Northern National Bank
Why it's listed
Built in 1893 to a design by Philadelphia architect Walter D. Smedley, this two-story flat-iron bank stands on a corner of a six-way intersection in North Philadelphia at Germantown Avenue and Dauphin Street. Its rounded corner holds an arched entrance of terra cotta voussoirs set between polished granite columns, with wrought iron gates, and the walls rise from a rusticated pink granite base in yellow Roman brick. Terra cotta diaperwork, pressed tin crests and spandrels, and a heavy modillioned pressed metal cornice add further ornament. The bank was founded in 1890 by real estate broker Edward T. Tyson, who first operated from three row houses in the 2100 block of Germantown Avenue. It is regarded as an exuberant example of Smedley's work in the Romanesque Revival style. Its interior, with a two-story banking floor, marble counters, brass teller cages, a wrought-iron gallery, paneled president's office, and a large vault, is significant as one of the few intact 19th-century bank interiors in Philadelphia.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is a fine example of Romanesque Revival bank design by Smedley, with decorative exuberance and a solid image suited to a bank. It also cites the building's largely intact 19th-century banking interior, one of the few of its kind in Philadelphia, and its role as the only bank within a ten-block radius of the intersection.
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 85001388, listed June 27, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2300 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | June 27, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85001388 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1893 |
| Architect / builder | Walter D. Smedley (architect) |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The document describes the building as remaining remarkably intact; it also notes the building was sold in 1971 to the Ile-Ife Black Humanitarian Center. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.98680, -75.14568 (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.
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 85001388.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7058759
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.