American Railway Express Company Garage facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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American Railway Express Company Garage
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 Location in Philadelphia
Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | 3002-3028 Cecil B. Moore Ave., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1922 |
| Architect | Harris & Richards; Lamb, Robert E., Company |
| Architectural style | Early Commercial |
| NRHP reference No. | 06000664 |
| Added to NRHP | August 2, 2006 |
The American Railway Express Company Garage is a historic building located in the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood of north Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was built in 1922. The company Harris & Richards designed it. The Robert E. Lamb Company constructed it for John Presper Eckert, Sr.
Contents
A Garage for Package Delivery
This building was originally a parking garage. It was made for the American Railway Express Company (AREC). This company was very important in the 1920s. They shipped packages all over the country by train. Then, they used trucks to pick up and deliver packages locally.
Why This Location Was Important
AREC needed garages close to railway lines. This helped them move packages easily from trains to trucks. The Philadelphia garage is right next to railway tracks. These tracks are now owned by Amtrak. The garage likely served customers in the nearby Brewerytown area.
The Developer's Famous Son
John Presper Eckert, Sr. owned the Philadelphia Realty Company. He worked with AREC to build many garages. They built them across the United States, and even in Europe and Egypt. His son, John Presper Eckert, Jr., later became very famous. He helped invent ENIAC, one of the first computers!
A Historic Landmark
In August 2006, this garage was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site. It's recognized for its history and unique design.
Plans for the Future
The roof of the building was removed in 2004. But in 2015, new plans were announced to bring the building back to life! The idea was to turn the garage into 36 apartments. It would also have parking spaces for cars. Plus, there would be a pre-school, a day care, and a fitness center. This project was planned by Mosaic Development Partners and Cedar Grove Partners.
- Pennsylvania Historic Resources Survey Photograph
