Family Estate: Home Full of Memories

Here at Philly Home Girls, we always say that every home has a story. This one is particularly good. Unlike many homes in such an old city, this home has a written history of being continuously occupied since the time it was built. Even today it is occupied and maintained. The physical character of this home, a free-standing mansion encompassing almost 4,000 square feet, is a rare occurrence.

The Decor

This home was built in the Italianate style with floor-to-ceiling windows, high ceilings, ornate chandeliers, and five gracious fireplaces. Architectural changes were made in the early 1900s that helped this property to stand out from other homes. Unique to this house are the Federal-style adornments starting with the eye-catching design around the front door. Federal-style molding and decorative plaster designs frame every doorway and fireplace with extra grand design elements throughout including matching corner glassware cabinets and an extraordinary arched shell shelving unit on the second floor. Such architectural elements can be seen in the interior of the Samuel Powel House in Old City, Philadelphia’s first mayor whose country estate originally stood a few blocks from this home.

The History

This home is registered with the Historical Commission as dating back to 1865. In fact, they have a list of prior residents of the home, where they were born, where and how they were educated, and what they did for a living. Some of the occupants included James B. Ferree, a banker who also lived at 404 S 8th St which we only mention because we sold that house in Queen Village a few years back. Uncanny. Charles McKaraher Brooks lived there and was chief of the maternity department of the Women's Homeopathic Hospital in the late 1800s. Henry H. Shillingford was the next resident and was secretary of the Atlantic and Ohio Telegraph Company and a director of the Western Union Company. Other residents include Swedish, and Irish-born domestic servants, Academics, Merchants, a Yarn Manufacturer, and some DuPonts such as Lammot DuPont who died in a factory explosion.

This brings us to the story of the family who owned this home when we listed it. Fifty years prior, it was purchased by a husband and wife, Dr. William Labov, a University of Pennsylvania linguist, and Dr. Teresa Labov, a University of Pennsylvania sociologist. They moved their four (soon to become five!) children to Philadelphia in 1971. One of William and Teresa’s daughters, Sarah, remained the caretaker and current resident of the estate. Her daughter Jamie and their pets all enjoy free range of the enormous home, have tales of parties, visiting academics as well as fond memories of family events, and especially of their mother/grandmother who loved the home tremendously.

The Neighborhood

Powelton Village is celebrated for homes with historical, architectural integrity, and distinctive character. Hidden behind Drexel University and The University of Pennsylvania’s campuses, it is known as the “Secret Neighborhood” with its beautiful tree-lined streets and Victorian homes.

This home is situated on a block with some unique features like a green space which is maintained by Drexel. Across the street is the Drexel Smart House which is a study center for energy efficiency. At the end of the street find the Community Education Center of Arts where you can faintly hear live music from the dance classes Monday evenings.

In 1960 the neighborhood activists got their own elementary school, Samuel Powel School, which has just been relocated into a brand-new facility two blocks away from this home at 36th and Warren Streets.  It is one of the city’s highest-rated in parent involvement, student achievement, and teacher dedication. Both Drexel University and University of Pennsylvania contribute student teachers and funding for special programs and projects.

A welcome addition to the area are the new stores and restaurants along Lancaster Avenue making it easy to pick up a few groceries or walk one block to dinner at Ramen Bar or Sava’s. Both Drexel and Penn have greatly expanded their research departments, including brand new science centers currently under construction that will continue to bring in more faculty and researchers, more retail, and continue the upwards trend of market value for our homes.

Drexel Security actively patrols Powleton Village’s streets on bicycles providing an extra level of safety and security for residents.

The Memories

Dr. Teresa Labov is possibly the one person who occupied the home longer than any other owner. She loved being outdoors, using the front gardens to grow tomatoes in the summer and the backyard for roses and fruit trees. The home gets beautiful full sunlight from the east into the house all morning, followed by lovely afternoon and evening light from the west as the sun pours into the yard and back windows.  

In 1999, Teresa added a roof deck to the house so that her family could enjoy sunsets and fireworks from a great vantage point. In the spring, summer, and fall evenings Teresa would head upstairs to the roof deck to enjoy the sunset, then head down to the music room to practice the piano before dinner.

This house was her love. Many of the recent upgrades to the house were designed to keep her home safe and happy throughout the years of her long life allowing her to stay comfortably in this house which she loved so much. She was proud and happy to leave it to her children.