Know Your Neighborhood: The Essex Condominiums   

As with many of Old City’s 19th Century holdovers, the old bank at 3rd and Vine, designed by James H. Windrim in the Renaissance Revival style, has had many different lives. Interestingly, however, this building has only been considered part of Old City in recent times. Technically, it sits on the southern edge of Old Northern Liberties.

The historical boundaries of Northern Liberties were slightly different than those today, with Vine Street as the southern border.   The old boundaries lasted from about 1771 to the mid 19th century 

The building’s original name reveals this fact: The National Bank of the Northern Liberties. It opened in 1871 and cost approx. $94,000.00 to build. (1st B & W photo - 1922)   Windrim (1840-1919), one of the city’s most important late nineteenth century architects, also designed the Masonic Temple on Broad Street (1872) and the Academy of Natural Sciences Building (1868). He also served as the architect for the Girard Estate and the Supervising Architect of the U.S.Treasury from 1889 to 1891. 

Set on a solid base, the National Bank of Northern Liberties building is an encyclopedia of
Renaissance ornament. It includes a central pedimented entranceway replete with double pilasters, arched transom, and carved wreaths and seal. The main façade is punctuated by quoins, divided by a stern frieze, and capped by a broad cornice with modillions and an elegant balastraded parapet. The second-story windows are arched; the central window is ensconced in decorative scroll brackets, pilasters, and a powerful hood with a keystone. 

Besides serving as that bank, the building has been home to the Bank of North America, Monarch Machinery Company, Royal Fixture Company, Max Black Manufacturing Company, the M.L.C. Sales Company (2nd B & W photo, taken 1964) (3rd, 1972), Urban Engineers, Inc., The United Bank of Philadelphia and finally, The Essex Condominiums (color photo).

1922

1964

 1972

Today