i work in philadelphia not far from elfreth’s alley. i love walking in the old city area at lunchtime and dream of living in one of those historic houses. i love living and working in philly! there is history everywhere!!!
I'm not sure about the houses there, in terms of the interiors, but on the architecture tour, I saw a few houses with very steep stairs. They'd be a difficult climb as one got older or carrying a baby. That said, I was like you - I loved walking around Philly and seeing all the historic houses.
Coming from London and being an East Londoner. This so reminds me of home. It’s amazing that this lovely little street has been preserved for 300yrs 👏🏼👏🏼🇬🇧
There are lots of places in the US (Esp in the Northeast) that are VERY English looking (for obvious reasons!) I live a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania called Manchester that has Liverpool Street. And we Pittsburghers traditionally call our mothers "Mum". This makes sense in a city named for a Britsh Prime Minister! P.S. My grandfather (an AMerican born man of GERMAN descent!) was a bit of an Anglophile. (Tinkering on his MG and having a Jaguar as his daily driver...) When I was a kid ('60s-'70s) he taught me that things from the UK (Like a Jag or an MG) were "imported", But NOT "foreign" as to him "foreign" meant a language AND cultural difference. Meaning German cars WERE "foreign", UK cars were "imported." So, nothing from or about the "Anglosphere" could be considered "foreign"!
@@jamesslick4790 Great information mate. Indeed we do call our mums mum lol. If WW2 never happened Brits & Germans would be be strong allies. Our royal family is of German decent the Hanover’s. Strange how world affairs change. Yet we see the USA as our brothers & sisters and for the reasons you mentioned. We’re just generation’s removed, distant cousins 😉
Lived in a Trinity house on Kauffman Street in Queen Village for a couple years when I moved to Philly after college. It was a great little house....even had a small brick terrace. We had some good times in that house.
I’ve lived in Philly most of my life. There are a ton of historic little streets, corners & houses like Elfreths one of the things that make our city so special. ❤
Pretty amazing that this street survived over three centuries, thank goodness for those who fought for its preservation, so that we can all appreciate it today. Thanks Ken for another fascinating video and glimpse into the past.
I grew up in Philadelphia and took for granted the city's rich history. Old city is still pretty well preserved and if you are a history buff would warrant a visit. Although I would stay outside of the city😢
Half of the UK still looks like that today and i live on a terraced row in Swinton , Manchster and the houses were built in around 1880 and are well kept and lovely to live in , the modern ones that are being thrown up today at prices of around £250,000 will be long gone whilst these 1800's houses will still be going strong
I was born in Philly in 1957 and Elfreth’s Alley was part of my mother’s frequent walks with me from infancy onwards. Visits continued with school trips and the on my own throughout teen/adult years and now every time I go back home to visit. Fascinating changes over the years, a special and magical street. My other fave is Wissahickon Park and the creek😄 You can still feel the history, imagine times of the Lenape Indians…
When I lived in Philly, I took the architecture tours and visited Elfreth's Alley. Thank goodness this piece of our history was saved. Having been there, though, I don't think it would be a convenient place to live - too many tourists, too close to your neighbors across the street, and looking at Google Maps, I don't even know where you'd park. However, it's still worth visiting if you're in Philly.
@@ddtstrc9678 Right? Why take cheap transportation that also gives you exercise when you could pay thousands a year in gas and insurance for a vehicle that takes up way too much space and provides no health benefits?
I live in Philly and when I have guests from out of town I usually show them Elfreth's Alley. There is also a hidden side street and courtyard tucked away that is very interesting.
I grew up in an Irish neighborhood by there in South Philly and I worked on Elfreth's Alley repairing the electrical service for Philadelphia electric company back in the '90s, You had to put everything back perfectly when you dug in the street, cobblestone streets, It was tedious. That's a beautiful street It's really cool, like going back in time.
If you could have brought one of todays small hand held metal detectors you might have found coins and relics from the 1700's-1800's in the dirt from under that street - when British Coins were the currency.
I used to live across this neighborhood, people walk up and down this street all the time. Sometimes the people host open houses... Its quite nice and very friendly
@@austinbevis4266 Maybe they DO charge? IDK? as a Pittsburgher, I'm more likely to visit Akron than Philly, LOL. (My kid lives near Akron, So I have an excuse..)
I stumbled upon this treasure of a video! Absolutely wonderful! I am originally from England, now living in America. I really enjoy the stories of the early settlers, and through the years. These homes are amazing. 1703!!!! Thank you bringing this to us :-)
That section of "Olde Philly " is really historic , Independence and Carpenter Halls , The Liberty Bell , Old Christ Church , in whose cemetary many of the signers of the Declaration of Independence are buried , along with John Barry , father of the US navy . The Betsy Ross house , Old Two Street tavern , the birthplace of the US Marine Corps . well worth a visit to the city .
@@AngryNegativeHistoryProject I don't think so. Not in that area. Lots of historic buildings there and high priced row homes on other nearby streets that have been updated on the inside. I believe there is a covenant that the outside of the buildings must be kept as originally designed.
Beautiful! I’ll bet those from the past could never imagine how much those homes are now worth. Really neat how the homeowners stood their ground to preserve the area!
I think everything about life and technology would test the imagination far more then the appreciated value of their $80 shilling investment. Although a million dollars plus would be quite a shock.
There are rows and rows of houses like that in Philly. Pittsburgh too. And they can be pretty cheap, ***depending on the neighborhood***. Baltimore has row houses like that too.
Very interesting Ken! Manhattan has some streets like that also. There are two like that behind the houses on Washington Square Park north. The houses, many of which are now owned by NYU, were occupied by high society types (see Henry James’ novel Washington Square for example, and the movie version), and the narrow streets behind, also called a mews, were for stables, which are now occupied as houses.
