Fairhill, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Fairhill is a neighborhood on the east side of the North Philadelphia section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Fairhill is located in an area between Kensington Avenue and 6th Street ranging from York Street to Gurney Street/Clearfield Street. The neighborhood serves as the center of the Hispanic community of Philadelphia known as "El Centro de Oro
." Fairhill is adjacent to Harrowgate
, Hartranft
, Glenwood
, and West Kensington
.
obtained the land for the cemetery from William Penn
. The cemetery is on the National Register for Historic Places.
Fairhill began to develop its urban character in the 1880s. Many of the new residents at this time were German immigrants, particularly German Catholics. With the approval of the Archdiocese and the help of Fr. Henry Stommel of Doylestown, the German Catholic families in the area established Saint Bonaventure Parish (also known as Saint Bonaventura) in 1890. The original parish building was at Ninth and Auburn Streets. After establishing the parish, Fr. Stommel turned over its leadership to Fr. Hubert Hammeke, a German immigrant priest. In 1894, the parish began building a Gothic style church. Fr. Hammeke served as the project manager for the church’s construction and construction on the new church finished in 1906. The finished church at Ninth and Cambria Streets included an impressive clock tower and spire that still remain intact. Fr. Hammeke would lead the parish until his death in 1937.
In the 1950s, the demographics of the Fairhill area began to change. The German-American families began leaving the neighborhood with African-Americans and Latinos – mainly Puerto Ricans – taking their place. By 1975, the parish had initiated a Spanish mass and a Carino Center for Spanish-speaking children. The parish, including the school, closed in 1993. The church building stands vacant today.
In 2002 23.5% of the houses in Fairhill were occupied by the owners. 85% of the housing in Fairhill consists of row houses. 2.6% of the buildings in the area are zoned for commercial use; Steve Volk of Philadelphia Weekly
stated that efforts to replace drug dealing with legitimate commercial activity have been stymied in recent years.
made the intersection well known. The intersection of 3rd Street and Indiana Avenue was listed number two in a 2007 list of the city's top ten recreational drug corners according to an article by Philadelphia Weekly
reporter Steve Volk. Other intersections in Fairhill included in the list of the top drug corners included Fifth Street and Westmoreland Street in third place, and A Street and Westmoreland Street in seventh place.
operates public schools. Fairhill School, a K-8 school, serves Fairhill. Residents zoned to Fairhill School are also zoned to Thomas Alva Edison High School / John C. Fareira Skills Center. Fairhill Community High School (FCHS), an alternative charter high school for dropouts and students at risk for dropping out, is located in Fairhill.
El Centro de Oro
El Centro de Oro is a Latino area in the east side of North Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.El Centro de Oro is located in "5th & Lehigh" district of the city. Cultural rhythms, businesses and restaurants abound here...
." Fairhill is adjacent to Harrowgate
Harrowgate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Harrowgate is a neighborhood in the Northeast section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Harrowgate is located northeast of Kensington adjacent to Kensington Avenue. It is south of Juniata and northwest of Port Richmond. Its boundary with Kensington is not clear, although it is thought...
, Hartranft
Hartranft, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Hartranft is a neighborhood in the central part of North Philadelphia section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.Hartranft is on the border of the predominantly Black central region of North Philadelphia and the predominantly Hispanic eastern region of North Philadelphia. Bounded by 10th...
, Glenwood
Glenwood, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Glenwood is a neighborhood in North Philadelphia. It is located in the vicinity of North Philadelphia Station to West York Street.In 1988 two residents of the 3100 block of Percy Street, Reverend Clarence Hester, a Baptist minister and activist, and Carrie Hartsfield, an insurance worker who...
, and West Kensington
West Kensington, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
West Kensington is a neighborhood in the North Philadelphia section of Philadelphia. It is north of Olde Kensington. The Market Frankford El above Front Street forms the line between West Kensington and its bordering neighborhoods to the east , although its other boundaries are less well-defined...
.
