123 Elfreth's Alley

Early tax lists indicate that the original building was a two-story brick kitchen constructed by 1741 by Daniel Coats.  Like many of the other buildings on the Alley, the present House 123 replaced an outbuilding constructed on the lot during the 18th century.  That building was probably demolished and the present building constructed around 1805.

Many of the residents of House 123 during 19th century were bakers.  One long time resident was Gottlieb Bechtold, a German born baker, who lived in the house from the late 1830s to the early 1860s.  The use of the property as a bake shop is confirmed by the large commercial-sized bake oven in the basement of the rear section.  The oven is almost eleven feet square, suggesting that it was intended for more than baking just the daily bread.  

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries the house was occupied by more than one family simultaneously.  Two or more unrelated families are listed as living in the house in every census taken between 1870 and 1930.  Many of these people worked as laborers in local stores and factories or, in the case of Samuel Greer and William Vandergrift, as police officers for the city of Philadelphia.