Title
Also naming Christian Street, between Broad and 20th Streets, "Black Doctors Row," to recognize its designation as Philadelphia's first African-American historic district.
Body
WHEREAS, On July 8, 2022, the Philadelphia Historical Commission unanimously approved a special designation for Black Doctors Row, an area in South Philadelphia that was the home of several prominent Black doctors, pastors, and other prominent professionals and business leaders during the early 20th century; and
WHEREAS, The majority of the buildings included within the six blocks of Black Doctors Row Historic District are three-story brick rowhouses, constructed between the 1860s and 1890s. From 1860 until around 1900, the neighborhood was predominantly Irish and was known as St. Charles Parish, then from 1900 until 1910, the neighborhood entered a period of demographic transition. Finally, from 1910 until the postwar period, the neighborhood became associated with Philadelphia's Black elite; and
WHEREAS, Among the more than 150 properties included under the first Black historic district is the Christian Street YMCA, which originally opened in 1889 and moved to its current location in 1914, where it became a popular meeting place for Black community members. Also included are multiple prominent churches including the First African Baptist Church, as well as the Ebenezer Seventh-Day Adventist Church, which was formerly the Eighth United Presbyterian Church; and
WHEREAS, In the 19th century this section of Christian Street was settled by prominent Black Philadelphians. At its peak from 1910 through at least 1945, these six blocks of Christian Street were home to Black pastors, doctors, teachers, architects, politicians, pharmacists, small business owners, a funeral director, and postal workers; and
WHEREAS, Charles Albert Tindley, the influential Pastor, begun his career in Philadelphia at Bainbridge Street Methodist Church, ultimately growing his congregation to over 10,000...
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