Green Tree Tavern
Also known as: Marlborough Inn
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built between 1838 and 1850 at the corner of Girard Avenue and Marlborough Street, this four-story brick tavern with a stone ashlar foundation and an octagonal belvedere stood near the Franklin Avenue Market in Kensington. Joseph Singerly, a local builder who also advertised as an architect, probably designed and built it, and he acquired it in 1850 along with adjoining store-dwellings. The building was known first as the Green Tree Tavern and later as Farmers Hotel, serving market visitors and travelers on Girard Avenue. Its notable features include a cornice of fluted consoles, a classical stone doorway with Tuscan pilasters on the east facade, and six-over-six upper sash windows. It is regarded as one of the oldest hotels in the city. After the market was discontinued in the early twentieth century, it became a corner saloon, and ground-floor alterations were made in 1913, 1941 and 1962.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is one of the oldest hotels in Philadelphia, and that it reflects the decline of Frankford Road inns and the rise of corner taverns on cross streets. Its association with the nearby Franklin Avenue Market and with the builder Joseph Singerly, a local builder who also advertised as an architect, is also cited. The building is presented as an example of 1840s commercial architecture in a working-class neighborhood.
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 80003612, listed June 27, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 260--262 E. Girard Ave., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | June 27, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003612 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | Between 1838 and 1850 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a saloon on the ground floor with rented rooms above; the ground-floor alterations of 1962 are described. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 39.96950, -75.13194 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 80003612.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5603342
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.