Wonderful that this historic neighborhood was preserved and continues to thrive! That said, I don't think it's a practical place where I'd want to live. Parking and privacy are a few of the modern conveniences that I know I would miss. However, it looks like a fascinating place to visit. Kudos to the homeowners of the day for their resourcefulness in stopping the developers from destroying their homes and successfully preserving an important architectural part of history. Really cool! Thanks, Ken, for sharing the story of Elfreth's Alley.
These types of denser neighborhoods are better without cars. Everything is walking distance and there's public transportation for when u need to go long distances. Once you start making everything accessible for cars you lose the charm of having a walkable city
It's like an open air museum. They have one like that in Prague on Golden Lane street. Except those houses are way older and way smaller and no one lives in them anymore but they are beautiful just like these in PA.
I would live there in a heartbeat, I love old historic homes,buildings etc. They were built to last a long time. I think it is wonderful that they were saved and are actually occupied.
What a lovely street! And how wise of the homeowners to not sell-out to property developers. We Americans have been too quick to tear down the past, in order to make way for the present - and usually in far poorer quality. In a way, though, it's sad to think that what was once affordable housing, is now reserved for the wealthy. I guess that's how gentrification works...
It isn't "reserved" for the wealthy. It is in so much demand by everyone that it can command a high price. Seems like in the current culture, people will create a victim to pity if there literally is none. I'll be so glad when this fad dies.
That’s not from gentrification. Try to find a place for rent in or near any major city right now. Even in the most terrible neighborhoods it is outrageous
I grew up in Philly…spent alot of time skateboarding down in Center City…been down this Elfreth’s alley many times at night and during the day…at night there’s definitely a haunting feel about it
I too remember going on field trips to this area. Then as a young adult we’d go to some of the most wonderful taverns, have great wine and play board games.
I love my city. And this is one of the most beautiful streets and all of Philadelphia. A few years ago a bunch of my friends turned 50 so we celebrated 30 to 50 years of friendship by doing an all-white photoshoot this very Street. Let's just say, having such a natural backdrop of color up against solid white made everything perfect.
Yep , been there many times ......the oldest continually occupied street in the US ....I live in Philly , taught many decades ago , and the story of the " fire marks " , a ceramic tile found next to the front doors , embedded in the wall ...are interesting . Google it .....fascinating
Elfreth's alley is less than 4 miles from the part of Philadelphia I have lived my whole life. When walking around in Old City you feel like your back in time I'd love to live in Old City.
A very elite address in Philadelphia these days. I believe some families also open the homes at Christmas too...or at least they did pre Covid. Beautiful and so happy it's still in existence.
I was a painter in a 2005 rehab on one. Somewhat anticlimactic really. The ground floor 'living room' has a emensely high ceiling with a remarkably SMALL fireplace which of course aren't workable but 200 years ago would have inadequate for heat. All of the houses are three levels and each room has additional fireplaces so again its remarkable that there weren't any recorded fires. Overall my impression was that the homeowner was stuck in a absurd money 'whirlpool'. Last but not least currently the area is a not a good place to be after dark..
I would ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!!!!!!!!! Imagine the cooking smells that waft through, morning till night. The laughter and even the occasional snoring. UBER CHARMING!! Listen to the family two doors away singing Happy Birthday to their child, the cheers when your team wins a goal and the laughter of children playing. It would be HEAVENLY!!
As a rural dweller, the idea of never having a private moment would drive me barmy; the lack of privacy you describe would be hell on earth! My Aunt Tiny used to say: I'm glad everybody don't think alike - then everybody would want my man! I think she was right 😅
I used to live outside of Philadelphia and once as a child toured a couple of these homes with my mom. Thank you for all of the effort you put into making these videos. They are great.
I remember when my cousin owned a property on Elfreth's Alley. Our uncle, a carpenter, did some renovation work for her and I remember that there were no doorknobs, just latches on the doors. My father-in-law, an executive chef, reopened the City Tavern back in 1976. He had to research what our Founding Fathers ate when he developed the menu.
Door knobs require springs and more intricate parts that would not come around until factories became more common in the early 1800's and even then much hardware came from England (where the factories were). Latches were simpler and could be made by a blacksmith. You can date houses from the Colonial period by their use of latches.
It surprises to hear that the oldest street is 300 yrs old. I live in Sydney, and my house is National Trust listed, sandstone workers cottage built in 1821. So roughly 70 odd years ‘younger’. I thinks it’s wild is all…
@@hensonlaura Well, there might have been something there from the Lenape people, who were there long before the Europeans, but the English settlers weren't really into sharing land.
You can look up "Betsy Ross house" and see the inside. She lived there, and so did Ben Franklin. Betsy made the first American flag. I have no idea why the video didnt mention them.
Thankfully, not all of America's history has been demolished in the name of progress. I imagine if walls could talk, these old walls would have a ton of stories to tell, no doubt, in a variety of languages.
I am born and raised in South Philly. Lived here for 55 years. I almost bought a house on Elfreths alley back in the 90's. Sorry I didn't now. The price back then was $220K. They go now for 1-2 million. At the time the houses in my neighborhood were 80k. Lol!!!👍👍👍
I'm 6'6"...so no, I wouldn't be able to live in an Elfreths Alley home... they're very small. But having lived in Philly for 3 years, I think it's a beautiful street, with important history. The homes are lovely, and they have become a very prestigious neighborhood.
9:43 pm. I had the wonderful opportunity to visit this beautiful street late last year. I would move there in a heartbeat!!! My father was born in “Society Hill” section of Philly in 1925, then a poor area.
