This week we’re on the 5300 block of Oakland Street in a very nice row.  It’s all dressed up for Halloween on this nice bright sunny day.

A reader emailed me an old photo of the the mansion for sale at the corner of Griscom and Dyre.

I’m liking it more without the shrubbery out front but I guess these days privacy is a concern.  Doing some photoshopping, I (think) I was able to make the wording on the bottom easier to read:

“RES. OF MR GEORGE T SALE FRANKLIN AND DYRE STS. FRANKFORD PA”.  Correct me if I’m wrong.   So I’m guessing Griscom Street used to be called Franklin.  Good times.

Found while surfing on Trulia.

How come my the wood paneling in my house doesn’t look like this?  5038 Griscom Street is up for sale for the bargain price of 369 thousand.  It’s 3500 square feet and has 8 bedrooms.  Here’s the description from the realtor’s site:

This Queen Anne Victorian home, the first Frankford estate built in the 1890’s, has been completely and lovingly restored and has reclaimed its title as the crown jewel of the area. Enter the grand three-story foyer and be dazzled by the oak floating staircase and the meticulously re-crafted wood banisters.

Renovations in this 3000-plus square foot home are numerous—stained glass and bay windows, inlay wood floors, vintage claw foot bath tub, and pocket doors throughout. High-end upgrades create a feeling of luxury—pristine porcelain and granite floors; custom cabinetry, high-end appliances, and seven halogen lighting fixtures in the kitchen; tiled floor with matching sinks, tub, walk-in shower, and heated towel racks in master bath.

The lush color palate, old world chandeliers, and re-crafted crown molding revive an atmosphere of history and mystery in the formal drawing, living, and dining rooms.

On the second floor are the office and den for the informal experience, the master bedroom and bath, and a sumptuous walk-in closet (shhhhh, it used to be a bedroom). The second bedroom boasts bamboo hardwood floors and window treatments.

The self-contained guest quarters on the third floor feature Brazilian cherry wood floors in the kitchen, a bedroom, and a travertine marble-tiled bathroom. Down the hall is the Round Room with a 300 degree view to the east and south which served as the private family chapel 120 years ago.

Located on a raised corner lot, this showcase property with both front and back porches fuses Victorian tradition, contemporary luxury, and technology—wifi and security systems. Exceptional value, exquisite taste, the opportunity of a lifetime.

I need a private chapel in my house.  And nobody show my wife the pic of the bathroom.  Claw foot tubs and double vanities are right up her alley.  They call it the crown jewel of the area….yeah I’ll go with that.  It has a three story foyer!  I don’t know what they mean when they say “the first Frankford estate built” so I went checking on Philly Geo History to see if we could get a name on it.

The 1929 Ward map comes up with “Wm S. Nichols”.  The name means nothing to me really but that’s not surprising since I don’t really know anything but I do know that the property shares it’s boundaries with on the corner of Penn and Dyre which used to be the clubhouse for the Frankford Yellow Jackets.  I’m gonna shoot an email to my history contact and see if they know anything.

Update: Here’s a little piece the Metro ran today with the realtor talking about the seller.

• The Overington House’s 10th anniversary Celebration
  When – Sat, October 24, 6pm – 10pm

  Where – QUAKER CITY YACHT CLUB, 7101 N. Delaware Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa 19135 (map)

  Description – The Overington House’s 10th anniversary Celebration will be held at the QUAKER CITY YACHT CLUB DATE: OCT. 24, 2009 TIME: 6:00 TO 10:00 PM PRICE: $30.00 A PERSON OR TABLE OF 8 FOR YOUR GROUP $200.00 ADVANCE SALE TICKETS Make your check payable to: Overington House Inc. Call Ann Mason 215-535-7680 for tickets Featuring guest speaker: Beatriz Vieira, Vice President for Community Impact THE PHILADELPHIA FOUNDATION THE POWER OF ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES Enjoy free beer and food, cash bar, raffles, and fun.
• Overington Park Craft Fair and Fall Fest
  When – Sun, October 25, 10am – 2pm

  Where – Overington Park, Leiper St and Orthodox St. (map)

  Description – Craft fair/ flea market. $5.00 per space, The Frankford Garden Club will be doing a bulb planting demonstration and answering your garden questions. We are also having face painting, a pumpkin patch, and other kid activities. Please come out and take a look, join your neighbors for our Friends Of Overington Park Fall Fest.
• Truancy Workshop
  When – Thu, October 29, 10:00am – 11:30am

  Where – Frankford High School, IMC Room (Library) (map)

  Description – Did you know that three unexcused absences is truancy? Come learn the ABCs of truancy: • The truancy process levels. • Where a parent can seek help. • How to improve your child’s grades. • And more…… When: Thursday, October 29, 2009 Where: Frankford High School, IMC Room (Library) 5000 Oxford Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19124 Time: Session I: 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. or Session II: 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. RSVP: Patricia O. Green, Parent and Community Ombudsman (215) 537-2519 Extension 1343 Email: pgreen@philasd.org
• Frankford Civic Association Meeting
  When – Thu, November 5, 7pm – 8pm

  Where – Frankford Hospital – 2nd floor conference room (map)
• Grand Army of the Republic Museum Open House
  When – Sun, November 8, 12pm – 5pm

  Where – 4278 Griscom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19124 (map)

  Description – Presentation at 1:30 PM: Civil War Santa Claus Kevin Rawlins
• Historical Society of Frankford program
  When – Tue, November 10, 7:30pm – 9:00pm

  Where – 1507 Orthodox St., Philadelphia, PA 19124 (map)

  Description – FRANKFORD AVENUE The Nation’s Newest National Historic Trail “Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary Route W3R-PA” Robert Selig, PhD National Historian W3R-USA Tuesday, November 10, 2009 7:30 pm HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF FRANKFORD Frankford Avenue is a newly-designated NPS National Historic Trail, part of the 685 miles of French (Rochambeau) & American (Washington) campsites from Newport RI to Yorktown VA, where a decisive victory securing American Independence was forged. Dr Selig, Nat’l W3R-USA Historian, has researched those sites & activities along Frankford Ave, & will discuss his publication and the possibilities for marking our NE Phila/Frankford Ave route. Also, The Color Guards of the Philadelphia-Continental Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution, will perform a flag processional in uniform FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact W3R-PA cameo99@netzero.net 215-365-5550 The Historical Society of Frankford 1507 Orthodox Street, Philadelphia, PA 19124 215-743-6030 www.frankfordhistoricalsociety.org Light Refreshments Served.
• Northwood Civic Association Meeting
  When – Tue, November 17, 7pm – 8pm

  Where – St. James Lutheran Church, at Castor Avenue and Pratt Street. (map)
• Italian Style Family Dinner
  When – Wed, November 18, 4:30pm – 8:00pm

  Where – St. Joachim’s Church, 1527 Church Street, Phila., PA 19124 (map)

  Description – MARK YOUR CALENDAR Every Third Wednesday from September thru May Italian Style Family Dinner The Dinners will be served from 4:30 PM to 8 PM in Fitzmaurice Hall Take-out will be available. COST: $8.00 for Adults, $4.00 for Children. Come Join us!