Espen's Store, 31 North 8th Street
Historical Images of Philadelphia Looney Old Philadelphia in Early Photographs
Item Info
Item No: pdcl00082
Title: Espen's Store, 31 North 8th Street
Additional Title: Southeast corner 8th and Zane (now Filbert)
Historic Street Address:
Eighth Street, North, 31
Media Type: Scrapbooks
Source: Print and Picture Collection
Notes: "Ornamental eagles were frequently used above store fronts, hotel cornices and clock towers. Samuel and Jacob Espen erected this ornate clock tower with eagle partly to give height to the store front, and also to provide an eye-catching signboard upon which to proclaim their merchandise of fancy lace and embroideries. The objects in the immediate foreground are the awning and awning poles of the building from whose second-story window the photo was made."--OPEP, p. 87.
Notes: Commercial buildings with awnings. Clocktower on roof of one with eagle sculpture on top; sign below clock: "31 Espen & Bro., Laces,Embroideries & Trimming." Next store: "33 M.M. Riter, auction goods, cheap for cash" and "Riter's Cash Store." On roof of another building is a wood frame structure. Partially visible horse and carriage parked on street.
Bibliography: Reprinted in: Old Philadelphia in early photographs, 1839-1914/edited by Robert F. Looney. New York: Dover Publications, c1976.
Creation Year: 1856
Geocode Latitude: Geocode Longitude:-75.1532
Geocode Latitude:39.9521