42nd Street, West Philly
This area is just west of Penn/Drexel Universities and includes some dorm and frat houses. This is one of the best urban campuses in the country plus a neighborhood that is eclectic and growing. The architecture is amazing as well. Many of the Victorian Era buildings are of the Queen Anne, Second Empire and Italianate styles and are just beautiful.

Let's start at....

Sansom Street.


Many mansard rooves of the French influenced Second-Empire style.






Walnut Street


4100 block of Walnut St., looking east.


Indians and Pakistanis can come together.


St. Mark Square




St. Mark Square is just two blocks long, and yeah, it's that nice.


A porch swing on St. Mark Square, kind of an urban refuge.


A house on St. Mark Square south of Locust.


Continuing south on 42nd St.


Just gorgeous, Victorian lovers, stop drooling!


Locust Street


4100 block of Locust.


The brick sidewalk adds a rural flavor.


Check out the ornate carving on the porch posts. Lovely.


Note the original wrought-iron fence in the lower left.




Northeast corner of 42nd and Locust.










Southeast corner of 42nd and Locust.


Spruce Street

This row of houses is one of my favorites.


Built in 1888 and designed by G.W. and G.D. Hewitt in Queen Ann style.




The Hewitt's and Frank Furness were business partners.






This [Beaver] is way off course.


Pine Street


Northwest corner of 42nd and Pine. Gotta love those turrets.


Porches aplenty.


Osage Ave.


Tommorow's leaders?




West Philadelphia was once home to a large immigrant population.


West Philadelphia was also home to the city's wealthier residents.




Victoriana Nirvana.




More turrets, 42nd and Osage.






4200 block of Osage.






Baltimore Avenue


Trolleys criss-cross through out West Philly.






Baltimore Avenue, looking west.




These houses were built c. 1870.


Built 1884.




Baltimore Ave., looking west.




Needs a little TLC.


Some love, please.


Chester Avenue


These homes took the concept of porches to a new level.


Very original, very West Philly.




That's all, hope you enjoyed.

Awesome as usual. You hit all my architectural highliights, including the Hewiit buildings at 42nd and Spruce and teh amazing brick archway between Baltimore and Osage. I appreciate the nod to the International Grocery at 42nd and Walnut too. A shot of Kabobeesh in the old American Diner at 42nd and Chestnut with a parking lot full of taxicabs might have compliemnted it but with so many amazing pictures here, who can complain. Thanks.

Great pics!

Sean, you know your stuff! ;-) I like knowledgeable Philly people. The Hewitt building is an amazing survivor and in pristine condition no less.

Thanks!

Nice pics. Oregon State is the home of the Beavers, though. The Ducks are from U. of Oregon. Take it from me, an expatriate of the Great Wet North!

__________________
When life throws pies at you, make yourself a tall, cool glass of piemonade!

You're right. I was told about this too by another person and I failed to correct it. So sorry to all you Oregon State people and college football fans. Oh well, I'm glad you liked the pics!

Great tour. You really capture the neighborhood.

I believe that cleaners is at the corner of 42nd and Spruce though, not Locust, cause Locust doesn't have a light there.