You can tell by looking that the structure occupying 213-219 Fitzwater St. used to be something. In fact, its name and markings leave little mystery that horses lived there at some point. But the location has been repurposed several times, both before and after the equine portion of its history. The image below, taken from Samuel L. Smedley’s 1862 Philadelphia Atlas, shows that the plot in question was at one time called Burlington Place.
Burlington Place stood on what was then called German Street and was listed as “north of 35.” The only other information that we have at our disposal is the fact that it was dubbed Burlington Pl. by ordinance in 1858. According to Philadelphia Architects and Buildings, Burlington Court would be transformed into Stable Court in 1899. It was at this juncture that the edifice acquired its distinctive horse head stonework. The location is shown here below in an image taken from G.W. Bromley’s 1910 Philadelphia Atlas.
Attributed to the ownership of Bernstein/Goodman, Architects and Buildings identifies this as a retail outlet for both horses and buggies. These are, of course, two things for which consumer demand declined significantly with the advent of the automobile. Thus, by the middle of the 20th Century, horses and buggies were a far lower priority for city dwellers. By contrast, with Philadelphians practicing personal hygiene in record numbers, bathtubs were increasingly popular. In 1964, the location in question was a purveyor of “Lifetime Bathtub Enclosures,” according to the photo from the Philadelphia Department of Records.
Architects and Buildings indicates that the building entered into the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places in 1972. In 1985, Renzi Property Management indicates, the structure was converted into 9 apartment units. In tribute to its original usage, the building was dubbed Stable Court. Images here below show the structure as it stands today, with horse head stonework and 1899 date marker still readily visible.
