Morbid Real Estate: November Edition

 

847 Mercer St.

This month's edition of Morbid Real Estate is a Philly Special, showcasing four homes currently for sale in the City of Brotherly Love with a deep, dark secret. These choice properties all have ghoulish histories, complete with poison-swallowers, jilted lovers, murderous paranoiacs and, yes, even killer cats! So if you're in the market for a new place to call home in metro Philadelphia, one of the following options just might tickle your fancy-- especially if you fancy the tragic and macabre.

847 Mercer St.

847 Mercer Street, Philadelphia. Price: $375,000

This recently renovated 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath townhouse in the Fishtown section of Philadelphia features hardwood floors, granite countertops and central air. Coming in at just under 1,000 square feet, this cozy home is situated in the heart of Philly's hipster heaven, so if you ever wanted to blow $375,000 you don't have to move to the big city and pursue your dream of becoming a barista in an overpriced dairy-free coffeeshop or playing ukulele in an indie-folk band, this property is right up your alley-- however, with a crime rate that's 56% higher than the city average, of you move to Fishtown, it'll be only a matter of time before someone steals that ukulele to trade for fentanyl.

Lots of leg room.

But, on the bright side, if you opt for this charming old house, the strange noises you hear during the night might not be a break-in attempt, but the restless spirit of Mary Mossorjak.

Weird how the dog is staring at the door to the basement steps...

On November 27, 1922, 19-year old Mary Mossorjak woke up and got dressed for her job at a cigar factory. Her sister, Anna Baer, reported that Mary was in a happy mood, singing as she got dressed. But, instead of leaving for work, she went down to the basement and shot herself with a revolver. Her sister found Mary sprawled across the floor, with the revolver still in her hand. She was rushed to St. Mary's Hospital, but soon succumbed to her injuries. 

According to her sister, Mary had been dating a man named Frank, whom she worked with at the cigar factory, but he had recently jilted her for another girl.

3289 Tilton St.

3289 Tilton Street, Philadelphia. Price: $300,000

Inconveniently located just two blocks from the Delaware Expressway, this 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath in Port Richmond is a recently renovated three story home featuring a finished basement (or so the seller claims) and an outdoor deck designed in the "shipping container" aesthetic which seemingly haunts Philadelphia like the ghost of a Stanley Cup championship. With its prison-issue railings and a kitchen and master bathroom subway tiled to oblivion, this home retains absolutely none of its historic charm. But, if soulless 21st century design isn't your cup of tea, one key selling point is that Port Richmond is one of Philadelphia's safer and cleaner neighborhoods, so there's that.

3289 Tilton St.

I don't think you can call it a finished basement until it's, well, you know, finished.

There's one other selling point as well: This house comes with a very strange and sad story. In 1910, Mrs. George Skodkins put her two-week-old child into a crib for a nap. When she went to check on the baby thirty minutes later, she was horrified to discover that it had been smothered to death by the family's large Maltese cat.

306 S. 10th St.

306 South 10th Street, Apt. A, Philadelphia. Price: $865,000

Billed as a "distinguished 1800 brownstone in the heart of Washington Square West", this 1,243 square foot townhouse includes two bedrooms and 2 baths and boasts 15-foot-tall ceilings and a bevy of historically-accurate architectural features, such as stately crown molding, fireplace, and an oversized pocket door. But there's also plenty of modern conveniences, from a smart keyless entry system with video intercom, to gated parking, new stainless steel appliances and even a wine refrigerator-- a perfectly luxurious home for a small family of pompous pricks. However, if $865,000 is too rich your blood, the 800 square foot upstairs apartment can be had for just $549,900 (wine fridge not included).

306 S. 10th St.

This home (assuming it was built in 1800 as the listing agent claims) was also the scene of a horrible murder carried out on the morning of August 24, 1869. At the time, this was the home of Thomas L. Evans, a prosperous 63-year-old businessman who made his fortune in real estate. Also living in the home were his wife and several children, including a 25-year-old son named Marshall Key Evans, who had recently returned to the Tenth Street home after separating from his wife.

Gee, you'd think that for $865k they'd put in some new carpeting.

Or at least tack down that lifting carpet.

Marshall, whose career as a tobacco dealer was cut short by a chronic health problem, had been suffering peculiar delusions in which people were attempting to kill or poison him. One night he awakened his wife with a knife, claiming that there was a man hiding in their steamer trunk. "If he dares to come out you die, and then I die," his wife later recalled. "We will go out of the world together. Mind, I'll kill you," he said, drawing the blade of the knife lightly across her lip. 

After a less-than-restful night, she woke up in the morning to find that Marshall had returned to his parents' home. Sadly, the delusions continued until Thomas Evans made the decision to have his son placed into a mental asylum. It was a decision that would cost him his life.

On the morning of August 24, Thomas and his family sat down to breakfast to discuss the arrangements. But Marshall, who was still upstairs, overheard the conversation. He came down the stairs and into the dining room holding a revolver. He shot his father twice in the stomach. When police and the Evans' family physician raced to the scene, they found Thomas in a dying condition, but his last words were words of compassion. "Don't harm my boy," he said. "He didn't know what he was doing." Marshall Key Evans stood trial for murder but was acquitted on grounds of insanity. He died from pneumonia in a Maryland sanitarium at the age of 49.

But murder isn't the only dark stain on this house. While a murder took place on the first floor, a suicide was carried out in the upstairs apartment a half century later. In May of 1921, 26-year-old Marion Weinbeck took her life by swallowing poison after being deserted by her husband.

1934 Lombard St.

1934 Lombard Street, Philadelphia. Price: $800,000

Finally, we have this 2,640 square foot townhouse in Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Square neighborhood, which, according to the listing agent, radiates "prestigious sustainability"-- whatever the hell that means. Downstairs, this 3-bedroom, 2.5 bath home features floor-to-ceiling windows with stained glass detail, and a dining room which adjoins a walled-in patio, while the upstairs features two spacious bedrooms, one with built-in cabinetry and the other with large full-wardrobe closets.

1934 Lombard St.

With easy access to some of the city's finest restaurants and boutiques, this well-maintained property is situated in one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Philadelphia. However, that wasn't always the case; historically, this section of the neighborhood, along with Fitler Square a few blocks west, was a poster child for urban blight and a haven for drunkards, vagabonds and other unsavory characters.

Because nothing screams "$800k home" like contact paper covered shelves and a closet corner that looks like it was used as a toilet.

The carpeting was obviously installed by highly-skilled professionals.

In fact, some of those unsavory characters once called 1934 Lombard Street home. In 1929, this home was occupied by James Moore and his common-law wife, Louella Harris, who moved in with Moore after her legal husband was sent to prison. History shows that Louella's new beau was even worse than her previous one; on April 26, 1929, Moore shot and killed Louella during a domestic dispute.

Do you know a murder house for sale? If so, send us an email at PAoddities@gmail.com and we just might feature it in an upcoming edition of Morbid Real Estate!