Lawndale, Philadelphia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lawndale
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Lawndale School, October 2010
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| Country |  United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Philadelphia County |
| City | Philadelphia |
| Area code(s) | 215, 267, and 445 |
Lawndale is a lively neighborhood located in Northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It's found near Rising Sun and Oxford avenues. This community is just south of Cottman Avenue. Lawndale is known for its mix of homes and long history.
Contents
Discovering Lawndale's Past
Lawndale has a rich history that goes back to the 1880s. You can find its name on old city maps and railroad maps from the late 19th century. Before it was called Lawndale, the area was known as Marburg. Its main business area was around Kensington & Oxford Turnpike and Second Street Pike. This spot is now called Rising Sun Avenue.
Early Businesses and Homes
In the Marburg area, there were businesses like the Marburg Bottling Company. There was also a slaughterhouse. The more residential part was near Rising Sun Avenue and Levick Street. Many of the oldest homes in Lawndale are on Levick Street. Some of these were built from wood.
The oldest building still standing was once Paul Mahle's General Store. It was also a farmhouse. Today, it is Campbell's Funeral Home. Several old stone homes around it were part of the Hellerman farm. The Hellerman family owned a lot of land here. This was before the area became part of Philadelphia in 1854.
How Lawndale Got Its Name
The name Lawndale appeared when the Philadelphia, Newtown & New York Railroad built its tracks through the area. One of the first train stations north of Olney was named Lawndale. This station opened in the 1890s. It closed for a while but reopened in the early 1900s. This was to serve the growing community.
The railroad later became part of the Philadelphia & Reading company. For over 30 years, the station used a small room leased from a local resident. Today, the Lawndale Station is still very busy. It is used daily by SEPTA, a public transportation system. Many trains stop here each day.
Homes in Lawndale
Lawndale is home to many different kinds of houses. You can find blocks of row houses, which are homes joined together. There are also single-family homes and twin homes (two homes sharing a wall). Some large estate-style homes can be found too.
Most of Lawndale was built in three main periods. These were before the 1920s, between 1920 and 1930, and from 1950 to 1960. Not many new homes have been built since the 1970s. This mix of housing makes Lawndale a popular place to live in Philadelphia. People are often surprised by the variety of homes here.
Community and Education
Lawndale has many churches and schools that serve its residents.
Places of Worship
The community is home to several Protestant churches. The oldest is the Trinity Oxford Church. Its history in the area goes back to 1698. At that time, the area was part of Oxford Township. Church records also show the name Lawndale being used in the late 19th century.
There are also two Catholic parishes serving the area. These are St. William's Parish and Presentation BVM Parish. Presentation BVM Parish is in nearby Cheltenham Township. Together, these parishes serve about 9,000 Catholic people.
Local Schools
Lawndale once had its own public school, Lawndale Elementary. This school closed in the 1980s. It was then sold to the Cedar Grove Church. The church now operates it as the Cedar Grove Christian Academy. The former Lawndale School building is important. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
Currently, there are no public schools officially inside Lawndale. Students attend nearby schools like Ben Franklin Elementary and Creighton Elementary in Crescentville. For high school, students go to Northeast High School or Samuel Fels High School. Catholic high school students used to attend Cardinal Dougherty. However, that school closed in 2009.
Community Services and Businesses
Lawndale shares several important community services with the nearby Crescentville area.
Recreation and Safety
The Lawncrest Recreation Center serves both Lawndale and Crescentville. It's a great place for sports and activities. The Lawncrest Library is also available for reading and learning. For emergencies, the Engine 64 Fire House is located here. All these services are on Rising Sun Avenue.
Shopping and Work
Lawndale has a main business district. It stretches from Robbins to Longshore Avenue. This area has over 200 stores. Within Lawndale's boundaries, there are more than 500 businesses in total.
One of the largest employers in the area is the Naval Supply Depot. This facility provides jobs for over 5,000 civilian and military workers.
