Berger Brothers Building, 229 - 235 Arch St.

The best example of the Early Twentieth Century Commercial style in Old City is the five-story, 5-bay, brick building at 229-235 Arch Street. Designed by an unknown architect, the Berger Brothers Company building was erected in two sections. The eastern two bays were built about 1913; the central bay and western two bays were built about 1918, after that portion of the site was purchased at a sheriff's sale. The Berger Brothers building is an amalgam of other styles. The vertical piers, recessed spandrels, and tripartite windows derive from the Chicago style, which was developed by Louis Sullivan and others at the end of the nineteenth century. The strong cornices and classical proportioning demonstrate the influence of the Neoclassical style. There are also elements of the Queen Anne style.

William H. Berger moved to Philadelphia after the Civil War and in 1874 he founded William Berger & Company, manufacturers of tinners’ and roofers’ supplies (such as copper, aluminum and steel gutter). Soon after he was joined by his brother, and the company name was changed to Berger Bros Company. The company grew steadily, and became one of the largest of its kind in the United States. It is still in business today, with one of it's plants in Feasterville, Bucks County.

The building was redeveloped in 2012 into apartments.

1940 catalog cover

1977 2012, at start of renovation Today