Ken, your subject selections get better and better! “This House” has become a popular leader in the greatly needed, though not often discussed, topic of historic preservation. Your subtle persuasion to save our past through highlighting great examples of architecture and history we’ve already lost and great examples that have survived, show those of us who already know why it is important to recognize our historic and significant buildings, but draws new interest from those who are new to the idea of saving our history and why it is important to slow down and look at our communities and neighborhoods. In this fast paced, digital, disposable world that so many just exist in, it is important to remember that we have choices, to choose the kind of world we want to live in. Do we value ourselves worthy of beautiful, intelligent design? Do we know where we come from and what has our history taught us? How do we pass on these ideas of struggle and success to future generations? Surely, preserving our architecture and historical designation of recognizable places is our best way to convey the values and ideas of our society and establish truth to the stories and people that made us who we are today. “This House” is wanted and needed to keep our spirit and history alive!
@@mkphilly yes, that's the one! At least by Western standards. Really though, towns were founded on native settlements that we can't hope to date now.
@@hensonlaura yep, there was a lot of trading going on, but any "settlements" started with that never lasted to meet the continuously resided in as a standard
That’s very neat, but I wouldn’t want to live there. You have no yard or driveway, the house is small, and you have tourists outside your home. I would be worried for my safety
I wonder how big the other homes are an how modern they are! A neighborhood that’s been around since the early eighteenth century is a national treasure!❤
Friendly note: the neighborhood of Shockoe Bottom, in Richmond VA, is older, and was first called “Nonesuch” by Capt John Smith: before white colonists, the base of the James River Falls was known by its Hohokam (or Powhatan?) name, “Shockoe,” which means “flat rocky place,” and it was truly a neighborhood in that all tribes could use it, even simultaneously, for fishing, washing, and tool making, without fear of violence. It was sacred. Cpt Smith called it “Nonesuch.” 🙏🏻🌻🐢
Richmond only became a Town, mapped from from Tobacco lands in 1737. Shockoe Bottom was mentioned as a name at this time. It's oldest standing house is circa 1737 and is unoccupied used as Edgar Allen Poe Museum. Philadelphia was already a major City and had been by 1737. The houses and layout of this street started in 1703, before that map of Richmond was even drawn and it was named State Capital. The name "Elfreath's Alley" and the buildings on it have stayed nearly exactly the same for over 300 years, being continuously occupied. Shockoe Bottom is indeed old but this is older and fully intact as it was. The Hohokam were in the Southwest.
That's the oldest occupied city... this is the oldest continuously inhabited residential street in the United States. I know that there are also places in the Southwest that have been continuously occupied, but probably aren't cites. So each distinction is pretty niche and specific.
Cow shit smells and bird's chirping all day , i couldn't think of anything worse , it's not for me as i love the hustle and bustle of city or town living
@@johnhankinson1929 Cow shit? Keeping livestock isn't a contractual obligation of living in the country, or didn't you know? Sounds like you've never been in a natural environment. Enjoy your noise pollution & crime!
@@johnhankinson1929 I don't live around cows. Only the woods and fresh air. No car or industry fumes. The city is fine for those who enjoy it. To each his own. Variety is the spice of life. That what makes the world interesting. Have a wonder day.
My first thought when you described their interiors was "not good for a disabled person." As lovely as they are, I could only live there if I could install stairlifts, which can be hard to do on narrow old stairs. We did manage to do it in our old house though, so I guess it's possible. It's definitely a picturesque neighbourhood. My maternal ancestors had already been in N.America for a few generations when these houses were built. They were Quakers, and Pennsylvania was founded as a safe haven for Quakers, so I'd be interested to know if my family has some distant connection to this little strip of homes.
Why didn't you mention the real Primary Reason why Elfreth's Alley was protected for all those years? Betsy Ross sewed the First American in her home there. It is a national land mark!!!
As a native son of Philadelphia, it might be of interest for viewers to know that these "Trinity Houses" of Elfreth's Alley and throughout the colonial sections of Philadelphia were first called "Father, Son, and Holy Ghost Houses." They originally housed mostly Roman Catholic servant class families from their inception. During the gentrification of Philadelphia during the 1970's, real estate companies and their agents anglicized these houses to become "Trinity Houses" for marketability reasons. In many streets of Philadelphia, there are blocks that are alternately large stately houses interspersed with blocks of "Father, Son, and Holy Ghost Houses" where the servants of those larger homes dwelled nearby their employers. My mother, her siblings, and her widowed Irish immigrant mother had to move into one of these 3-story houses after my mother's Irish immigrant father died unexpectedly just before the 1929 Wall Street Stock Market Crash that soon thereafter heralded in The Great Depression. My Irish grandmother had enough cash after selling her 10-room house in the wealthy Fairmount neighborhood of Philadelphia to buy a "Trinity" house on a larger than average lot with a small detached garage in the back yard right next to the alleyway outhouse. Why? Because my Irish grandfather was well to do and had bought a Duesenberg (the American Rolls Royce) shortly before his untimely death. This was back before FDR brought to American lives the Social Security Program. When the breadwinner father died back then, most American families were immediately plunged into poverty. My Irish grandmother had kept the Duesenberg in that garage to sell off its parts during the deepest depths of The Great Depression to those wealthy few who still needed spare parts for their "Doozies" after that car company went broke.
It's hard to realise how new everything in America is unless you have traveled to Europe. A 300 year old building in America is almost unheard of, but you go to Europe and there are buildings dating back to the 13th-14th centuries. It really changed the way i felt about america, i feel like if the world is following our lead, but we're the new kid, something is wrong with that.
