128 Elfreth's Alley

House 128 looks much different than any other buildings on the Alley – and in fact, is not a house anymore.

Originally an 18th century rowhouse quite similar to its neighbors in design, House 128 was converted for use a stove factory by the late 19th century, reflecting the changing neighborhood. In those years, the streets around the Alley shifted from a bustling waterfront to a more industrial setting filled with factories that produced paint, buttons, clothing, and stoves.

William Atkinson, a shipwright, built the first house hat stood on this lot circa 1745. He and his wife Rebecca were Quakers and members of the Philadelphia Meeting; they lived in House 128 for most of their married life. Later residents of the house included coppersmith Robert Doughty, Teacher Hillman, John Far, who made clocks and watchers, and printer William T. Smith. House 128 was probably demolished during the 1870s.