A Brief History of Strawberry Mansion, PA

The sexual assault lawyers in Strawberry Mansion, PA, present this article to offer readers some detailed information about the area.

Strawberry Mansion is a neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The neighborhood can be found east of Fairmount Park and hosts an approximate population of 11,213. Strawberry Mansion belongs to ZIP code 19121 and area codes 215, 267, and 445.

The Historic Strawberry Mansion

Before Strawberry Mansion was known as it is today, the area was named Sommerville for many years. The area got its name after the Historic Strawberry Mansion.

The mansion was built between 1783 and 1789 by Judge William Lewis, a United States Attorney for the District of Pennsylvania. Lewis originally named the mansion Summerville, which corresponded with the town's name at the time.

However, from 1846 to 1867, the mansion became well known when the farmers on the estate began to serve strawberries and cream to the public. The dessert became so popular that the mansion took on the name "Strawberry Mansion."

Between 1927 and 1931, the mansion was restored by a nonprofit organization called The Committee of 1926. From that point on, the mansion would be used as a historic house museum and place of hospitality.

If you want to learn more about the historic Strawberry Mansion, the estate is open to the public from February–December and offers tours from 10:00 am - 4:00pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

Community

In the town's beginnings, Strawberry Mansion was home to a large Jewish community that began when the community migrated from Northern Liberties in the late 1890s. In the early 1900s, it was common for Jewish families to move from Southern Philadelphia to more rural areas.

Soon following the migration of the Jewish community, the neighborhood's first synagogue, Beth Israel, was built and opened. The synagogue moved to a larger location in 1909 on 32nd and Montgomery.

By 1913, a real estate broker advertised Strawberry Mansion in the Philadelphia Jewish Herald. The ad encouraged Jews in South Philadelphia to move to Strawberry Mansion for its beautiful landscapes and appealing homes.

Soon enough, one-fifth of Strawberry Mansion's population lived between Lehigh and Oxford Streets. At one point, Strawberry Mansion hosted 21 synagogues. Six of the buildings are still standing today and in 2015 were converted into churches.

Notable Residents

The unique town of Strawberry Mansion has been home to some incredible residents. Some of which include:

• Meek Mill, rapper and graduate of Strawberry Mansion High School.
• John Coltrane (1926–1967), musician and composer, lived at 1511 North 33rd Street from 1952 to 1958.
• Larry Fine (1902–1975), comedian, member of the Three Stooges, lived on Clifford St.
• NBA player Ronald "Flip" Murray (b. 1979) attended Strawberry Mansion High School.
• Allen Rosenberg (1931–2013), rower and rowing coach.
• Sandy Stewart (b. 1937), singer and entertainer.
• Mary Dee, radio broadcaster.
• Jazmine Sullivan, Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter.

Enjoyed this article? Continue reading: Learn All About Feltonville, PA

Our Local Office

If you or someone you know has survived sexual assault, you deserve justice. Trust the experienced Strawberry Mansion, PA, sexual assault lawyers to fight for you. Contact our legal team today for a free consultation.

Justice Guardians
3400 Aramingo Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19134
(267) 277-2890