City of Neighborhoods: Philadelphia, 1890-1910

Take a trip back in time to when Philadelphia was the "Workshop of the World" and the city manufactured everything from lace to locomotives. The 20 year period beginning in 1890 was a dynamic period of growth for Philadelphia with the city's population rising by over half-a-million. The meet the demand for all of these new arrivals, builders and developers were busy cranking out new houses in every corner of the city. Over 130,000 new houses were built in the city during this boom period. Luckily we have a fairly comprehensive visual record of the city from this era in the form of Real Photo Postcards. These were used by builders and homeowners alike to show off their new dwellings. It's a great opportunity to see the city as it once looked. When these houses were still new and the streets and filled with children playing in the street.

[cindybetten]

Fantastic captivating video. My Mom’s family lived at 1218 South 53rd and Springfield during this time. I was hoping to see their house in your video. We don’t know where they lived prior to that. I will research that. My great great grandfather and mother lived in Philly and was a civil war veteran and a tailor between the end of the war and 1910. We have no records or photos of this Philly house. Like I say, your presentation was captivating, dirt roads and all. Who can imagine unpaved roads in Philly? I think some of the potholes and water mains go deep enough to show the original dirt roads. We need a MAJOR comeback in the Philly!

[RobertoLopezstudyis]

Love the history and architecture of the neighborhoods and housing of Philadelphia!

[mrjsanchez]

It would be interesting and sad to see some comparison photos of what these streets and neighborhoods look like in 2023. Thanks for posting this fascinating look at Philly’s past.

[phillygirldiane]

Oxford Circle girl here, married a Kensington boy and bought a house in Juniata Park….saved long and hard to move our kids out of Philly and ended up in LancCo….miss the food but not the crime. It’s great to see how Philly used to be…but ya know, rose colored glasses.

[ljgee]

Nice presentation. Could have done without that music however

[mrbutch]

Excellent presentation on the City of Brotherly Love. I really enjoyed watching this! I own one of Mr. Minardi's books - the one on the architecture of West Philadelphia. I think Mr. Minardi is a real treasure when it comes to Philly history.

[Litephaze]

Absolutely phenomenal!!! REALLY impressive knowledge of architects AND builders!

[phizix]

This was awesome to see. I was born and raised in Northeast Philly. Crazy to see what so many streets in my general area used to look like. Many of which I still drive through all the time. It's also wild to see some of the neighborhoods that are essentially slums now like Kensington in their prime. Never thought I'd see that place so clean.

[roadrules]

When i see people in these old photos; i can't help but to think they've long gone off into Eternity.

[mister]

The streets in North Philly were so narrow because people didn't have cars in mind possibly? This video presentation is incredible. I used to walk pass 6th and Olney daily as a teen

[davidgradwell]

The Castle is located at 48th Street and Warrington Avenue. I know; I lived five doors away from it from 1982-2018.

[Iloveteequeen]

Born in Philadelphia. Wow imagine getting a house now for four thousand dollars and most of the houses are still the same built. cool video.

[dtvjho]

When I was 10, we spent 3 years within 3 blocks of K&A. Incredible that the housing stock there all dates to this era. Many of these row houses are only 2 bedroom and my mom called them “doll houses” - they were tiny

[howardcox]

My grandmom was born in West Philly on 56th and Catherine in 1915, she lived until 2007

[mklinger]

0:01 intro
4:05 lower north Philadelphia
7:33 upper north Philadelphia
10:59 Kensington
14:25 South Philadelphia
18:28 Southwest Philadelphia
22:02 west Philadelphia
25:36 Northwest Philadelphia
29:05 the people
31:38 northeast Philadelphia
32:07 rural northeast Philadelphia
35:45 small town northeast Philadelphia
40:15 urban northeast Philadelphia

[judilynn]

10:30 I actually lived on that block of Beechwood St. with my inlaws for 5 months after I married in 1981. End house on the left side of this photo. This made me smile.

[lowrollerscraps]

Enjoyed this video, and looked up the addresses. Several are still there, including the castle house at 48th and Springfield.

[johncahill]

It’s crazy I would love to see Kensington now and then

[mr.crapper]

Yep my family came from there. I always admire the architect of those homes.

[banba]

Very enjoyable presentation. Lifelong Philly resident here and many of the photos from the Northeast chapter were taken near places I have lived or done business in. Thanks for posting!