Girard Estates Wall

The Girard Estates are a neighbourhood within the region of South Philadelphia. Stretching from 22nd St to 17th, the area is named after Stephen Girard, who once lived in the neighborhood in the 1800s. The story goes that when Stephen Girard, one of the most richest men in America passed, he left his estate of $6 million dollars to the city of Philadelphia. Because of his gracious donation, much of the neighborhood is shaped by the stipulations he left in his will. There once was a school for orphaned white boys named after him, however, it is now operated by the Philadelphia School District. Also, the houses in the area are much more different than the typical Philadelphia rowhomes in other neighborhoods and many residents describe it as living in a suburb, without paying suburban prices. The house where Stephen Girard used to live now resides in a middle of a park, where residents annually hold meetings and holiday parties. Other notable buildings in the neighbourhood are the Edgar Allen Poe School (now known as GAMP) and the Donatucci Library. The area boasts a strong Italian American demographic, with a few Asian Americans sprinkled in. Lastly, some notable events is that Rocky 2 was filmed in the neighbourhood , and crime boss Philip Testa was killed in a bomb planted under his door step.