Hajoca Corporation Headquarters and Showroom
Why it's listed
Built in two phases at the northeast corner of 31st and Walnut Streets in West Philadelphia, the building combines a 1921 red brick warehouse with a 1930 limestone-clad Art Deco upper floor designed by Clarence Wunder. The first phase was a one-story pipe storage shed of about 19,000 square feet, permitted for the Bridgman Company at an estimated cost of $50,000. The 1930 addition, estimated at $35,000, gave the Hajoca Corporation a showroom and headquarters on Walnut Street, a commercial corridor with high visibility and access to major roads and rail lines. The main facade carries geometric and floral limestone carvings, a granite-based entrance and bronze cresting over the storefront windows. Hajoca traced its roots to 1858 and was among the largest plumbing supply firms in the country. The company moved its headquarters to Ardmore in 1957, and the building is noted for its intact exterior and its place in the company's history.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant in Commerce for its association with an important plumbing supply manufacturer and distributor, and in Architecture as a locally significant Art Deco commercial building and a representative work of architect Clarence Wunder. It also notes the company's long role in the Philadelphia plumbing trade, from its brass fittings origins to its later distribution business.
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 03000079, listed February 27, 2003. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3025 Walnut St., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | February 27, 2003 |
| Reference number | 03000079 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1921-1953 |
| Architect / builder | Clarence E. Wunder (architect) |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The building was occupied by the University of Pennsylvania for offices after 1957 and was abandoned in the early 1990s, according to the nomination. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.95251, -75.18506 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 03000079.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5640263
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.