Very cool about time we started appreciating our architectural history, Most other places around the world they have buildings homes and structures that are 5, 6 700 years old. But in America's throwaway society 50 to 75 years is about the average lifespan of any building.
The street looks very English. They often look beautfully quaint decorated with lovely hanging baskets and window boxes. Great to see the street preserved.
The oldest continuously inhabited place in the U.S. is Acoma Pueblo NM, which dates back to 1144. Although, I doubt anyone would consider it a "neighborhood".
If they bring this back, 300 Sq feet per floor multiple levels if built on large scale would not only be pretty but would help solve the housing crisis.
This is a high density form of housing. The only drawback is the lack of parking. As long as you can walk to a supermarket and commuter rail station, they offer an idylic lifestyle. We should build more today.
My great great grandfather Jacob Henry Snyder is on the list of people who lived there, around1820. The house is at the end of the street and is a vacant lot now. The family moved to St. Louis in the 1840s.
Wtf are you talking about? You people bringing up negatives, while posing as the sad & virtuous one, sicken me. You and your ilk have done untold damage to our nation, always poking old wounds to keep them sore & fresh, shaking your head in sorrow. Hatred of the other, indeed! Welcome to the human race! There isn't a nation, tribe or ethnic group on earth that hasn't conquered, killed & pillaged another group. Unlike Asia, Africa & the Middle East, we in the US have progressed & strive for equality of opportunity - have been a beacon of liberty for the world! Try being a woman or gay in Saudi Arabia. Try to immigrate to Mexico as a poor person & see how they tolerate you. Go to Asia & view the child sex slaves displayed in the streets. Oh, and don't forget to stop in the Congo & visit the slaves laboring in the cobalt mines, & even middle class households. Millions of slaves in the world today. But, oh, horrible America. Free-est, most liberal, tolerant, generous, safe country the world has ever known... people actually dying, trying to sneak in... WE'RE the problem! Well, at least YOU are. IMHO. 🤨
i work in philadelphia not far from elfreth’s alley. i love walking in the old city area at lunchtime and dream of living in one of those historic houses. i love living and working in philly! there is history everywhere!!!
I’ve always enjoyed walking around Philly on the side streets and just stumbling across a brick road or sidewalk
Same, i love america, Kensington street is really #1.
I'm not sure about the houses there, in terms of the interiors, but on the architecture tour, I saw a few houses with very steep stairs. They'd be a difficult climb as one got older or carrying a baby. That said, I was like you - I loved walking around Philly and seeing all the historic houses.
Too bad that the rest of Philadelphia is a filthy, drug addicted & murdering hell hole.
Try olde city coffee... used to live there too...
Being from Philadelphia, I've always been captivated by Elfreth's Alley.
Coming from London and being an East Londoner. This so reminds me of home. It’s amazing that this lovely little street has been preserved for 300yrs 👏🏼👏🏼🇬🇧
There are lots of places in the US (Esp in the Northeast) that are VERY English looking (for obvious reasons!) I live a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania called Manchester that has Liverpool Street. And we Pittsburghers traditionally call our mothers "Mum". This makes sense in a city named for a Britsh Prime Minister! P.S. My grandfather (an AMerican born man of GERMAN descent!) was a bit of an Anglophile. (Tinkering on his MG and having a Jaguar as his daily driver...) When I was a kid ('60s-'70s) he taught me that things from the UK (Like a Jag or an MG) were "imported", But NOT "foreign" as to him "foreign" meant a language AND cultural difference. Meaning German cars WERE "foreign", UK cars were "imported." So, nothing from or about the "Anglosphere" could be considered "foreign"!
@@jamesslick4790 Great information mate. Indeed we do call our mums mum lol. If WW2 never happened Brits & Germans would be be strong allies. Our royal family is of German decent the Hanover’s. Strange how world affairs change. Yet we see the USA as our brothers & sisters and for the reasons you mentioned. We’re just generation’s removed, distant cousins 😉
Lived in a Trinity house on Kauffman Street in Queen Village for a couple years when I moved to Philly after college. It was a great little house....even had a small brick terrace. We had some good times in that house.
in philly we call them Father, Son and Holy Ghost houses, hence Trinity
I’ve lived in Philly most of my life. There are a ton of historic little streets, corners & houses like Elfreths one of the things that make our city so special. ❤
Pretty amazing that this street survived over three centuries, thank goodness for those who fought for its preservation, so that we can all appreciate it today. Thanks Ken for another fascinating video and glimpse into the past.
Luckily Philadelphia has never had a major fire conflagration. So there are many houses left which are similar.
I grew up in Philadelphia and took for granted the city's rich history. Old city is still pretty well preserved and if you are a history buff would warrant a visit. Although I would stay outside of the city😢
@@yvonneplant9434 Benjamin organized a Philadelphia fire department back in the early 18th century!
@@Blaqjaqshellaq I think the medallions on some of the houses indicate that they were part of the paid for fire brigades.
It's magical at Christmas especially at night. All the houses are decorated and the gas street lamps light your way.
That would be beautiful to see!
Elfreth's Alley is an American treasure.
Half of the UK still looks like that today and i live on a terraced row in Swinton , Manchster and the houses were built in around 1880 and are well kept and lovely to live in , the modern ones that are being thrown up today at prices of around £250,000 will be long gone whilst these 1800's houses will still be going strong
I was born in Philly in 1957 and Elfreth’s Alley was part of my mother’s frequent walks with me from infancy onwards. Visits continued with school trips and the on my own throughout teen/adult years and now every time I go back home to visit. Fascinating changes over the years, a special and magical street. My other fave is Wissahickon Park and the creek😄 You can still feel the history, imagine times of the Lenape Indians…
When I lived in Philly, I took the architecture tours and visited Elfreth's Alley. Thank goodness this piece of our history was saved. Having been there, though, I don't think it would be a convenient place to live - too many tourists, too close to your neighbors across the street, and looking at Google Maps, I don't even know where you'd park. However, it's still worth visiting if you're in Philly.
