University City in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Built c. 1884

4503 Spruce Street

— West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb Historic District —

Built c. 1884 Marker image. Click for more information.

By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 3, 2023

1. Built c. 1884 Marker

West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb Historic District Boundary Increase
National Register of Historic Places Registration Form
Click for more information.

Inscription.
West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb
A National Register [of Historic Places] Historic District

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1884.

Location. 39° 57.184′ N, 75° 12.744′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in University City. It is on Spruce Street west of South 45th Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4503 Spruce Street, Philadelphia PA 19139, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Pennsylvania. It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Built c. 1904 (within shouting distance of

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this marker); Built c. 1895 (within shouting distance of this marker); Ruth Plumly Thompson (approx. 0.2 miles away); Built c. 1897 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Built c. 1905 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Built c. 1903 (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Built c. 1904 (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Built c. 1903 (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.

Regarding Built c. 1884. Excerpt from page 2, describing the original boundaries of the District:
The West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. The nomination established two areas of significance under Criterion A, community development, and Criterion C, architecture. The district represents the transformation of rural West Philadelphia into an early suburb, a process that closely paralleled developments in transportation, particularly the introduction of horsecar lines in the 1850s and later the electrified trolleys in the 1890s. The district is also significant for its concentration of semi-urban residential architecture –

4503 Spruce Street image. Click for full size.

By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 3, 2023

2. 4503 Spruce Street

particularly the twin house – and supporting religious, institutional, and commercial buildings designed in characteristic Victorian and early-twentieth century styles by a range of architects, including many of Philadelphia’s most well-known practitioners.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 20, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 3, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 185 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 3, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.