Uncovering America's Oldest Neighborhood: Elfreth's Alley
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Travel back in time with Ken as he explores Elfreth's Alley, America's oldest continuously inhabited residential street. Experience the unique architecture and charm of this historic Philadelphia gem!
Location: Philadelphia, PA
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Public Domain Photos from: Library of Congress, Céline Harrand, Library Company of Philadelphia, Google Arts & Culture, Deschamps, W. G.
CC SA 1.0 (creativecommon...) Photos from: Elfreth’s Alley Association
CC BY 2.0(creativecommon...) Photos from: Flickr User: Lizard10979, Ken Lund
CC NY 2.5(creativecommon... Busterfreak, Banfield
CC BY-SA 3.0(creativecommon... from: Wikipedia User: Darian3425, Mr. Kjetil Ree
CC BY-SA 4.0(creativecommon...) Photos from: Wikipedia User: Beyond My Ken, Sam Nabi
Assets from: Envato Elements
Music form Epidemic Sound
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 😉
Being from Philadelphia, I've always been captivated by Elfreth's Alley.
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...
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.
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. ❤
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 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.
Elfreth's Alley is an American treasure.
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…
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'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!
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 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 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.
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 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 :-)
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.
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.
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 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..)
It's wonderful that this has been preserved!
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 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.
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.
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.
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. 😆🤣
I saw this beautiful neighborhood when me and my family stopped in Philadelphia to see the historical sites. Simply amazing.
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 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 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! :)
Brilliant video - I like the branching out to include a house style and neighborhood of historic significance. Thanks for the history lesson.
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.
Always loved this block. I am from Philadelphia and there are many historic sites and many people that live here walk by it every day. I guess it's like any other historic city, you live there, you are use to it. It is a beautiful area for sure.
Love my city of Philadelphia ❤
The city of hobo's crackheads 🤪.
Gorgeous,love it. ❤
I’ve walked this street many times. Wonderfully made video!
Love this neighborhood!
Nice job on the history of this street and its homes. I have visited Phiily often and recognized the neighborhood.
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.
I visited one of these trinity houses back in the 70s. It was a wonderful experience!
My mother would have loved seeing this place. It's beautiful.
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!!!👍👍👍
Amazing! Im from Phoenix where nothing is older than 40 years old, and seeing houses that old is truly amazing to me.
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
I think it's wonderful!
Thanks Ken for sharing another fascinating history lesson!!! 👍👍🙂
Wow so great . Yes I would love to live there . Would definitely love to see the street festival in June and look inside the houses.
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.
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.
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
I lived in Philadelphia when I got out of college and loved to go to see the very streets you are talking about. I will never forget the many fun times we had going for walks... Even though I lived a few streets over on Lombard Street, it still was an enchanting time..
I couldn't afford to live in America's oldest neighborhood, but it is so quaint.❤
I wish more places were built like this in America, such a nice community
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.
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 have been there and a lot of others on the east coast from New York to Florida . I love old homes.
I have walked through the neighborhood, and tried to take in all the history, proud it was protected.
So nice to know this street still exists .
LOVED biking through these neighborhoods when I lived in Philly
Great video, I would have never guessed such a neighborhood would have survived.
I want to see inside of one of these home. Lucky we still have them.
This is so beautiful..I love history and living in one of those houses would be a dream come true..The price tag however bringing me right back to reality .
Probably the desirable street in Philadelphia. Been there. Love the block. All charm.
My favorite street in Philly. I toured the houses years ago when the homeowners would open their doors at the holidays.
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!
A part of history. ..who's to say these days Thank you ❤
It’s beautiful 🤗
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! 😂😂😂
For me, as a Dutch, it reminds me of Amsterdams narrow old streets with small and high houses.
The street looks very English. They often look beautfully quaint decorated with lovely hanging baskets and window boxes. Great to see the street preserved.
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.
That's so cool! I want 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.
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!❤
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.
Beautiful..! 💜💐😊
That was awesome how you didn't get to see the inside of these homes, not for one second! Nicely done
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.
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
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
This is so great!
Benjamin Franklin grew up on Elfreth’s Alley!
Ken - I love your channel and all of your videos, but I really enjoy the ones that center on the history of property. I enjoy learning about the time when it was built, the owners and what happened to it more than all of the architectural details to be honest. :)
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
My parents owned #117 Elfreth’s Alley when I was in college. It was fun to visit home on breaks from school. Very cool place - a fireplace in every room and really interesting neighbors. It was a tight little community.
Excellent video thanks
Would looove to live there. One of my favorite places to visit.❤
Amazing. Beautiful classic timeless🤗🤗🤗
Love these houses ~
KEN, BACK IN THE SPRING AND SUMMER OF 2009, I WAS IN PHILLY STAYING AT A LOCAL SHELTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND DURING THAT TIME, I HAVE BEEN TO ELFRETH'S ALLEY, SO LONG LIVE THESE HOUSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Amazing restoration.
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.
Cool show! Love all the info in just a few moments!! Thank you Ken & crew ❤️❤️
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..
YES! I'D LOVE TO LIVE THERE!
I sure do wish you could get a video tour of the inside of one these houses on your channel!!
ME TOO ! I would also like to see the backyards.
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.
Love your videos Ken. I adore history, especially early American history, and you show me so many very interesting places that I did not know about prior. This is absolutely fascinating to me and I hope you keep offering such wonderful insights into American history...Thanks
I'm fine. How are you; and who are you?
I lived there for 5 years in the late 60s-early 70s…first home after I married! Miss the neighborhood!
Please tell us more.
@@patriciafisher3108 ..what kind of information? We had a dog….no washer nor dryer….a neighborhood one was available….our son was born and learned to walk one the cobblestone street🥰