SkyscraperPage Forum - Philly as I see it (ongoing)

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Lit brothers was founded in 1891 by Samuel and Jacob Lit who opened a dry goods store across N 8th Street from Strawbridge and Clothier. As the store expanded, it acquired properties to the east and north. In many cases, existing commercial buildings were reused (one dating back to 1859) and new structures were added as well. Architects Charles M. Autenrieth and Edward Collins fashioned all structures, new and old, in the Renaissance Revival style with common display windows on the first floor. Octagonal turrets defined the corners right above the entrances. These architectural features (along with a copious amount of white paint) helped to unify the structures, which differed in age as well as facade material: marble, cast iron, granite, and brick.

By 1907 the entire northern block front of market Street between 7th and 8th belonged to Lits. Large roof top signs beckoned the store's name to passerby and many shoppers fondly remember the "HATS TRIMMED FREE OF CHARGE" inscription above the corner entrances.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...itBrothers.jpg
HABS image from wiki

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5567/...8cea2b12_z.jpg 022 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

Lits featured moderately priced merchandise and catered to a more ethnically diverse clientele than other Market Street merchants.

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3861/...ccd2b116_z.jpg 298 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5557/...f45f35dc_z.jpg 139 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3845/...850b99a8_z.jpg 016 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

Further expansion consisted of an additional wing along N 7th Street. Completed in 1919, this seven story structure consists of an Italianate facade executed in brown brick that stands as a sharp contrast to it's neighbor.

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3925/...8c308a36_z.jpg 141 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3851/...444b5366_z.jpg 144 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3892/...96efa9d6_z.jpg 146 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

Like Strawbridge's, Lits had it's service buildings north of the store between Filbert and Arch streets.

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3854/...08dc3edb_z.jpg 145 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5583/...56403216_z.jpg 299 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3878/...e1ce21bd_z.jpg 304 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3914/...65991cb0_z.jpg 288 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

Bankers Security corporation purchased Lits in 1928 and merged the company in with it's City Stores division, which operated mutiple retail banners across the country (today CSS industries) Starting in the 1950's Lits opened branch stores in Northeast and South Philadelphia as well as the growing suburbs. However by the 1970's the store found itself falling behind with the times with aging stores in declining areas. In 1977 the doors closed for good.

Throughout the early 80's the structures sat vacant and increasingly derelict. Developers eyed the site for a new office tower and demolition was approved despite a historic listing in 1979.

http://www.phillyhistory.org/PhotoAr...mediaId=185752
August 1984 Phillyhistory

http://www.phillyhistory.org/PhotoAr...mediaId=185754
Phillyhistory

Plans would change for the better however as the site was sold in 1987 to Brickstone Realty, who sought a different approach. Under their watch the buildings were restored externally and re purposed into modern office space with retail stores on the ground floor and lower level food court. Mellon Bank signed on as a tenant and the complex was renamed Mellon Independence Center upon reopening in 1989.

In February 2014, Brickstone put up for sale a 75% stake in the property, although it will continue to manage it. A renovation is planned that will redesign the interior, add new lighting and signage (and hopefully removing the ugly canopies in front of the entrances as well)

Oh and a tower is planned as well.

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5557/...09d2ab2c_z.jpg 168 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

The square block bounded by market, chestnut, 11th and 12th was one of the many properties owned by Stephan Girard and were placed in an estate trust following his death in 1831. Once the richest man in the world, Girard's holdings were assessed at 7 million dollars (worth tens of billions today) In accordance to his will, 2 million dollars were set aside to establish a college in his name. None of the properties were to be sold and revenue from ground leases were to be used to fund the school's operations.

According to my research, the first retail stores were built on the site by the mid 1870's and by 1882, the 22 shops along Market street was taking in $32,812 a year while the 16 on Chestnut were making $56,000. A brand new department store was constructed by the estate in 1886 at 11th and Market that was leased to the Hood, Bonbright and Colonial, a retailer that would be purchased by N. Snellenburg and Co. in 1889.

11th and Market ca 1910:
http://www.joesherlock.com/12-01-SnBgs.gif
source

Founded at 3rd and South Streets in 1869, the store would later move to 5th and south to a building that still stands today in a severely contracted form. With it's new location on Market Street the "thrifty store for thrifty people" formed one of the western anchors of Market Street east of City hall, and soon expansions were underway to fill the rest of the block to 12th Street, with a fifteen year initial lease signed on January 1, 1898.

