What Happened to Philadelphia's Millionaire's Row?

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Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia has been one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the United States for nearly 150 years, but it doesn’t look anything like it once did.
Location: Philadelphia, PA
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Public Domain Photos from: Library of Congress, Free Library of Philadelphia
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[@ThisHouse]

🎄Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!🎄 We are taking a break from working today to spend time with our families and will reply to comments tomorrow. We hope you have a warm, cheerful day, -Ken & Dalton (aka the This House Team)

[@virginiaeckley3047]

Merry Christmas

[@khrysinphilly]

You should cover Chestnut Hill and West Mt Airy. Many of the mansions are still there

[@1GirlieGirl]

Rittenhouse is still such a lovely place. It's 100% walkable and you'd never run out of things to see and do. It's way too expensive for me. Philly has a lot of "squares" - it's a very green city. I live in Southwest, which feels like the suburbs and features the John Heinz Refuge, which is where I love walking and biking. Thanks for covering my beloved city. Merry Christmas to you and yours.

[@pipecutter1]

The Drexel/Bok house on the corner of Locust retains its exterior and some portions of its interior. It is now The Curtis Institute of Music.

[@conservativehippie9736]

MERRY CHRISTMAS! 💚❄️❤️

[@seansartor]

To raze such BEAUTIFUL mansions seems like such a waste

[@brettbirdguy]

FAVORITE: Joseph Harrison Jr.'s Lime Stone Palace with the HUGE footprint of over 100' x 70' 😁🤗

[@annettekimball1818]

Merry Christmas!!! Looooonger programs soon please!

[@waynegray5568]

They moved to the Main Line! Haverford, Bryn Mawr etc

[@samanthab1923]

Now those are some mansions

[@can72287]

Like in NY the truly rich had a city house and a house in the mainline or Cheltenham/Abington/Springfield.

[@lolee1234]

I loved Rittenhouse Square! As a teen that had a part time job in the city, I frequented it. They had art shows, classical music concerts, bands, to name a few of the exciting attractions. The Dorchester was a wonderful apartment building located there, and a public library. One of my coworkers lived in a nifty apartment building on the Square as well. This video brings back wonderful memories. From Independence Mall to 0ld 30th Street Station, one can easily imagine how the founders could conjure up for us the liberty provided in the Constitution of this great nation.

[@janefitzgibbon4312]

🐈🐈‍⬛🎄🎄🎄🐈‍⬛🐈 Wishing you A Very Happy Christmas 🎄♥️🎄

[@KelRobWan]

My relative John Wanamaker had a house at 2032 Walnut Street, he lived there until his death in 1922.

[@joecesa1013]

I'd love to see an episode devoted to the Wanamaker home. I remember seeing it vacant, a beautiful carriagehouse in the rear. Carriagehouse is gone but mansion facade is still intact, with condo building surrounding it.

[@simonw8191]

Merry Christmas, "This hhouse" & Viewers!

[@christopherkraft1327]

Merry Christmas to Ken, Dalton & your families!!! ⛄🤶🎄

[@amandahirschfeld7382]

I would save all the old houses

[@proudvirginian]

Philly is my favorite big city and Rittenhouse is my favorite hangout spot. Thanks for the yesteryear tour. I didn't know the history of it until today

[@pavelow235]

Where did you grow up if Philadelphia is your favorite big city??

[@proudvirginian]

@@pavelow235 my dad was military, so all over the world. I've just been to Philly a few dozen times since living in Virginia ('92). The first time I went I was enamored with the place. That said, I love my more rural, Shenandoah existence. I couldn't live in such a big city. But out of all the ones I've been to in every Statev(except Alaska), Philly is my favorite. I'm even a Flyers and Eagles fan(not into baseball and basketball).

[@Quietstorm9]

I am a native of Philadelphia. May I ask what you like so much about my hometown?

