Workers putting in a sewer line at Franklin Square in 1915 discovered a number of gravestones. Eventually, the city dropped the lawsuit in exchange for a fenced graveyard and possession of the rest of the square. The first major legal battle came in 1797, when the city ruled the lease was illegal and sued the church to recover the burial grounds. The church's cemetery at Franklin Square gradually expanded over the decades to include much of the square's eastern portion.Īt varying points, both the public and city government objected to the use of Franklin Square as a private burial grounds, noting William Penn had reserved it for public use. But the oldest known gravestone in the cemetery, marking the grave of Elizabeth Messenger, dates to Dec. 11, according to an archaeological study completed in 2005. The first recorded burial in Franklin Square came in 1748, when 9-year-old Catherina Barbara was placed to rest on Jan. PHOTO GALLERY: Franklin Square through the years The initial price? Fifty pounds sterling and an annual land tax of five shillings. Thomas Penn, the son of Philadelphia's founder, agreed to lease a portion of Franklin Square as a burial ground to the First German Reformed Church. And it's one that continues to impact development today. A GRAVE DEVELOPMENTĭue to its marshy land, Franklin Square was slow to develop.īut in 1741 – six decades after the city's founding – the square gained a development that, in time, became controversial.
While the areas surrounding Franklin Square, originally known as Northeast Square, have changed a great deal over the years, the park itself has seen the least change of any of Penn's squares. Its location in Center City's northeast quadrant has heavily impacted its history, from its slow development to its days as a homeless haven. PhillyVoice is digging into the histories of William Penn's five public squares to learn what makes each Philadelphia park unique.No guarantee, warranty or representation of any kind is made regarding the completeness or accuracy of descriptions or measurements (including square footage measurements and property condition), such should be independently verified, and Compass expressly disclaims any liability in connection therewith. and/or other countries.Ĭorporate Responsibility, Privacy & Legal Notices: Compass is a licensed real estate broker, licensed to do business as Compass RE in Delaware, Idaho, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Tennessee, Compass Real Estate in Washington, DC, Wyoming and Idaho, Compass Realty Group in Missouri and Kansas, and Compass South Carolina LLC in South Carolina. Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, Responsible Disclosure, Compass is an E-Verify employer, Notice for California Applicants, and California COVID-19 Rules of EntryĬOMPASS, the Compass logo, and other various trademarks, logos, designs, and slogans are the registered and unregistered trademarks of Compass, Inc. The large basement is a complete bonus! This home also has village-on-the-street parking permits. The 2nd floor boasts a primary bedroom, three additional bedrooms, and a hall bath-a full-size stand-up attic with lots of storage. French doors off the dining room lead to a private yard with lush, manicured gardens and a cozy bluestone patio. The welcoming foyer leads into a beautiful living room with a wood-burning fireplace, formal dining room, Sunny EIK, and a half bath on the first floor. This hidden gem is behind Country Life Press Station in the desirable Franklin Court Mews center court. This charming, historical English Cotswold style stucco semi-attached home with its tucked-in porch, steep-gabled slate roof, and brick-walled garden is a touch of European yesteryear with the perfection of modern updates.
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