Church of the Assumption

While the Venturi "masterpiece" Guild House several blocks to the east was recently awarded a place on the historic register, it took a little more elbow grease to get a building even more beloved by a neighborhood that has seen its share of architectural loss. Patrick Charles Keely's Church of the Assumption, built in 1848-49 and extensively renovated in 1899, almost met the wrecking ball in April when the non-profit social services organization, Siloam wanted to raze the building for...yes, you guessed it, a surface lot. Largely due to community support and the signatures of over 400 neighbors, The Church of the Assumption at 1123 Spring Garden Street was added to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places in May.