[@proudvirginian]

@@Quietstorm9 it's a big city with a little city feel. I've walked from Rittenhouse to Penn's Landing and everywhere in between. I love the atmosphere. I love the Belgian beer at Monks Cafe. I love eating at Vedge, Charlie Was a Sinner and P.S.&Co. I love the Gayborhood🏳️‍🌈. I love the Fireman's Hall and Mütter museums. Not a fan of the Liberty Bell. I take everyone to the side window and say, "there it is, let's go." I love Reading Terminal Market. I love the tattoo I got at a tattoo convention at the convention center. I love Elfreth's Alley. I've been to every part of Philly where a wiseguy or mob boss lived ,was whacked and is buried(I have a fascination with Mafia stuff). Granted, I know it has its issues and I only ever go as a tourist, so I don't see the not so great parts. I get to leave it and enjoy the best bits.

[@calendarpage]

I liked seeing the locations side by side. I lived in Philly for 10 years, working in Center City. Rittenhouse Park was always an enjoyable place to visit and though most of the old mansions are gone, you still feel you are in an upscale part of the city - especially if you visit the stores!

[@kellingtonlink956]

Thanks for another interesting video. Merry Christmas Ken. Thanks for the video.

[@muscledavis5434]

It's always sunny in Philadelphia

[@LaurieValdez-zk3dy]

GO MILITARY ⚔ Thank you so much. Philadelphia USA 🇺🇸 Nostrovia ❤❤❤

[@creditwarrior9633]

goes to show that nothing is forever! But Philly is still full of history and wonders!

[@KarenRostmeyer]

Living in one of the high-rises, I would love to step back in time and see it as it once was. Thank-you for the quick lesson on what used to be. The Joseph Harrison Jr. mansion looked quite impressive and I do wish that was still here. But I have a soft spot for the Cassatt house IF it could still house his sisters artwork. Wouldn't that be an amazing museum space for impressionist art? I love that the first home built (Harper) is still standing. I've enjoyed walking by it many times. There are a few homes on the south side (Rittenhouse Sq street) of the square still standing.

[@MidwestDayTrips]

I love the historical context at the beginning. It’s easy to always put these stories in the past tense, and forget that at one point, all of these historical buildings were little more than an idea in someone’s head. Can’t wait to visit Philly one day. 💙

[@justsayin1879]

The neighborhood is a patchwork of surviving structures usually discovered and appreciated during a leisurely stroll.

[@cecillebarone9252]

While the homeless sleep in the park

[@karenmoyer1435]

What ever happened to the Burpee "Mansion" on Rittenhouse Sqaure?

[@warningsigns4526]

Rittenhouse was in the news lately - 17th and JFK, Liberty One and Liberty Two, William Penn building are targeted

[@lisaknell1809]

My favorite is Edward Stotesbury’s grand mansion. I’m so glad it’s still standing!

[@holidayfellow6407]

The fact that James Harper's mansion still stands shows that the history of this neighborhood is still there

[@jhs8938]

*Correction : Southwest Square (not "park") was in Thomas Holme's original plan (1682), and the way you're pronouncing Mary Cassatt may throw people off.

[@alecs5112]

The streets surrounding the square still very much look like they did in the 1800’s

[@BlaineShire]

My old hometown!

[@jcastano]

Rittenhouse Square was one of the original parks that were laid out as major elements of William Penn's original plan for the city. The city was already a metropolis, being the largest city in North America through the early republic. The western neighborhoods were intended for early development, but in defiance of Penn's wishes the city's development stuck to the Delaware until the 1840s when the neighborhoods west of Broad began to be developed.

[@dstaugustinefl8832]

Happy Christmas and Happy New Year ! to you and your family Ken & Dalton Enjoy

[@nathanbohn1078]

use to frequent that area in the mid to late 90s. i lived on south street, right at south and passyunk. used to be so bright and colorful. so many people. friday night, saturday night, come on, thousand of people of all walks of life, poor, rich young old any race, we were all kinda just hangin out! met the weird to the famous down there every night. there were assholes as with any where else. wasnt that easy its still shitty philly. but being from kensington i think i can say that. but yeah man those were fun days. we played in a band too so it was kinda fun to have llayed near people you live with at your local bars and clubs. my best days are left on that now left for dead area from what google earth shows... shame. i can walk down those now shadowy streets and tell a ton of colorful memories. damn... what do you do when you realize your best days are behind you and your now on the down slide?

