Thursday, December 21, 2017

Old-Ass Building: Mallas Building

942 Market Street

Photo by Michael Bixler


                   This building is a hell of a lot older than it looks. Read all about it at the Hidden City Daily!

Monday, December 11, 2017

Old-Ass Building: Midtown II

122 and 124 South 11th St

Photo by Michael Bixler
                   I miss the Midtown II already and now its being altered. Read all about its history at
the Hidden City Daily!

Thursday, November 30, 2017

Lost Building: John Ellis & Brother Teas & Coffee

9 South 16th St


Image courtesy Ellis Coffee
               Those of you who hate the new digital signage at East Market should appreciate how crazy advertising in this city once was. Check this one out at the Hidden City Daily!

Monday, November 13, 2017

Old-Ass Building: Messiah Universalist Home

4949 Old York Road


Photo by Michael Bixler

                     I'd like to say that mega-architect Frank Furness went out with a bang, but he didn't. Here's the story of one of his company's final buildings that has fallen into obscurity. Check it out at the Hidden City Daily!

Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Old-Ass Building: Fergie's Pub

1214 Sansom Street


Photo by Michael Bixler
                 This bar is a Philly classic, but the building it uses has been a Philly classic for a much longer time! Check out its 150 year history at the Hidden City Daily!



















Friday, October 20, 2017

Lost Building: John Hopkins Warehouse

50-54 North Delaware Avenue (now Interstate 95)

PhillyHistory.org
           Who knew there was a Hale on the Delaware Riverfront? One of his first buildings, no less! Find out all about it on the Hidden City Daily!

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Old-Ass Building: University Avenue Facility

600 South University Avenue

Photo by Michael Bixler
             I and others get questions about what the hell this building on the Schuylkill is-- well now we have the answer. Read all about it at the Hidden City Daily!

Monday, September 25, 2017

Old-Ass Building: Tripoli Barber Supply Company

606 South 9th Street

Photo by Michael Bixler
I've been wondering about this old bastard forever-- ends up some of my bootlegging paisanos were responsible for it along with one of the only Italian-American architects in town. Check it out at the Hidden City Daily!

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Old-Ass Building: Indochino

1606 Chestnut Street

Photo by Michael Bixler

            I've always loved this building and its architect gets no respect. Check it out at the Hidden City Daily!
         

Thursday, August 24, 2017

Old-Ass Building: Frishmuth & Bros Company

1701 West Lehigh Ave


Photo by Michael Bixler
                This old tobacco works was designed by the firm that did the Bellevue-Stratford-- and at around the same time! Learn all about it at the Hidden City Daily!

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Old-Ass Building: Godfrey Roller Company

1219 Race Street

Photo by Michael Bixler
           This thin building by the Convention Center has been through a lot of shit. Check it out at the Hidden City Daily!

Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Old-Ass Building: Germantown Masonic Hall

5425 Germantown Ave

Photo by Michael Bixler
 I've neglected to write about buildings in Germantown for far too long. Check out the history of this awesome Masonic Hall at the Hidden City Daily


Monday, July 10, 2017

Old-Ass Building: Bedell Residence

101 South 22nd Street or 2134 Chestnut Street

Photo by Michael Bixler
               This old beast has avoided the wrecking ball for 127 years while everything that has ever been built next door has changed again and again and again. Read all about it at the Hidden City Daily!

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Old-Ass Building: Crescent Iron Works

4901 Grays Avenue

Photo by Michael Bixler
                Most of you have probably never seen this building but its awesome- a curving industrial building that's so badass that a guy built a boat inside! Read all about it at the Hidden City Daily!

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Old-Ass Building: Pineview/Dirty Frank's

339-349 South 13th Street

Photo by Michael Bixler


               Alright you drunk bastards, here's the history of the Pineview Apartments a.k.a. the Dirty Frank's Building. Check it out at the Hidden City Daily!

Friday, June 2, 2017

Old-Ass Building: Gartside Rust Soap Company

4054 Lancaster Ave

Photo by Michael Bixler
                     You've probably never even seen this building but it's one of those that I've noticed for years and just couldn't stop thinking about. Read all about it at the Hidden City Daily!

Monday, May 15, 2017

Lost Building: Henry Morton Guild House

2210 Sansom Street


                  Here's one building you've probably never heard of.. its site has been a parking lot longer than this building stood, but this goddamn thing was once a landmark. Read all about it at the Hidden City Daily!

Monday, May 1, 2017

Old-Ass Building: George Institute

5100 Lancaster Avenue



Photo by Michael Bixler
                 Some parts of West Philly still have ancient relics left behind from its earliest days of development. Here's just one of them-- read all about it at the Hidden City Daily!

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Old-Ass Building:Electric Traction Company Delaware Avenue Station Engine House

939 North Delaware Avenue, 950 North Penn Street

Photos by Michael Bixler
                  Some buildings just know how to survive. This old bastard has been standing on the riverfront since 1895 in nearly continuous use and laughs at other riverfront buildings that need historical designations to survive. Read all about it at the Hidden City Daily!

Monday, April 3, 2017

Land Use History: 3rd and Willings Alley

228 South 3rd Street


Photo by Michael Bixler
           Switching things up a bit-- the southwest corner of 3rd and Willing's Alley is one of the few pieces of land that can be traced back to day one. Check it all out at the Hidden City Daily!

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Old-Ass Building: Westmoreland Building

212-224 South 3rd St



  I've been trying to write about this building for as long as this blog has existed. Finally, I've gotten my skills up enough to find out everything about this great Society Hill Building. Check it out at the Hidden City Daily!

Monday, March 6, 2017

Old-Ass Building: Prettyman Building

764-772 South Broad Street


Photo by Michael Bixler

             This building is just one piece of the Prettyman legacy, but is by far the most important. Check it out at the Hidden City Daily!

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Old-Ass Building: Adam Scheidt Brewing Company Philadelphia Branch

963 North 9th Street

Photo by Michael Bixler

            This beat-up old building is connected to both Philadelphia beer history and Philadelphia pie history. Check it out at the Hidden City Daily!

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Old-Ass Building: Walls & Pearsall Building

437 North 11th Street, 1041 Ridge Avenue

Photo by Michael Bixler

                   I've admired this building for years, but have only reached the research skill level to find its history recently. Check it out at the Hidden City Daily!

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Old-Ass Building: Students' Chapter Hall

1319 West Susquehanna Avenue


Photo by Michael Bixler
              This is one cool-looking building and it has one hell of a diverse history! Check it out at the Hidden City Daily! 

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Old-Ass Building: Dentzel Carousel Factory

3635 Germantown Ave



                 Check out this old bastard still hanging on in North Philly. Read all about it at the Hidden City Daily!