealthandannouncethepresenceofthosewhowerenewlyarrived,botheconomicallyandsocially.Asimilarstyleandmotivemarkedthe
13“ItalianateVilla/ItalianateStyle1840-1885.”PennsylvaniaArchitecturalFieldGuide.PennsylvaniaHistoricalandMuseumCommission,http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/portal/communities/architecture/styles/italianate.html.
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newcommercialpalacesthenrisinginPhiladelphia’soldcenter.”14ThesameyearthatButtondesignedtheFahnestockhouse,1853,hedesignedanItalianatecommercialbuildingat920-22ChestnutStreetforElonDunbar,theoriginalownerof1822ChestnutStreet(Figure24).15Buttonisalsoknownforerecting“manyofthehandsomestprivateresidencesaroundRittenhouseSquare.”16ItislikelythatButtondesignedtheElonDunbarHouse.
Figure22.Left:B.A.FahnestockTownhouseat1804ArchStreet.Source:O’Gormanetal,p.103.Right:“UnidentifiedTownhouse.”Source:O’Gormanetal,p.93.
14JamesF.O’Gorman,JeffreyA.Cohen,etal,DrawingTowardBuilding:PhiladelphiaArchitecturalGraphics1732-1986(Philadelphia:UniversityofPennsylvaniaPress,1986),103-104.15OntheDunbarbuildingsat920-22ChestnutStreet,see:“LargeContract,”PublicLedger,9February1853,p.2.OnPhiladelphia’scommercialarchitectureofthe1850s,see:WinstonWeisman,“PhiladelphiaFunctionalismandSullivan,”inJournaloftheSocietyofArchitecturalHistorians,vol.20,no.1,March1961,p.3-19.16“TheOldestArchitect:StephenD.ButtonCelebrateshisEightiethBirthday,”TheTimes(Philadelphia),16June1892,p.7.
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Figure23.1822ChestnutStreet.Source:CBRE.com.
Asevidencedbyitspopularity,Italianatearchitectureknewnoclassboundaries,andwasusedonearlier,moresimplebuildingsaswellashigher-stylefacadessuchasthoseat1822and1824ChestnutStreet.Theoften-incorporatedhighsquaretowersoftheItalianateVilladesignmadethestyleanaturalchoiceforupscalehomesofthenewlyrich;however,thebracketsandotherarchitecturedetails,madeaffordablebynewmethodsformachineproduction,wereeasilyappliedtosimplecottagesandtownhouses.Newtechnologiesalsomadeitpossibletoaffordablyproducecast-irondecorationsbeginninginthemid-nineteenthcentury,makingtheItalianateafavoredstyleofthisperiodforpracticalyetelegantdesignsofurbantownhouses.Whilethefaçadeof1822ChestnutStreetdoesnotspecificallyfeaturecast-irondetailing,onecanseetheinfluenceofitspopularityatthistimeviathefluidityanddetailofthedramaticcarvedhoodsandsillsatthewindows,whichstandinstarkcontrasttotheearlierrectilineardesignswhichcharacterizedearlyItalianatetownhousedesign.Italianateremainedapreferredhousestyleintheregionthroughthe1870s,andisavisualhallmarkoftheRittenhouse-areastreetscape.17
17LelandM.Roth,AConciseHistoryofAmericanArchitecture(NewYork:Harper&Row,1979),118-121;“PicturesqueItalianateArchitectureintheU.S.”https://www.thoughtco.com/the-italianate-house-style-178008.
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Figure24.920-22ChestnutStreet,designedbyButtonforElonDunbar,theoriginalownerof1822ChestnutStreet.Source:Baxter’sPanoramicBusinessDirectories,AthenaeumofPhiladelphia.
Figure25.Floorplanfor1824ChestnutStreetfrom1859.Itisassumedthattheoriginalinteriorplanfor1822ChestnutStreetwasthemirrorimageofthatat1824ChestnutStreet.Source:PhiladelphiaArchitectsandBuildings,CancelledFireInsuranceSurveys,PhiladelphiaContributionship(Archives),policynumber10141.
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ConclusionInsummary,thebuildingat1822ChestnutStreetmeritslistingonthePhiladelphiaRegisterofHistoricPlaces,satisfyingCriteriaforDesignationC,D,andJ.ThebuildingreflectsthedevelopmentofChestnutStreetfromthemid-nineteenthcenturythroughtheearlytwentieth-century,aswellastheenvironmentinaneracharacterizedbythepopularItalianatestyle,whichwasnationallythemostpopularstyleofthe1850sforurbanrowconstruction,satisfyingCriteriaforDesignationCandJ.Additionally,thebuildingembodiesdistinguishingcharacteristicsoftheItalianatestyle,includingitslow-pitchedroofwithwideeavessupportedbydecorativebrackets,andtalltwo-over-twosegmentally-archeddouble-hungwindowswithdramaticcarvedhoodsandprojectingsills,satisfyingCriterionD.
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8.MajorSourcesCitedBenenson,CarolineA.andJeffersonM.Moak.“CenterCityWestHistoricDistrict.”NationalRegisterof
HistoricPlacesnominationform.PennsylvaniaHistoricalandMuseumCommission,Harrisburg,September28,1987.
Burke,Bobbye,OttoSperr,HughJ.McCauleyandTrinaVaux.HistoricRittenhouse:APhiladelphia
Neighborhood.Philadelphia:UniversityofPennsylvaniaPress,1985.
O’Gorman,JamesF.,JeffreyA.Cohen,GeorgeE.ThomasandG.HolmesPerkins.DrawingTowardBuilding:PhiladelphiaArchitecturalGraphics1732-1986.Philadelphia:UniversityofPennsylvaniaPress,1986.
Roth,LelandM.AConciseHistoryofAmericanArchitecture.NewYork:Harper&Row,1979.ThePhiladelphiaInquirer.Variousadvertisementsandarticles.AccessedFebruary4,2020.
Newspapers.com.