[@najeefilms]

If the buildings are new Why they look old in the pictures

[@csmtcqueen]

This channel is soooo good. I only wish each video was one hour long. Keep up the good work.

[@Songwriter376]

Then, just as now, everyone had to have the biggest #$&*.

[@user-bb8xd2pd8e]

Harper's home eventually became The Rittenhouse Cub which was an Elite men's club. My Grandfather was the doorman for 50 years there & My Uncle, the Manager until his death in the 70's....Tons of great stories in that place....

[@karenryder6317]

Was there ever a time when Rittenhouse square was so depressed that it was a slum? I do know that in the 1970s there was a lot of anger about "gentrification" in that area and I wondered if RS was one of those places that got "gentrified" driving out the poor blacks.

[@stephenryder1995]

I know in the 60's it was elegant and gay. I know that now it is still quite nice. I never knew a time that it was a slum, but I haven't been there in the last 4 decades.

[@nathanjames6215]

James harpper Is the house that I would say

[@CM-st1dl]

Study project: David Rittenhouse is a Very impressive man who lived a Very interesting life and who deserves to be more widely known and respected than he currently is. If you would like to take up a little study project for the month of January, *David Rittenhouse* is a very worthy choice.

[@vgo0nz-_-]

Jesus loves you

[@janstolk486]

socialism

[@patrickgriffin6773]

I would save that one that was constructed of all marble.

[@mw54470]

Merry Christmas! I sure enjoy your videos!

[@stephenryder1995]

In 1961 I lived in the Square on West Walnut street. It was beautiful and safe, and had become a cruising place for a lot of the city's gay young men - I used to be politely accosted (I was 17) and asked if I was gay. When I said no - politely - they always just left me alone. There were very fancy shops there, custom shirtmakers and clothiers with the most elegant displays of menswear in their windows - no bars or gates in front of the windows at night in those days. "Window-shopping" was pleasant, with unobstructed views of the finery within. I had been unaware of the gay overtones of the neighborhood - but most others knew all about it.

[@kathys.1764]

That's what ruined it

[@stephenryder1995]

@@kathys.1764 for some....

[@antwonkyle292]

The streets are labeled with visual indicators for gay or LGBQT safe zones now. I Love the history of Philadelphia and Millionaire’s Row.

[@stephenryder1995]

@@antwonkyle292 Philadelphia and King-of-Prussia, the West Chester turnpike, Center City, Bryn Mawr - all hold magical memories for me from 60 years ago. I wonder what they are like nowadays...

[@alecs5112]

You make it sound like it’s blighted now. It’s still a very pleasant area .

[@erinwoempner1228]

The first one.

[@ShirleeKnott]

congrats reply also for feeding the algorithm :)

[@aw4610]

Killy has been going downhill.

[@drewh3224]

It is shame that how a vibrant Philly become a thing of the past. A woke culture in the past 60 years of making, then a chronic poverty, corrupt governing culture, vicious crimes and entitlements.

[@vevitier]

We’re making a lot of headway. Like anywhere if you look for trouble you’ll find it. We have a treasure of city park history and many wonderful neighborhoods.

[@laurelmalinowski1676]

What is the obsession with calling everything “woke”?

[@kathys.1764]

The Democrats ruined it.

[@kathys.1764]

​@@laurelmalinowski1676 The truth is "woke" ruined everything. Krasner let's the criminals out to kill again! Over 500 murders so far this year prove that "woke" is BS!

[@alive1419]

You hit the nail on the head . 🙌

[@politic1148]

I'm a painter and I've done work all over Rittenhouse, even worked in the 2 high rise condos over looking the park. A random row home just off off Rittenhouse st is 1 million and that's just a normal rowhome. Love the area and many of the stained doors were done by me. Absolutely love working there.