Poth Mansion

Can you imagine a brewer so successful he builds an entire dynasty? Right here at 33rd and Powelton stands Poth Mansion. It’s a testament to the ambition of Frederick A. Poth, a German immigrant who made his fortune in beer. Poth Mansion, built in 1887, isn’t just any house. It’s a striking red brick and brownstone mansion designed by A.W. Dilks. It boasts towers, bays, and dormers. These features reflect both Poth’s German Gothic heritage and the popular High Victorian style of the era. Poth’s success wasn’t confined to brewing. He and his son-in-law, Edward Schmidt, also developed real estate throughout the Powelton area, often using Dilks as their architect. This very mansion served as the family home. It later became a fraternity house. Since 1939 it has housed the Drexel University chapter of Alpha Pi Lambda fraternity. Poth’s influence on Powelton extends beyond this mansion. Just down the street, he commissioned a row of speculative houses in 1902, designed by the renowned architect Willis Hale. While Poth sold the project before completion, the resulting Powelton Apartments, later renamed The Courts, still stand as a reminder of his vision. So, next time you pass Poth Mansion, remember the brewing magnate. He shaped this neighborhood with bricks, brownstone, and beer money.