Beatty's Mills Factory Building
Also known as: Powell Mills
Why it's listed
Built in 1886 at the northwest corner of Coral and E. Hagert Streets in Kensington, this five-story red brick mill building was constructed for Beatty's Mills, a yarn manufacturer that produced cotton yarn exclusively in its new facility. It is the only surviving structure from the 1886 complex, which once included two main mill buildings linked by an engine house and boiler house. Its design uses Italianate details, including a corbelled cornice, flat roof and segmental arched window openings. Inside, the building keeps a largely open plan, exposed wood beams and a visible wood truss system on the fifth floor. Carding took place on the first floor, with spinning on the upper floors and twining on the fifth. The mill is regarded as an intact example of late 19th century Philadelphia textile architecture. Its later tenant use reflects the city's shift toward specialized textile shops and small firms.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant under Criterion A for its association with Beatty's Mills, an important cotton yarn manufacturer in Philadelphia's textile industry. It is also significant under Criterion C as an intact late 19th century textile mill and an example of the Italianate style applied to industrial architecture.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 04000881, listed August 18, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2446-2468 Coral St., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | August 18, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04000881 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1886-1923 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian / Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacated in 2000 after a period as a textile-related tenant factory; the document also notes the building is in excellent condition. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.98448, -75.12822 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 04000881.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4877307
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.