There are parking garages south of Market St.
You wouldn't park when you can take public transportation or bike everywhere.
@@karikling6751 f^%@ that 😂.
@@ddtstrc9678 Right? Why take cheap transportation that also gives you exercise when you could pay thousands a year in gas and insurance for a vehicle that takes up way too much space and provides no health benefits?
@@karikling6751 If you wanted to go somewhere else you could also pay through the nose for a rental car, gas, and insurance.
I live in Philly and when I have guests from out of town I usually show them Elfreth's Alley. There is also a hidden side street and courtyard tucked away that is very interesting.
I am so glad that this street and houses were not demolished. What beauty of these houses of the past. I love the brick work and the windows.
I grew up in an Irish neighborhood by there in South Philly and I worked on Elfreth's Alley repairing the electrical service for Philadelphia electric company back in the '90s, You had to put everything back perfectly when you dug in the street, cobblestone streets, It was tedious. That's a beautiful street It's really cool, like going back in time.
If you could have brought one of todays small hand held metal detectors you might have found coins and relics from the 1700's-1800's in the dirt from under that street - when British Coins were the currency.
It would have been a huge loss to history to have lost this. I’m so glad to know about this. I’ve put it on my places to see list.
Let these people live in peace😂 I can’t imagine having tourists visit my house unless they paid me admission
I used to live across this neighborhood, people walk up and down this street all the time. Sometimes the people host open houses... Its quite nice and very friendly
@@austinbevis4266 If you watch the vid, You'll see they often SHOW their houses...Voluntarily, during house tours.
@@jamesslick4790 I watched the vid, maybe I zoned out at that part. I wouldn’t be cool with that though. Like I said, you’d have to pay admission
@@austinbevis4266 Maybe they DO charge? IDK? as a Pittsburgher, I'm more likely to visit Akron than Philly, LOL. (My kid lives near Akron, So I have an excuse..)
I stumbled upon this treasure of a video! Absolutely wonderful! I am originally from England, now living in America. I really enjoy the stories of the early settlers, and through the years. These homes are amazing. 1703!!!! Thank you bringing this to us :-)
Brilliant video - I like the branching out to include a house style and neighborhood of historic significance. Thanks for the history lesson.
That section of "Olde Philly " is really historic , Independence and Carpenter Halls , The Liberty Bell , Old Christ Church , in whose cemetary many of the signers of the Declaration of Independence are buried , along with John Barry , father of the US navy . The Betsy Ross house , Old Two Street tavern , the birthplace of the US Marine Corps . well worth a visit to the city .
Tun Tavern was the birth place of the Corp, unfortunately it’s no longer around, but there is a historic marker at the corner where it used to stand.
I'm from the suburbs of Philly and I've always loved seeing these historical homes ❤ beautiful 😊
It's it dangerous there?
Me too! I'm from Levittown, now living in Florida. Hello, neighbor!
@@AngryNegativeHistoryProject I don't think so. Not in that area. Lots of historic buildings there and high priced row homes on other nearby streets that have been updated on the inside. I believe there is a covenant that the outside of the buildings must be kept as originally designed.
Beautiful! I’ll bet those from the past could never imagine how much those homes are now worth. Really neat how the homeowners stood their ground to preserve the area!
Took more than 350 years to reach a million!
I think everything about life and technology would test the imagination far more then the appreciated value of their $80 shilling investment. Although a million dollars plus would be quite a shock.
Thank goodness they did. We got very lucky in Sydney too
There are rows and rows of houses like that in Philly. Pittsburgh too. And they can be pretty cheap, ***depending on the neighborhood***.
Baltimore has row houses like that too.
And, for the right price, you can get haunted by colonial people every single day for the rest of your life. 😆🤣
Very interesting Ken! Manhattan has some streets like that also. There are two like that behind the houses on Washington Square Park north. The houses, many of which are now owned by NYU, were occupied by high society types (see Henry James’ novel Washington Square for example, and the movie version), and the narrow streets behind, also called a mews, were for stables, which are now occupied as houses.
Philadelphia is all too often overshadowed by NYC. Can we not do it on a video about Phila.? Thx
Wonderful that this historic neighborhood was preserved and continues to thrive! That said, I don't think it's a practical place where I'd want to live. Parking and privacy are a few of the modern conveniences that I know I would miss. However, it looks like a fascinating place to visit. Kudos to the homeowners of the day for their resourcefulness in stopping the developers from destroying their homes and successfully preserving an important architectural part of history. Really cool! Thanks, Ken, for sharing the story of Elfreth's Alley.
The houses on the two corners at Front Street are hot commodities because they have garages around the corner.
These types of denser neighborhoods are better without cars. Everything is walking distance and there's public transportation for when u need to go long distances. Once you start making everything accessible for cars you lose the charm of having a walkable city
It's like an open air museum. They have one like that in Prague on Golden Lane street. Except those houses are way older and way smaller and no one lives in them anymore but they are beautiful just like these in PA.
Looks like streets in England , and some in western europe
I love that a working-class neighborhood has been saved.
Yes, but they're no longer working class. You have to be rich to own one of those houses.
@@sassy0010 That part is a shame.
No longer working class residents. Only people with money can afford to live in Old City today.
I would live there in a heartbeat, I love old historic homes,buildings etc. They were built to last a long time. I think it is wonderful that they were saved and are actually occupied.
