3318 Arch Street

The History of the Building

“Circa 1886. Single, center bay, oversized brick house; part of 3306-3316 development by Dilks. Brownstone lintels and sills. segmental brick arches on flat wall, three-sided adjacent bay capped by gable forms other half of facade, porch removed. A.W. Dilks, architect.”

(Inventory of Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the National Register of Historic Places, 1985)

“The Poth-Schmidt development houses are an important group of large double houses by A.W. Dilks, that describe the lifestyle, and the architectural possibilities of post-Centennial Philadelphia. These are of added interest because the financiers were developers of much of Powelton, as well as important Philadelphia industrialists. They brought the new, flamboyant taste of the nouveau riche to their speculative venture, and found in Dilks the appropriate architect for highly styled buildings that stand out in the Quaker City….

“As a consequence of Dilks' training, and his understanding of contemporary taste, the buildings that he designed for Arch Street are among Philadelphia's most important examples of the Queen Anne style, showing all of its essential features. Those include the Japanese influenced porch details, which alternate with the Mediaevalizing knee braces of other porch details; the empathetic use of brick detail to describe architectural weight; and the multiple textures from painted wood to smooth brick, to shadow catching hung tile. The buildings were further enlivened by formal variation within the group that adds to the richness of the ensemble. There are few equals to the Dilks achievement in the generally plain Quaker City. The exterior richness continued in the interior finishes, with most of the detail confined to the public rooms of the front. Noteworthy too are the large window groups that light the interiors, and mark the transition toward the modern house.”

(from Poth and Schmidt Development Houses. George E. Thomas.)

Previous Residents of 3318 Arch St.

1887 & 1889 Directories: Febiger Christian C. (Lea Bros. & Co.)

1890 Directory: Febiger Christian C. (Lea Bros. & Co.)

Lea Bros. & Co. (Charles M. Lea, C. C. Febiger, Arthur H. Lea & Henry M. Barnes), publishers, 706 Sansom .

In 1900, the Febigers moved to their new home 3421 Powelton Ave. His biography is summarized on the page for that address.

1900:

Margaret A Dumbell 48 Married 20 years, 3 children, 1 surviving

Sophie M Ensline 76 Roomer; widowed, 2 children, 1 surviving; born in Germany

(ED 578, 7A)

< 3314 & 3316 Arch 3320 Arch >

Back to Interactive Map