Moore, Capt. Thomas, House
Why it's listed
Built of Flemish bond brick in 1767-1769, this three-and-a-half-story house at 702 South Front Street in Southwark, Philadelphia, is one of seven messuages forming the 700 block of South Front Street. The steep gable roof has dormers front and rear, a brick belt course at the third floor, and a high moulded brick watershed. A Fire Association plaque is affixed to the facade, and an arched doorway at the first story leads to an alleyway. Inside, the house retains a panelled chimney piece, breasted closets and spiral stairs. Captain Thomas Moore, a mariner, owned the property from 1767 to 1790, and later owners included the merchant Samuel Penrose and his heirs, who held it until 1866. The block is significant as one of the few completely intact eighteenth-century blocks remaining in a commercial and residential area that was important to Southwark during that century. The first story has been altered, and the windows are later replacements.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the block is an important surviving example of eighteenth-century commercial and residential development in Southwark, and that it is one of the few completely intact eighteenth-century blocks still remaining. The house is associated with Captain Thomas Moore, a mariner who owned it from 1767 to 1790. Its Flemish bond brickwork, original form and interior features, including a panelled chimney piece and spiral stairs, contribute to that significance.
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 72001165, listed March 16, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 702 S. Front St., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | March 16, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72001165 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1767-1769 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | First story altered by a modern doorway and large window; all sash are replacements; cornice modernized after 1905. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Southwark District |
| Coordinates | 39.93977, -75.14464 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 72001165.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5036479
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.