Meanwhile, a 14 story office building was constructed on the western side of the block facing 12th Street. Designed by Girard College alumni James H Windrim this building was considered one of the first "skyscrapers" in Philadelphia upon it's opening on December 18, 1897. In addition to offices for rent, this structure also contained the headquarters of the Girard estate board for about a decade.

From 12th st ca 1898
http://www.philadelphiabuildings.org...ourse-011c.jpg
source

Entrance March of 1970:
http://www.phillyhistory.org/PhotoAr...mediaId=135333
source

1916 saw the completion of the 8 story Snellenburg's Men's Store Annex that was leased to the company initially for 20 years. In 1939, a new structure was built taking up the entire Chestnut Street frontage. Besides containing a parking garage and new entrance for Snellenburg's, this building also housed several other retail outlets and office space.

Chestnut Street looking east from 12th, November 1959:
http://www.phillyhistory.org/PhotoAr...?mediaId=52365
source

12th Street looking north to Market, November 1959:
http://www.phillyhistory.org/PhotoAr...?mediaId=52377
source

Butter sale June of 1946:
http://www.philaplace.org/media/phil..._189_large.jpg
source

Quote:

"Here's a part of the crowd of 6000 who jammed the Snellenburg Store, 1125 Chestnut Street, yesterday when 4000 pounds of butter went on sale."

http://www.philaplace.org/media/phil..._190_large.jpg
source

Quote:

"A Mechanical man Inspects a Mechanical Utility." Entertainment at a festival presented by local Ford dealers at Snellenburg's. A Ford V-8 sedan was given every day by Snellenburg's to a customer who best answered in 50 words or less the question, "Why is the Ford V-8 the most economical car to operate?"

http://www.philaplace.org/media/phil..._197_large.jpg
source

Alleyway Action, 1937:
http://www.philaplace.org/media/phil..._194_large.jpg
source

Snellenburg's opened a branch store in South Philadelphia, along with locations in Willow Grove and Broomall. However the company was starting to lose ground to it's competition by the early 60's.

Proposed reconstruction, 1955:
http://digital.library.temple.edu/ut...XT=&DMROTATE=0
source

On February 1963, the day after Valentines, an announcement was made at 2pm ordering customers to leave at once. All employees were then informed that the store was closing for good. Unable to adapt to the changing retail landscape of the Philadelphia area Snellenburg's had thrown in the towel, selling its suburban locations to Lit brothers.

Community College of Philadelphia opened it's first location in the former Men's store. Later the building was used for the Philadelphia Family Court, Domestic division. This was where one would go for custody hearings, Child support, order of protections etc. All these facilities moved to the new Family Court building in late 2014.

As for the main store....
http://digital.library.temple.edu/ut...XT=&DMROTATE=0
source
This 1965 rendering was the first inkling of a proposal to shrink the store to two stories and "redevelop" it as a commercial structure (I'm just amazed they actually took the time to produce a rendering of something like that). In the end this contraction was done, only with a more "interesting" roofline....

In the mid 2000's a developer acquired the lease on the land from the Girard Estate Trust, which still owns the block to this day. Two towers of "Liberty Place proportions" were proposed before the global recession put the kibosh on the scheme. The leasing rights were them sold to another developer that is planning the East Market development.

Old Snellenburgs's store cut down in size:
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3855/...a9bc1fb8_z.jpg 7297 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5575/...88135c09_z.jpg 281 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

Looking down 11th Street with the Snellenburgs Men's store and garage:
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5551/...cc38201a_z.jpg 7299 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3897/...d68cd0c3_z.jpg 7302 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3927/...9ac521b2_z.jpg 024 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5565/...3be798dc_z.jpg 7303 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

Sadly this elaborate front facade will be destroyed with the excuse being it is "deteriorated beyond repair". The proposed facade is decent on it's own but still, I'm gonna miss this....

Good stuff, keep on posting...

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadowbat2 (Post 6908749)

The Stephen Girard building has survived with it's exterior features amazingly intact, having escaped the mid 20th century butchering craze of the lower floors that so many Philadelphia buildings have endured....

