Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-03
HISTORIC GIRARD STREET PASSES;
COMMERCE REPLACES TRADITIONS
New Snelenburg Building to Cover Sites Once Occu-
pied by First Families of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Trucks Instead of Wistar Parties

The first houses on Girard street we're
completed and occupied in 1897 a few
years after the death of Stephen Glrard.
1t had been the intention Of the great
philanthropist to utilize the lot bounded
by High (now Market), fifth, Chestnut and
18th streets, as the lite for the world.
famous school for orphan boys which he
founded, and the location is expressly
stipulated in the body of his will He had
purchased the plot of ground for s100, 900
several years before and Immediately re-.
let 1t to the seller. BY a codicil to his
will Girard, with a foresight as keen as
his previous business dealings substituted
the Peel Hail. farm on the Ridge road as
the college site. He had purchased this
estate of 45 acres June 6. 1891 and in
substituting IL as q more advantageous
location for an orphanage approved it's
country surroundings but expressed some
fear that his trustees might view 1t as
somewhat remote from what was then
the dwelling portion Of the city. Today
it Is more central from residential view.
point than the now-doomed Girard street
with the departure of the Tilghmans,
Cleemanns, Lippincotts. Cressons and
other noted residents. boarding houses
abounded in the little block one prOmi-
nent exception was at 1920 the home Of
Dr. and Mrs. Edward Boecher Finck.
Like the last twg" upon Girard streets
side in the house which had been theirs
through four generations. This link was
furnished by a debutante party at which
Miss Sarah Beecher Finck, their daugh-
ter. bowed to society in the drawing
room wherein her great-grandfather. Da-
vid Fnck, and her grandfather the late
DR. Anthony Romig Finck had enter
tained some A years ago. The FihCk
residence was the last of the houses on
the south side of Girard street to be
used for dwelling purposes. The 1ith
street end of the north side passed away
in 1885. In that year the Hood-BOn-
bright store at the southwest corner of
11th and Market street was erected. In
the following year the demolition of tho
remainder of that row was completed for
the Market street stores comprising the
western end of the Snellenburg establish
ment. Granville b. Haines & Co., dry
goods: r. j. Allen & Co.. china mer-
chants both of memory only, occupied
them.
The last change before the proposed
complete destruction was in 1896. when
the Stephen Grard Building was put up.
This structure will remain according to
the proposed plans for the future transfor-
nation. The new building, modern in every
detail, will extend from 18th street to
the eastern line of the Stephen Girard
Building and its estimated cost APP
proaches S60OO,OOO. A long lease to the
Snelenburg firm insures it's occupancy
upon completion.
Girard street will become mere ad-
junct to the delivery department OF n
great retail business house. but it's pres
tige and it's position in the history of
Philadelphia will remain honored in the
family history of the city which II has
adorned and never dmmed in the 80
years of it's respected and respectable
eminence.