What a lovely street! And how wise of the homeowners to not sell-out to property developers. We Americans have been too quick to tear down the past, in order to make way for the present - and usually in far poorer quality. In a way, though, it's sad to think that what was once affordable housing, is now reserved for the wealthy. I guess that's how gentrification works...
Many of the old boutiques factories have been re-developed into residential properties.
It isn't "reserved" for the wealthy. It is in so much demand by everyone that it can command a high price. Seems like in the current culture, people will create a victim to pity if there literally is none. I'll be so glad when this fad dies.
That’s not from gentrification. Try to find a place for rent in or near any major city right now. Even in the most terrible neighborhoods it is outrageous
Love my city of Philadelphia ❤
The city of hobo's crackheads 🤪.
Nice job on the history of this street and its homes. I have visited Phiily often and recognized the neighborhood.
I grew up in Philly…spent alot of time skateboarding down in Center City…been down this Elfreth’s alley many times at night and during the day…at night there’s definitely a haunting feel about it
I too remember going on field trips to this area. Then as a young adult we’d go to some of the most wonderful taverns, have great wine and play board games.
Thanks Ken for sharing another fascinating history lesson!!! 👍👍🙂
I love my city. And this is one of the most beautiful streets and all of Philadelphia.
A few years ago a bunch of my friends turned 50 so we celebrated 30 to 50 years of friendship by doing an all-white photoshoot this very Street. Let's just say, having such a natural backdrop of color up against solid white made everything perfect.
Yep , been there many times ......the oldest continually occupied street in the US ....I live in Philly , taught many decades ago , and the story of the " fire marks " , a ceramic tile found next to the front doors , embedded in the wall ...are interesting . Google it .....fascinating
Elfreth's alley is less than 4 miles from the part of Philadelphia I have lived my whole life. When walking around in Old City you feel like your back in time I'd love to live in Old City.
I couldn't afford to live in America's oldest neighborhood, but it is so quaint.❤
I saw this beautiful neighborhood when me and my family stopped in Philadelphia to see the historical sites. Simply amazing.
A very elite address in Philadelphia these days. I believe some families also open the homes at Christmas too...or at least they did pre Covid. Beautiful and so happy it's still in existence.
Great video, I would have never guessed such a neighborhood would have survived.
I'd love to see an interior !
Same here! Now I’ll be searching for that!
I was a painter in a 2005 rehab on one. Somewhat anticlimactic really. The ground floor 'living room' has a emensely high ceiling with a remarkably SMALL fireplace which of course aren't workable but 200 years ago would have inadequate for heat. All of the houses are three levels and each room has additional fireplaces so again its remarkable that there weren't any recorded fires. Overall my impression was that the homeowner was stuck in a absurd money 'whirlpool'. Last but not least currently the area is a not a good place to be after dark..
I toured the alley. I'm very happy it has remained. Don't tear down our history.
You better hope a Democrat can't place a slave owner there; you know how they get! 😂😂😂
Love this neighborhood!
I would ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!!!!!!!!! Imagine the cooking smells that waft through, morning till night. The laughter and even the occasional snoring. UBER CHARMING!! Listen to the family two doors away singing Happy Birthday to their child, the cheers when your team wins a goal and the laughter of children playing. It would be HEAVENLY!!
As a rural dweller, the idea of never having a private moment would drive me barmy; the lack of privacy you describe would be hell on earth!
My Aunt Tiny used to say: I'm glad everybody don't think alike - then everybody would want my man! I think she was right 😅
I love walking down the street, the houses are gorgeous! I’m not sure I can imagine actually living there.
I used to live outside of Philadelphia and once as a child toured a couple of these homes with my mom. Thank you for all of the effort you put into making these videos. They are great.
I remember when my cousin owned a property on Elfreth's Alley. Our uncle, a carpenter, did some renovation work for her and I remember that there were no doorknobs, just latches on the doors. My father-in-law, an executive chef, reopened the City Tavern back in 1976. He had to research what our Founding Fathers ate when he developed the menu.
Door knobs require springs and more intricate parts that would not come around until factories became more common in the early 1800's and even then much hardware came from England (where the factories were). Latches were simpler and could be made by a blacksmith. You can date houses from the Colonial period by their use of latches.
I’m a little disappointed that you don’t have shots of the interiors of some of these jewels.
Pretty old, yes. But Acoma Pueblo in New Mexico has been an occupied community since 1150 a.d.
It surprises to hear that the oldest street is 300 yrs old. I live in Sydney, and my house is National Trust listed, sandstone workers cottage built in 1821. So roughly 70 odd years ‘younger’.
I thinks it’s wild is all…
And Brits would sneer at both of us from their 500 year old farm cottages in the neighborhood of 1,000 year old castles 😂
@@hensonlaura don’t worry, I have an Irish husband who likes to remind me of that. Which gets a bit boring after the millionth time 🙄😆
@@hensonlaura Well, there might have been something there from the Lenape people, who were there long before the Europeans, but the English settlers weren't really into sharing land.
Another place of the same vintage you might want to visit is: New Castle, Delaware.
That's so cool! I want to visit 🤓
I visited one of these trinity houses back in the 70s. It was a wonderful experience!
Hopefully they are on the National Register of Historic Places!
I have walked through the neighborhood, and tried to take in all the history, proud it was protected.
Benjamin Franklin grew up on Elfreth’s Alley!
It would have been more informative seeing the inside of one of these houses. I was disappointed.
You can look up "Betsy Ross house" and see the inside. She lived there, and so did Ben Franklin. Betsy made the first American flag. I have no idea why the video didnt mention them.
