Letitia Street House

The Letitia Street House is an early Georgian townhouse built with red brick and featuring symmetrical windows arranged across a two-story facade. Its design reflects colonial building practices with balanced proportions and traditional architectural details common to Philadelphia's early period.

Built in 1713 by merchant Thomas Chalkley, the house originally stood in Old City before its relocation in 1883. The move to West Fairmount Park occurred during Philadelphia's early efforts to protect historic structures from demolition.

The building once displayed Queen Anne furniture and colonial decorative items, showing how families arranged their homes in early Philadelphia. These furnishings reveal the tastes and daily habits of wealthy merchants from that era.

The building sits within West Fairmount Park and currently serves as office space for a community development organization. Access may be limited during weekdays when the offices are in active use.

For many years the building was mistakenly believed to be William Penn's residence, a confusion that ultimately saved it from demolition and led to its relocation. This misidentification played a role in sparking Philadelphia's early movement to protect historic structures.

Inception: 1713

GPS coordinates: 39.97542,-75.19694

Latest update: December 11, 2025 18:09