Details
Creator Taylor, Frank H. (Frank Hamilton), 1846-1927
Title Two Historic Chestnut Street Houses and the Brown Building
Date ca. 1922
Description Shows a row of buildings on the corner of Fifth and Chestnut Streets with stores of various types on the first floor.
Notes A pair of fine old Colonial structures stood for the greater part of a century at Fifth and Chestnut streets. One of them, upon the northeast corner, held for a number of years, prior to 1800, the offices of the Secretary of War and of the Postmaster-General. In the house adjoining, upon the east, Joseph Hopkinson, who wrote the inspiring words of "Hail, Columbia!" had his law office. In later times the stores of Frederick Brown, druggist, and Pepper & Son, jewelers, were upon the street floor of the corner house, and the adjoining structure had become the Rubicam saloon (originally upon Sixth street, near Jayne street). This establishment was afterward locally noted as the Cafe Tortoni. In 1854 Mr. Brown covered these sites with his large five-story iron building, the upper floors of which contained the publishing business of Evans' Gift Emporium and suites of offices for many tennants. Two properties now covered by the Lafayette Building, were acquired by Stephen Girard in 1827 and 1828. They were situated on Fifth street, above Chestnut street, and were purchased from Joseph Hopkinson and Thomas Fletcher. In 1872 the city of Philadelphia, as Trustee of the Girard Estate, acquired from Mrs. Elzabeth Blake the Fifth street building, formerly containing Blake's music store. The Frederick Brown building was bought by the city upon account of the Girard Estate in 1903. The Lafayette Building was erected in 1907, when the Board of City Trusts established its offices here.
Taylor Catalog Number: 82
Is part of Frank H. Taylor Collection
Identifier Taylor - Case 7-13 [2717.F]