Center City in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
16th between JFK & Arch
On this block in 1931
Originally called Broad Street Suburban Station, the large underground rail station running from 15th to 16th Streets opened up to the public on September 28, 1930. The 20-story office building above the station. One Penn Center, designed by Graham, Anderson, Probst, and White is an impressive example of the Art Deco style. The office building, which cost approximately $6 million to build, is constructed of gray limestone with black marble ends and is decorated in ornate bronze and gold-colored fixtures with red marble inlays. The structure was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on may 9, 1985.
Suburban Station, with 8 tracks and 4 platforms, originally served as an end terminal station, until 1984 when the Center City Commuter Connection project extended four of those tracks east towards Market East Station, providing train service through Center City. The project took 6 years to complete and cost $330 million.
In 1931
President: Herbert Hoover (R)
Mayor: Harry Arista Mackey (R)
Philadelphia population: 1,950,961
Money matters
Beans:
Cheese: 32˘/pound
Eggs: 42˘/dozen
Bread: 8˘/loaf
Milk: 15˘/quart
Rice: 8˘/pound
Apples: $3.25 for box of 100
Bottle opener: 10˘
Coca Cola: 5˘ / bottle
Baby Ruth candy bar: 5˘
Electric iron: $3.95
Events
January 10—The Philadelphia Quakers defeated Montreal, ending an NHL-record 15-game losing streak.
February 18—American writer Toni Morrison was born.
March 3—The "Star Spangled Banner" officially became the U.S. national anthem.
March 18—The first Schick electric shavers went on sale in the U.S.
May 1—The construction of the Empire State Building in New York City was completed.
June 9—The Donald Duck cartoon premiered.
November 13—Hattie Caraway (D-AK) was appointed as the first U.S. woman senator.
December 26—George/Ira Gershwin's "Of Thee I Sing," premiered in New York City.
The massive flooding of the Yangtze River in China caused more than 3 million deaths.
Erected 2017 by Center City District, Philadelphia.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • Government & Politics • Railroads & Streetcars • Sports • Women. In addition, it is included in the Art Deco series list. A significant historical date for this entry is January 10, 1930.
Location. 39° 57.25′ N, 75° 9.986′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in Center City. Marker is on North 16th Street just north of John F Kennedy Boulevard (Pennsylvania Route 3), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 15 16th St & JFK Blvd, Philadelphia PA 19102, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Making The City Beautiful / Parkway Museums District (within shouting distance of this marker); 16th & JFK (within shouting distance of this marker); Green Spaces, Fresh Air (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Monument to Six Million Jewish Martyrs (about 400 feet away); In Loving Memory of Sam Wasserman (about 400 feet away); Edmund N. Bacon (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named Monument to Six Million Jewish Martyrs (about 400 feet away); Monument to Six Million Jewish Martyrs (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 11, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 115 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 11, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.