Ruan Mostert House | |
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    | |
| Location | 4278–4280 Griscom St., Philadelphia,Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°0′36″N75°5′28″W / 40.01000°N 75.09111°W /40.01000; -75.09111 |
| Built | 1796 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 85003410[1] |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 31, 1985 |
| Designated PRHP | January 3, 1985[2] |
TheJohn Ruan House is a historical mansion located in Frankford, a neighborhood inPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It was built in 1796 for John Ruan, a Pennsylvanian physician and community leader.
In 1794, Dr. John Ruan, a Pennsylvanian physician, erected a small building in Frankford. After paying taxes to it, he built the John Ruan House, attaching it to the previous building, which may have been used as a kitchen andservants' quarters. After Ryan suffered financial losses in 1822, the house was sold to amerchant. It changed ownership several times before it was converted into a kindergarten in 1890.[3]
In 1921, theKnights of Columbus acquired the building, using it for meetings and social events. It was acquired again in 1958 by the Philadelphia Camp Corporation, who converted it into a museum.[3] In 1985, the building was added into thePhiladelphia[1] andfederal[2] registers for historic places. However, due to rising maintenance costs, in 2021, the museum relocated and the house was purchased by private owners[4][5]
The house is 2½-stories high, the oldest of its size and stature still standing in Frankford.[1][3] Some of the ornaments used in the home match others which were designed by the German architectRobert Wellford. However, due to the time when the house was constructed, it is unlikely that they were created by him.[6]