John Ruan House
Historic house in Pennsylvania, United States From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The John Ruan House is a historical mansion located in Frankford, a neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It was built in 1796 for John Ruan, a Pennsylvanian physician and community leader.
John Ruan House | |
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    | |
| Location | 4278–4280 Griscom St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°0′36″N 75°5′28″W |
| Built | 1796 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 85003410[1] |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 31, 1985 |
| Designated PRHP | January 3, 1985[2] |
In 1794, Dr. John Ruan, a Pennsylvanian physician, erected a small building in Frankford. After paying taxes to it, he built the John Ruan House, attaching it to the previous building, which may have been used as a kitchen and servants' quarters. After Ryan suffered financial losses in 1822, the house was sold to a merchant. It changed ownership several times before it was converted into a kindergarten in 1890.[3]
In 1921, the Knights of Columbus acquired the building, using it for meetings and social events. It was acquired again in 1958 by the Philadelphia Camp Corporation, who converted it into a museum.[3] In 1985, the building was added into the Philadelphia[1] and federal[4] registers for historic places. However, due to rising maintenance costs, in 2021, the museum closed down.[5][6]
The house is 2½-stories high, the oldest of its size and stature still standing in Frankford.[1][3] Some of the ornaments used in the home match others which were designed by the German architect Robert Wellford. However, due to the time when the house was constructed, it is unlikely that they were created by him.[7]
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