Roberts-Quay House

Roberts-Quay House is a Renaissance Revival residence with a brownstone front and stucco sides located in Philadelphia. The building rises four stories tall and includes a basement, attic, and small cupola on top.

The building was constructed in 1850 and underwent multiple expansions extending through 1928, making it considerably larger over time. It served as the home of US Senator Matthew Quay during his life until 1904.

The house reflects how wealthy Philadelphia residents of the 1800s wanted their homes to look, incorporating Italian architectural details that were fashionable in fine neighborhoods. This style choice tells us what people valued in their living spaces back then.

The house sits on Spruce Street in the Washington Square West neighborhood and has been a protected landmark since 1976. The location is walkable and situated among other historic buildings in an established residential area.

The original structure started relatively modest in size but grew substantially through four separate building phases added from the north side. This expansion pattern shows how the household adapted and extended its living space over several decades.

Location: Pennsylvania

GPS coordinates: 39.94640,-75.15970

Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:41