Remember a time when streetcars ruled West Philadelphia. That’s what the West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb Historic District is all about. It shows how streetcars turned farmland into a bustling urban area. This area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb Historic District tells a story of transformation. Imagine Philadelphia in the 19th century. Development reached about 43rd Street. Then came 1892. Electrified streetcars arrived. This changed everything in the West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb Historic District. Development sped up to the west and southwest. The West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb Historic District became an early streetcar suburb.
The West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb Historic District covers a large area. It is roughly bounded by the University of Pennsylvania campus. Woodlands Cemetery also forms a boundary. Powelton Avenue, 52nd Street, and Woodland Avenue mark other edges. The area spans 640 acres.
Look closely at the architecture in the West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb Historic District. You will see Queen Anne style buildings. Colonial Revival and Classical Revival styles are also present.
Let’s talk about one notable building in the West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb Historic District. It’s the Christ Memorial Church. Isaac Pursell, a Philadelphia church architect, designed it. The church is located at 4233-4257 Chestnut Street. Pursell lived from 1853 to 1910.
Spruce Hill is within the boundaries of the West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb National Register Historic District.
West Philadelphia itself has a rich history. Its population grew in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Horsecars and streetcars played a big role. They allowed middle-class people to commute to Center City. A portion of West Philadelphia is now the West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb Historic District.
Many houses in West Philadelphia are row houses. Development started in 1850. It ended around 1930. The horsecar enabled development up to 43rd Street. The electrified streetcar further accelerated it after 1892.
Developers built compact houses for industrial managers and professionals. Initial development required “substantial stone or brick buildings”. Some houses had generous front yards. Others mixed suburban and urban styles. Queen Anne details became common. Later houses included garages.
Consider the lasting impact of the West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb Historic District. It shows how transportation shapes urban development. It also preserves architectural styles of the past. It is a reminder of Philadelphia’s growth.