John C. Bell House, Colonial Revival residence in Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, United States.
The John C. Bell House is a residential building in Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Square area with Colonial Revival and Neo-Georgian styling. The two-story structure on South 22nd Street displays the characteristic details and classical proportions typical of this architectural approach.
The house was designed in 1906 by architect Horace Trumbauer and served as home to Pennsylvania Attorney General John C. Bell and later his son. The family played an important role in Pennsylvania's political history and shaped the region over several decades.
The house reflects the residential preferences of Philadelphia's upper class in the early 1900s. The architecture shows how wealthy families of that era shaped their homes and which styles were favored in this affluent neighborhood.
The building is protected as a historic site and visible from the street as you walk through the neighborhood. You can view the facade and architectural details from the sidewalk, giving you a sense of the historical architecture in the Rittenhouse Square area.
Bert Bell, who later became NFL Commissioner, lived in this house and revolutionized American football through innovative ideas. His time here before the building's conversion to apartments in 1944 connects the residence to an important chapter in professional sports history.
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