Reynolds-Morris House

Historic house in Pennsylvania, United States

United States historic place
Reynolds-Morris House
U.S. National Historic Landmark
Reynolds-Morris House in 1972
39°56′49″N 75°9′18″W / 39.94694°N 75.15500°W / 39.94694; -75.15500
Area< 1-acre (0.40 ha)
Built1786–1787
ArchitectJohn & William Reynolds
Architectural styleGeorgian
NRHP reference No.67000020
Significant dates
Added to NRHPDecember 24, 1967[1]
Designated NHLDecember 24, 1967[2]

The Reynolds-Morris House is an historic house which is located at 225 South 8th Street in the Washington Square West neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Built between 1786 and 1787 by John and William Reynolds, it is a well-preserved example of a Philadelphia Georgian townhouse.

It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1967,[2][3] and is currently operated as a hotel.

Description and history

The Reynolds-Morris House stands one block west of Washington Square in Philadelphia's Center City, on the east side of South 8th Street between St. James and Locust Streets. It is a 3+1⁄2-story brick building, with a gabled roof pierced by pedimented gable dormers. It is five bays wide, with the main entrance at the center, framed by pilasters and a half-round transom topped by a gable.

The walls are laid in Flemish bond, with projecting stringcourses between the floors. Sash windows are set under heavy splayed stone lintels with scoring that is intended to resemble keystoning. The interior spaces are adorned with high quality Federal period woodwork.[3]

The Reynolds-Morris House in 2012

The house is a rare example of a double rowhouse, built on two lots in 1786–87 by John and William Reynods. It was sold in 1817 to Luke Wistar Morris, the son of captain Samuel Morris of the First City Troop, of the prominent Morris family, who occupied the house for 120 years.

Although it was built as a rowhouse, the neighboring houses were bought and torn down by the Morrises in the early 20th century.[3] The historic home was later transformed into a boutique hotel amid a greater series of renovations during the early 21st century.

Debuting as the Morris House Hotel in 2004, the building was inducted into Historic Hotels of America, an official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, in 2022.[4]

See also

  • Philadelphia portal

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Reynolds-Morris House.
  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. ^ a b "Reynolds-Morris House". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved February 17, 2008.
  3. ^ a b c Patricia Heintzelman (August 30, 1974). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Baldwin-Reynolds House" (pdf). National Park Service. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help) and accompanying three photos, exterior, from 1907 and 1974 (32 KB)
  4. ^ "Hotel History - Morris House Hotel". Historic Hotels of America. Retrieved December 14, 2022.

External links

  • Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. PA-1107, "Reynolds–Morris House, 225 South Eighth Street, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA", 5 photos, 10 measured drawings, 2 data pages, 1 photo caption page
  • Reynolds–Morris House data from the Philadelphia Architects and Buildings (PAB) project of the Athenaeum of Philadelphia
  • Morris House Hotel
  • v
  • t
  • e
Topics


Lists by countyLists by cityOther lists
  • Category
  • NRHP portal