238 Arch St., built ca. 1895, is a 4-story, 3-bay, painted brick, Victorian Eclectic building. One of the earliest occupants was Carnahan Stamping and Enameling Co., which was there in the early 1900's. It currently houses Humphrys Flag Company, one of the oldest and largest manufacturers of flags and banners in the US.
Humphrys originally started in New York as sailmakers. They moved to Philadelphia in 1874 and were located on the 1000 block of Callowhill St. From there, they moved to 909 Filbert St in the 1910's. In the mid - late 1970's, they moved their retail location to Arch St and their factory to Pottstown, PA.
Immediately prior to Humphrys, 238 Arch housed Joseph Orman & Co., a wholesaler of children's toys. A previous 19th century building at 238 Arch housed Nav. C. Reisky, a furrier that started in 1850 (final photo). Their ad in the 1876 Centennial Exhibition Guidebook featured a slogan "Cheaper Than The Cheapest". They went bankrupt in 1883.
238 Arch St was put on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places in January, 1977.
1975 1997 today
Ad for furrier in previous building at 238 Arch St