Thankfully, not all of America's history has been demolished in the name of progress. I imagine if walls could talk, these old walls would have a ton of stories to tell, no doubt, in a variety of languages.
👍
I bet the original owners are rolling in their graves at the thoughts of the money other families are getting for their houses. Excellent video.
I am born and raised in South Philly. Lived here for 55 years. I almost bought a house on Elfreths alley back in the 90's. Sorry I didn't now. The price back then was $220K. They go now for 1-2 million. At the time the houses in my neighborhood were 80k. Lol!!!👍👍👍
I'm 6'6"...so no, I wouldn't be able to live in an Elfreths Alley home... they're very small. But having lived in Philly for 3 years, I think it's a beautiful street, with important history. The homes are lovely, and they have become a very prestigious neighborhood.
9:43 pm. I had the wonderful opportunity to visit this beautiful street late last year. I would move there in a heartbeat!!! My father was born in “Society Hill” section of Philly in 1925, then a poor area.
Yes I would live there, its lovely if I had the money, property prices are getting stupid 😁👍
America's oldest neighborhood is found in St. Augustine, FL, which was bustling when Philadelphia was just getting started.
It’s the oldest continuously occupied residential street in America. It’s not the oldest street or city in America.
Ken, your subject selections get better and better! “This House” has become a popular leader in the greatly needed, though not often discussed, topic of historic preservation. Your subtle persuasion to save our past through highlighting great examples of architecture and history we’ve already lost and great examples that have survived, show those of us who already know why it is important to recognize our historic and significant buildings, but draws new interest from those who are new to the idea of saving our history and why it is important to slow down and look at our communities and neighborhoods. In this fast paced, digital, disposable world that so many just exist in, it is important to remember that we have choices, to choose the kind of world we want to live in. Do we value ourselves worthy of beautiful, intelligent design? Do we know where we come from and what has our history taught us? How do we pass on these ideas of struggle and success to future generations? Surely, preserving our architecture and historical designation of recognizable places is our best way to convey the values and ideas of our society and establish truth to the stories and people that made us who we are today. “This House” is wanted and needed to keep our spirit and history alive!
I have been there and a lot of others on the east coast from New York to Florida . I love old homes.
The Old Town of Mesilla, NM, was in existence since the Spanish...it is the longest occupied settlement in North America!
Actually, the oldest continuous settlement in the US is St Augustine, FL, since 1565. New Mexico was settled much later.
@@mkphilly Spanish as in Conquistador!
@@mkphilly yes, that's the one! At least by Western standards. Really though, towns were founded on native settlements that we can't hope to date now.
@@hensonlaura yep, there was a lot of trading going on, but any "settlements" started with that never lasted to meet the continuously resided in as a standard
I’ve walked down that street/alley on trips to Philly from NJ where I grew up. really get a sense of your being in history when you go there.
That’s very neat, but I wouldn’t want to live there. You have no yard or driveway, the house is small, and you have tourists outside your home. I would be worried for my safety
I’ve walked this street many times. Wonderfully made video!
This is a delightful street. I would love to see the interiors also. I like it that the neighbors got together and fought the demolition.
I would really love to see the interiors also.
For me, as a Dutch, it reminds me of Amsterdams narrow old streets with small and high houses.
I wonder how big the other homes are an how modern they are! A neighborhood that’s been around since the early eighteenth century is a national treasure!❤
Friendly note: the neighborhood of Shockoe Bottom, in Richmond VA, is older, and was first called “Nonesuch” by Capt John Smith: before white colonists, the base of the James River Falls was known by its Hohokam (or Powhatan?) name, “Shockoe,” which means “flat rocky place,” and it was truly a neighborhood in that all tribes could use it, even simultaneously, for fishing, washing, and tool making, without fear of violence. It was sacred. Cpt Smith called it “Nonesuch.” 🙏🏻🌻🐢
Richmond only became a Town, mapped from from Tobacco lands in 1737. Shockoe Bottom was mentioned as a name at this time. It's oldest standing house is circa 1737 and is unoccupied used as Edgar Allen Poe Museum. Philadelphia was already a major City and had been by 1737. The houses and layout of this street started in 1703, before that map of Richmond was even drawn and it was named State Capital. The name "Elfreath's Alley" and the buildings on it have stayed nearly exactly the same for over 300 years, being continuously occupied. Shockoe Bottom is indeed old but this is older and fully intact as it was. The Hohokam were in the Southwest.
I still live in a 14' wide house in Philly. It is deeper than a trinity though.
I believe the oldest neighborhood in the continental US is in St. Augustine FL.
I think he's referring to some of the oldest buildings still standing. Florida has been renovated
That's the oldest occupied city... this is the oldest continuously inhabited residential street in the United States. I know that there are also places in the Southwest that have been continuously occupied, but probably aren't cites. So each distinction is pretty niche and specific.
Most importantly, I absolutely love the content brought forth. This channel is a gem!
My younger brother went to school in that neighborhood.Saint Peters-Society Hill.Many of his classmates lived on that block in the 70’s.
It's funny how even the oldest pictures look very old they look newer now then they looked in any 👁️👁️👈🏾🛑🌿🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔
Awesome little houses, but I prefer the wide open spaces. Country life is for me.
Cow shit smells and bird's chirping all day , i couldn't think of anything worse , it's not for me as i love the hustle and bustle of city or town living
@@johnhankinson1929 Cow shit? Keeping livestock isn't a contractual obligation of living in the country, or didn't you know? Sounds like you've never been in a natural environment. Enjoy your noise pollution & crime!
@@johnhankinson1929 I don't live around cows. Only the woods and fresh air. No car or industry fumes. The city is fine for those who enjoy it. To each his own. Variety is the spice of life. That what makes the world interesting. Have a wonder day.