Original front elevation:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7350/...b97deabe_h.jpg

Quote:

Looking down Ranstead Street, which was converted into a driveway serving the parking garage:

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5558/...30e12a7d_z.jpg 7323 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

Apologies for being pedantic, but that is Clover St. :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadowbat2 (Post 6908742)

1916 saw the completion of the 8 story Snellenburg's Men's Store Annex that was leased to the company initially for 20 years.

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadowbat2 (Post 6908742)

In 1939, a new structure was built taking up the entire Chestnut Street frontage. Besides containing a parking garage and new entrance for Snellenburg's, this building also housed several other retail outlets and office space.[/B]

I have access to existing drawings for 1101 Chestnut St which suggest that ground was broken in 1939, and steel erection occurred in 1940. Uncertain if the building opened in 1940 or 1941. The original anchor tenant on the Southwest corner was Lane Bryant department store.

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadowbat2 (Post 6908742)

http://www.philaplace.org/media/phil..._197_large.jpg
source

The picture above was taken in Snellenburg's Men's Annex at 34 S 11th St.

Great post, thank you for taking the time to put all of that together!

Quote:

Originally Posted by psueng7 (Post 6914979)

Thanks for the date, I've been trying to figure out when 34 S 11th was built. I was guessing early 1920's. In addition to the Snellenburg's men's annex the building also served as warehouse space for the main store on Market St. There were two (possibly three) giant water-hydraulic freight elevators used to move stock around the building. There was also a below grade conveyor system used to move stock under Ludlow St into the basement of the Market St building. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of this system.

I have access to existing drawings for 1101 Chestnut St which suggest that ground was broken in 1939, and steel erection occurred in 1940. Uncertain if the building opened in 1940 or 1941. The original anchor tenant on the Southwest corner was Lane Bryant department store.

Thanks for all the info! If you are able to post the original rendering/plans for 1101 Chestnut that would be great!

Yeah I got the streets mixed up since there is a Ranstead street that runs roughly along the same route through other blocks. I also came across the name "Girard street" which apparently was a private street that ran through the block as well at some point....

I like what you're doing here. Keep up the good work!

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadowbat2 (Post 6915223)

Sure, I can post some 1101 Chestnut later on, I don't have access right now.

Girard Street was the name of the current Ludlow St between 12th and 11th streets until sometime post WWII. I have seen drawings referring to "Girard St" south of Snellenberg's and North of the Stephen Girard Building dated 1948, so we know Ludlow was called Girard St at least until 1948.

The entire block is privately owned by the estate of Stephen Girard so I have no idea why they renamed the street to Ludlow!

Quote:

Originally Posted by psueng7 (Post 6915485)

Sure, I can post some 1101 Chestnut later on, I don't have access right now.

Here are a few drawings of 1101 Chestnut from ~1941.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7390/...9626c5b0_h.jpg

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8568/...2560547a_h.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7458/...5acbc16f_h.jpg

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8599/...416a43d7_h.jpg

Those are incredible Thank you!

I'm assuming that Lane Bryant was the one committed tenant at the time and the other storefront were designed later to fit individual tenant needs. Guess Snellenburgs just leased that one central storefront just so it could have frontage on Chestnut. Funny thing is, I don't see any evidence of a physical connection across clover Street in those blueprints....so I'm wondering how shoppers got from Chestnut to the rest of the store....

Also I see Ballinger's name on there:) Designed many industrial buildings around Philly (have a few blueprints myself)

Reading Terminal headhouse up close:
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8641/...ba69ed59_c.jpg 025 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

Random Market Street between 8th and 5th Street:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7450/...7e6bbe93_c.jpg 026 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7395/...e356d9fc_c.jpg 027 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8659/...d5349167_c.jpg 028 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

Kirshbaum Building:
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8598/...8a9d57ca_c.jpg 030 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

Declaration House (Graff House) replica, the site where Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7337/...f112a2c1_c.jpg 032 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

The original house was replaced by a Frank Furness bank building in 1884:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YLJG-VkuKc...n+nat+1935.jpg
source

Which in turn was heavily altered and demolished partially, then fully, to allow the construction to take place on the Graff house replica. This was completed in 1975, two hundred years after the first.....

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8605/...911cdb56_c.jpg 064 by tehshadowbat, on Flickr

Cool historic photos