NOMINATION OF HISTORIC BUILDING, STRUCTURE, SITE, OR OBJECT PHILADELPHIA REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES PHILADELPHIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION SUBMIT ALL ATTACHED MATERIALS ON PAPER AND IN ELECTRONIC FORM ON CD (MS WORD FORMAT) 1. ADDRESS OF HISTORIC RESOURCE (must comply with a Board of Revision of Taxes address) Street address:___ 125 W. Walnut Lane _______________________________________ Postal code:___ 19144 _____ Councilmanic District:__ 8 _____________________ 2. NAME OF HISTORIC RESOURCE Historic Name:_____ George T. Pearson Residence ___________________________________ Common Name:_________________________________________________________________ 3. TYPE OF HISTORIC RESOURCE Building Structure Site Object 4. PROPERTY INFORMATION Condition: excellent good fair poor ruins Occupancy: occupied vacant under construction unknown Current use:____ Offices ________________________________________________________ 5. BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION Please attach a plot plan and written description of the boundary. 6. DESCRIPTION Please attach a description of the historic resource. 7. SIGNIFICANCE Please attach the Statement of Significance. Period of Significance (from year to year): from __ 1893 ___ to __ 1955 ___ Date(s) of construction and/or alteration:____ c. 1893 ___________________________________ Architect, engineer, and/or designer:___ George T. Pearson ______________________________ Builder, contractor, and/or artisan:___________________________________________________ Original owner:___ George T. & Mary Pearson _________________________________________ Other significant persons:__________________________________________________________ CRITERIA FOR DESIGNATION: The historic resource satisfies the following criteria for designation (check all that apply): (a) Has significant character, interest or value as part of the development, heritage or cultural characteristics of the City, Commonwealth or Nation or is associated with the life of a person significant in the past; or, (b) Is associated with an event of importance to the history of the City, Commonwealth or Nation; or, (c) Reflects the environment in an era characterized by a distinctive architectural style; or, (d) Embodies distinguishing characteristics of an architectural style or engineering specimen; or, (e) Is the work of a designer, architect, landscape architect or designer, or engineer whose work has significantly influenced the historical, architectural, economic, social, or cultural development of the City, Commonwealth or Nation; or, (f) Contains elements of design, detail, materials or craftsmanship which represent a significant innovation; or, (g) Is part of or related to a square, park or other distinctive area which should be preserved according to an historic, cultural or architectural motif; or, (h) Owing to its unique location or singular physical characteristic, represents an established and familiar visual feature of the neighborhood, community or City; or, (i) Has yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in pre-history or history; or (j) Exemplifies the cultural, political, economic, social or historical heritage of the community. 8. MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Please attach a bibliography. 9. NOMINATOR Name with Title_ Jorge M. Danta, H. P. Planner II ________ Email___ [email protected] _________ Organization__ Philadelphia Historical Commission _______Date__ 26 November 2012 ______________ Street Address__ City Hall, Room 576 _________________Telephone___ 215-686-7660 _____________ City, State, and Postal Code___ Philadelphia, PA 19107 _______________________________________ Nominator is is not the property owner. PHC USE ONLY Date of Receipt:_______________________________________________________________________ Correct-Complete Incorrect-Incomplete Date:_________________________________ Date of Notice Issuance:_________________________________________________________________ Property Owner at Time of Notice Name:_________________________________________________________________________ Address:_______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ City:_______________________________________ State:____ Postal Code:_________ Date(s) Reviewed by the Committee on Historic Designation:____________________________________ Date(s) Reviewed by the Historical Commission:______________________________________________ Date of Final Action:____________________________________________________________________ Designated Rejected 3/16/07 Section 5: Boundary Description The boundary of the resource encompasses a rectangular lot located on the north side of West Walnut Lane. The boundary of the resource begins at a point located at a distance of 279’9” west from the northwest corner of McCallum Street and Walnut Lane. From this point the boundary line extends west along Walnut Lane, 60’, and extends in depth, northward, at a right angle to Walnut Lane, 91’10”, including a 3’9” wide alley. The boundary line then extends east, perpendicular to Walnut Lane, 60’. The boundary line then moves south, at a right angle to Walnut Lane, 91’10” back to the starting point. 125 W. Walnut Lane / George T. Pearson residence. Page 3 Section 6: Description of Building This unusual house located at 125 W. Walnut Lane stands out amidst the parade of remarkable houses that line both sides of Walnut Lane. The house is unusual in its overall design as well as its placement on the lot. The house presents two primary volumes, a three-and-one-half story main block and a two-and-one-half story wing, and three secondary volumes, a two-story rear section attached to the main block and wing and two one-story rear additions at the back of the assemblage. The main block of the house sits close to the sidewalk along the north side of Walnut Lane; while the wing is located to the west of the main block and recessed from the street. The space created by the set back of the wing is enclosed by a brick garden wall laid in Flemish bond and topped with a limestone cap, which boasts corner limestone balls. The roof lines over the house are intricate. The main block has a gambrel with a Dutch gable, and the wing a gambrel with a turret. The main block of the house has several exterior finishes. The first and second stories are rendered in textured stucco. The third story is finished in half timbering on its west elevation, and a Dutch gable on its south elevation. The gable is laid in Flemish bond brick work. The historic roof is green slate. Some sections of the roofing have been replaced with asphalt shingles. The south elevation has a single register of windows that extends all three stories. The first and second floors have ganged wood double-hung windows. Each window has leaded and stained glass. The third floor window is a triple casement window in the Gothic style with diamond pattern leaded-glass. Each window has a decorative Gothic hood over the lintel. The west elevation of the main block has a register of windows that extends three stories. The same pattern, a wood double-hung two-over-one window, is found in each floor. The upper sash is in the Gothic style with diamond leaded glass. The same window type is repeated in the third story along the west elevation as a single window, without a corresponding register below. The attic story along the west elevation has a single window in the middle of the gable end. The window is a wood six-light casement. The east elevation of the main block is faced in textured stucco and it is mostly a blank party wall, with some punched windows. This elevation is mostly obscured by thick vegetation on the neighboring parcel. A single brick chimney is located above the gambrel. It has a brick and terracotta cap. The wing has an enclosed porch at ground floor. The enclosure wraps around the corner to the west and extends to the middle of the west elevation of the wing. The porch has a total of seven bays; four on the south elevation and three on the west elevation. The easternmost bay of the porch contains a single-hung wood window with leaded-glass transom. The bay to the west of that window has a wood door with decorative metal work that leads into the enclosed porch space. The two remaining bays on that elevation have wood windows. The same window pattern is repeated in both bays; it consists of a six-light transom with Gothic arches and six square lights below with panels. The three bays on the side have the same window pattern minus the lower panels. The west elevation of the wing is finished in common bond brick at ground floor and a single double-hung window. The porch has a pent eve with a metal roof along the south elevation only. The second floor has a three-sided bay along the south elevation with half timbering and slate. The rest of the wing is finished in half timbering. The roof over the wing is a gambrel with a turret. The roof is covered in slate. Some sections of the roofing have been replaced with asphalt shingles. The south elevation has a single window at the second floor; a ganged double-hung wood window with arched lower and upper sashes. The west elevation along the wing has two windows; each is a double-hung three-over-one wood window. The upper sash has Gothic arches and leaded glass. The third floor has a single window in the middle of the gable. The window is a ganged casement with leaded glass. At the third floor of 125 W. Walnut Lane / George T. Pearson residence. Page 4 the wing, where it meets the main block, there