@@d2d2d28 Whatever. Too each his own. Not worth responding to.
@@d2d2d28 so should you.
Excellent video thanks
Would looove to live there. One of my favorite places to visit.❤
My first thought when you described their interiors was "not good for a disabled person." As lovely as they are, I could only live there if I could install stairlifts, which can be hard to do on narrow old stairs. We did manage to do it in our old house though, so I guess it's possible. It's definitely a picturesque neighbourhood. My maternal ancestors had already been in N.America for a few generations when these houses were built. They were Quakers, and Pennsylvania was founded as a safe haven for Quakers, so I'd be interested to know if my family has some distant connection to this little strip of homes.
Why didn't you mention the real Primary Reason why Elfreth's Alley was protected for all those years?
Betsy Ross sewed the First American in her home there. It is a national land mark!!!
Probably because Betsy Ross's house is 5 minutes away from this neighborhood.
A part of history. ..who's to say these days Thank you ❤
So interesting to think of all the lives that passed through these homes.
I’ve been down this street at night in the snow during Christmas time and it felt haunted…it’s eerie at night real quiet like no one lives in them
As a native son of Philadelphia, it might be of interest for viewers to know that these "Trinity Houses" of Elfreth's Alley and throughout the colonial sections of Philadelphia were first called "Father, Son, and Holy Ghost Houses." They originally housed mostly Roman Catholic servant class families from their inception. During the gentrification of Philadelphia during the 1970's, real estate companies and their agents anglicized these houses to become "Trinity Houses" for marketability reasons. In many streets of Philadelphia, there are blocks that are alternately large stately houses interspersed with blocks of "Father, Son, and Holy Ghost Houses" where the servants of those larger homes dwelled nearby their employers. My mother, her siblings, and her widowed Irish immigrant mother had to move into one of these 3-story houses after my mother's Irish immigrant father died unexpectedly just before the 1929 Wall Street Stock Market Crash that soon thereafter heralded in The Great Depression. My Irish grandmother had enough cash after selling her 10-room house in the wealthy Fairmount neighborhood of Philadelphia to buy a "Trinity" house on a larger than average lot with a small detached garage in the back yard right next to the alleyway outhouse. Why? Because my Irish grandfather was well to do and had bought a Duesenberg (the American Rolls Royce) shortly before his untimely death. This was back before FDR brought to American lives the Social Security Program. When the breadwinner father died back then, most American families were immediately plunged into poverty. My Irish grandmother had kept the Duesenberg in that garage to sell off its parts during the deepest depths of The Great Depression to those wealthy few who still needed spare parts for their "Doozies" after that car company went broke.
Philly!!!!!
I wish we could see inside some of the houses. Are there pictures from the houses in the past? That would be cool...
It's hard to realise how new everything in America is unless you have traveled to Europe. A 300 year old building in America is almost unheard of, but you go to Europe and there are buildings dating back to the 13th-14th centuries. It really changed the way i felt about america, i feel like if the world is following our lead, but we're the new kid, something is wrong with that.
Very cool about time we started appreciating our architectural history, Most other places around the world they have buildings homes and structures that are 5, 6 700 years old.
But in America's throwaway society 50 to 75 years is about the average lifespan of any building.
They have the old union jack (British flag) it has no stpatricks flag because Northern Ireland wasn't officially a country back then
Would I live in America's oldest neighborhood? Yes. Could I afford to live in Americas's oldest neighborhood? No.
I live in Budapest's oldest part, the castle district and our house is 220 years old, so I guess I could get along with another 70-100 extra years! :)
On September 8, 1565 St Augustine, Florida was founded and is ‘the oldest’ city in the United States🌴
The street looks very English. They often look beautfully quaint decorated with lovely hanging baskets and window boxes. Great to see the street preserved.
The oldest continuously inhabited place in the U.S. is Acoma Pueblo NM, which dates back to 1144. Although, I doubt anyone would consider it a "neighborhood".
I was going to say something similar. There are older communities in the SW, VA, FL.
If they bring this back, 300 Sq feet per floor multiple levels if built on large scale would not only be pretty but would help solve the housing crisis.
This is a high density form of housing. The only drawback is the lack of parking. As long as you can walk to a supermarket and commuter rail station, they offer an idylic lifestyle. We should build more today.
My great great grandfather Jacob Henry Snyder is on the list of people who lived there, around1820. The house is at the end of the street and is a vacant lot now. The family moved to St. Louis in the 1840s.
My mother would have loved seeing this place. It's beautiful.
I guess that although we are a nation of immigrants, there has always been hatred of "the other"..Not something to be proud of.
Wtf are you talking about? You people bringing up negatives, while posing as the sad & virtuous one, sicken me. You and your ilk have done untold damage to our nation, always poking old wounds to keep them sore & fresh, shaking your head in sorrow. Hatred of the other, indeed! Welcome to the human race!
There isn't a nation, tribe or ethnic group on earth that hasn't conquered, killed & pillaged another group. Unlike Asia, Africa & the Middle East, we in the US have progressed & strive for equality of opportunity - have been a beacon of liberty for the world!
Try being a woman or gay in Saudi Arabia. Try to immigrate to Mexico as a poor person & see how they tolerate you. Go to Asia & view the child sex slaves displayed in the streets. Oh, and don't forget to stop in the Congo & visit the slaves laboring in the cobalt mines, & even middle class households. Millions of slaves in the world today.
But, oh, horrible America. Free-est, most liberal, tolerant, generous, safe country the world has ever known... people actually dying, trying to sneak in... WE'RE the problem!
Well, at least YOU are. IMHO. 🤨
Stop with that saying