In the 1830s, shipping magnate Stephen Girard's estate built warehouses on N Front St. to store imported goods arriving at Delaware River docks. At the time of his death in 1831, Girard was the wealthiest man in America. He made his money as an importer, in banking (having purchased the First Bank of the US in 1812), real estate, railroads & coal.
This grouping of warehouses along Front St (along with adjacent buildings continuing north on Front St) represents a rare remnant of Philadelphia's commercial seafaring past. Most of the other buildings of this era were destroyed during construction of the Ben Franklin Bridge in the 1920's or I-95 in the 1960's. The buildings were in danger of collapse before being totally rehabbed in 2008 - 2009.
They are now apartments, known as The Mercantile Building.
1969, still in commercial use 2005 Today
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