History
The area that is now the Fairhill neighborhood was at one time home to the Norris Family’s Fair Hill estate. It is also home to the Fair Hill Burial Ground, a cemetery that Quakers established in 1703. George FoxGeorge Fox
George Fox was an English Dissenter and a founder of the Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as the Quakers or Friends.The son of a Leicestershire weaver, Fox lived in a time of great social upheaval and war...
obtained the land for the cemetery from William Penn
William Penn
William Penn was an English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, the English North American colony and the future Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was an early champion of democracy and religious freedom, notable for his good relations and successful...
. The cemetery is on the National Register for Historic Places.
Fairhill began to develop its urban character in the 1880s. Many of the new residents at this time were German immigrants, particularly German Catholics. With the approval of the Archdiocese and the help of Fr. Henry Stommel of Doylestown, the German Catholic families in the area established Saint Bonaventure Parish (also known as Saint Bonaventura) in 1890. The original parish building was at Ninth and Auburn Streets. After establishing the parish, Fr. Stommel turned over its leadership to Fr. Hubert Hammeke, a German immigrant priest. In 1894, the parish began building a Gothic style church. Fr. Hammeke served as the project manager for the church’s construction and construction on the new church finished in 1906. The finished church at Ninth and Cambria Streets included an impressive clock tower and spire that still remain intact. Fr. Hammeke would lead the parish until his death in 1937.
In the 1950s, the demographics of the Fairhill area began to change. The German-American families began leaving the neighborhood with African-Americans and Latinos – mainly Puerto Ricans – taking their place. By 1975, the parish had initiated a Spanish mass and a Carino Center for Spanish-speaking children. The parish, including the school, closed in 1993. The church building stands vacant today.
Demographics
As of the census of 2010, the racial makeup of Fairhill is 82% Hispanic of any race, 13% non Hispanic Black, 4% non Hispanic White, 1% Asian. It has the highest concentration of Hispanics of any neighborhood in Philadelphia, which is over 10 times larger than the overall percentage of Hispanics living in Philadelphia. The neighborhood is mainly made up of Puerto Ricans, But also has significant populations of Dominicans, Colombians, as well as other Hispanics. Its poverty rate is 61%, which is about five times the national average, as of Census 2010.In 2002 23.5% of the houses in Fairhill were occupied by the owners. 85% of the housing in Fairhill consists of row houses. 2.6% of the buildings in the area are zoned for commercial use; Steve Volk of Philadelphia Weekly
Philadelphia Weekly
Philadelphia Weekly , is an award-winning alternative newspaper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, published every Wednesday.The paper was founded in 1971 as a sister publication to the South Philadelphia Press. In 1995, the paper became Philadelphia Weekly...
stated that efforts to replace drug dealing with legitimate commercial activity have been stymied in recent years.
Crime
Steve Lopez's novel Third and IndianaThird and Indiana
Third and Indiana is a novel written by Steve Lopez. It is about the experiences of several people connected to 14 year old Gabriel Santoro, while living in the dangerous gang-controlled streets of the Badlands section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States...
made the intersection well known. The intersection of 3rd Street and Indiana Avenue was listed number two in a 2007 list of the city's top ten recreational drug corners according to an article by Philadelphia Weekly
Philadelphia Weekly
Philadelphia Weekly , is an award-winning alternative newspaper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, published every Wednesday.The paper was founded in 1971 as a sister publication to the South Philadelphia Press. In 1995, the paper became Philadelphia Weekly...
reporter Steve Volk. Other intersections in Fairhill included in the list of the top drug corners included Fifth Street and Westmoreland Street in third place, and A Street and Westmoreland Street in seventh place.
Government and infrastructure
The United States Post Office operates the Fairhill Post Office in Suite 2 at 217 West Lehigh Avenue.Education
School District of PhiladelphiaSchool District of Philadelphia
The School District of Philadelphia is a school district based in the School District of Philadelphia Education Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that includes all public schools in the city of Philadelphia. Established in 1818, it is the eighth largest school district in the nation.The School...
operates public schools. Fairhill School, a K-8 school, serves Fairhill. Residents zoned to Fairhill School are also zoned to Thomas Alva Edison High School / John C. Fareira Skills Center. Fairhill Community High School (FCHS), an alternative charter high school for dropouts and students at risk for dropping out, is located in Fairhill.
External links
- Fairhill and St. Hugh Redevelopment Area Plan, City Planning Commission, 2003