Just Listed: Historic Townhouse in Society Hill
Built in 1809 and purchased by an Episcopal priest, this house has been meticulously maintained and updated while remaining faithful to its historic character — which it must.
Society Hill is chock full of historic houses, and the entire neighborhood is on both the city and national historic registers. This house at 337 S. 6th St., Philadelphia, PA 19106, is also on both. Its entire row is on the city register, which means any renovations have to be historically accurate. And, as you will see, the ones made here are 100 percent faithful. | Photos: Brandon Peszko via Bright MLS and Prevu Real Estate LLC
Since it’s one of Philadelphia’s oldest neighborhoods, Society Hill has more than its share of houses with historic pedigrees.
This Society Hill historic townhouse for sale is one of those houses.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and on the city historic register since 1970, this house was built in 1809 by a house carpenter named John Warner and purchased by the Rev. Robert Blackwell, minister at St. Peter’s Church, the equally historic Episcopal church at Third and Pine streets.
Rev. Blackwell, it appears, lived a rather nomadic existence, for in addition to this house on 6th Street, his name is also associated with two other Society Hill residences. One of those, on the south side of Pine Street west of 2nd, was razed sometime around 1930. Another, one block west of 2nd, at 313 Pine Street, sits across from St. Peter’s and now serves as its rectory.
This one can now serve as your own residence. Its owners have taken good care of it for you.
Living room
They have kept it up to date while maintaining its historic integrity, as anyone who owns a house on the National Register of Historic Places would do.
Living room
It has an open main floor split into two parts by the house’s staircase. Besides the original random-width pine floors found throughout the house, the living room has a spiderweb fan light window over the front door along with gorgeous built-in shelves and cabinets.
Dining room
You’ll find a duplicate of those in the dining room, which also contains a fireplace flanked by two closets. Another door leads to storage space under the stairs. The owners did make one nod to modernity in their choice of lighting for this room.
Kitchen
The all-new kitchen in the back of the main floor features Shaker-style cabinetry, quartz countertops, under-cabinet lighting and Bosch and KitchenAid stainless-steel appliances.
Rear patio deck
A glass-paneled door leads from the dining room to a recently installed rear deck, one of two outdoor spaces in this house. Both of them have composite boards that will last a long time with no maintenance.
Second-floor hall bath
The second floor contains two bedrooms and a hall bath.
Primary bedroom
The primary bedroom at the back has a fireplace along with a large walk-in closet and dressing room lit by a stained-glass window. It also has the sort of Early American detailing one would expect to find in a house of this vintage in its crown molding and chair rail.
Third-floor front bedroom (library)
Two more bedrooms, both with fireplaces, and another bathroom occupy the third floor.
Third-floor front bedroom (library)
The front bedroom, which has loads of built-in bookshelves and a ceiling-light medallion, looks more like it was intended to function as a library, study or den, and the owners have furnished it for that last function.
Rear roof deck
The rear bedroom has a door that leads to a private roof deck, the other outdoor space in this house. Up here you get a decent view of the surrounding neighborhood.
Fourth-floor room
The dormered fourth floor has a beamed ceiling and a third full bath. It could function as a fifth bedroom, as here, or a home office, studio or media room.
Because this Society Hill historic townhouse for sale sits at the end of a row, it has windows on three sides. The south-side windows give natural light to its stairwell.
And because this historic house is in Society Hill, history surrounds it. Other nearby historic structures include Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church, and a slew of state historical markers around it mark other prominent sites. It’s also close to Washington Square, where the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the American Revolution is located. South Street’s entertainment, dining and shopping scene and the neighborhood shopping district on 5th Street between Spruce and Pine are also close at hand, as is Three Bears Park.
And for more history and excitement, you can walk just a little further to Old City and Independence Hall.
Finally, you will appreciate all the modern comforts added to this house, such as central air conditioning and a roof installed in 2000.
Given all this, don’t you want to make some history of your own by buying this house?
THE FINE PRINT
BEDS: 4 (or 5)
BATHS: 3
SQUARE FEET: 2,250
SALE PRICE: $1,099,900
OTHER STUFF: This house’s sale price was reduced by $25,100 on July 24th.
337 S. 6th St., Philadelphia, PA 19106 [Todd Hovanec and Robert Epstine, Jr. | Prevu Real Estate LLC]
