Ruan, John, House
Also known as: Grand Army Republic Memorial Hall
Why it's listed
Built in 1796 on Griscom Street in Frankford, this two and a half story brick house was raised by Dr. John Ruan, a physician who had trained at the University of Edinburgh and practiced from the house for about fifteen years. Its hand-pressed red brick walls, laid in common bond, form a symmetrical five-bay front with a denticulated cornice, punch and gouge carving, and a center hall plan with a curving staircase. Its size, about 40 by 35 feet, was large for a small market and industrial town at the time. Ruan served on the first board of the Frankford and Bristol Turnpike Road Company and as a trustee of the Frankford Academy, and was elected Chief Burgess in 1806. Later residents included Dr. Samuel Pickering and the machine shop owner Samuel Brooke. Few other large pre-1800 houses survive in Frankford, which is why the house is valued as a rare local example of its type.
Significance in brief: The house is regarded as a rare surviving 18th-century Georgian mansion in Philadelphia and the only house of its age and size left in Frankford. It was the home and medical practice of Dr. John Ruan, a community leader, and later of other prominent Frankford residents. Its size is unusual for its time and place, and its interior and exterior retain the classic Georgian plan and detailing.
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 85003410, listed October 31, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 4278--4280 Griscom St., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | October 31, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85003410 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1796 |
| Architect / builder | Dr. John Ruan (builder) |
| Architectural style | Late Georgian |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently occupied by a Civil War museum, with plans to restore the house to its 18th century condition. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.01001, -75.09077 (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 85003410.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6255885
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.