A Queen Village home rich in Philadelphia history

Jim Logue is a self-described history buff. So when he and his wife, Beth, became empty nesters in 2014, finding a historical home in the city seemed ideal. They moved out of their Blue Bell home and rented for a few years in Queen Village, ultimately buying a house in a row of homes overlooking the Delaware River.

“We were looking for the more fun lifestyle of being close to the theater and restaurants,” said Beth. “And for Jim, especially the history.”

A member of the Philadelphia Association of Tour Guides, Jim quickly began digging into his new home’s history. He discovered that Francis Daniel Pastorius, a renowned German educator, lawyer, and author, was a past owner of his property, according to the book Real Philly History, Real Fast by Jim Murphy.

“Pastorius is the founder of Germantown,” said Jim, president of ThermOmegaTech Inc., based in Warminster. “When he and his compatriots came here in 1683, there were only three or four little cottages in Philadelphia, so there was no place for them to live.”

There were, however, caves along the river, where Pastorius and his 13 fellow settlers built a temporary, 15-by-30-foot home, utilizing one of the caves. The spot ultimately became the location where the Logues’ home was built in 1978.

“When Pastorius finally agreed on the location of the 15,000 acres of Germantown, the land was purchased from William Penn,” Jim said. “The men drew lots for their homesteads, and they began building their homes. During this period, they continued to live in the cave.”

Murphy discovered that in 1924, the Pennsylvania Historical Commission and the Site and Relic Society of Germantown installed a historical marker dedicated to Pastorius, designed by well-known architect Paul Philippe Cret.

The plaque disappeared in the 1950s or 1960s, so Jim set out to have a new one made. He ultimately got approval from the Pennsylvania Historical Society, but they wanted to create a new marker and place it in Germantown, not re-create the original one at the site of Jim’s house.

Jim’s daughter Briana had the original marker re-created, and she gifted it to him last Christmas. He promptly had it installed on the front of his house.

That spring, the couple renovated the three-bedroom, four-story, 2,000-square-foot house, leaving only the kitchen untouched. The Logues appreciate their kitchen — the cherry cabinets, marble countertops, and Thermador appliances — but they often find themselves eating out.

“The pull of living downtown is that there are restaurants steps away where we can get anything we want cooked better than I could cook it,” said Beth.

Top on the renovation list was finding a way to enjoy the view from their fourth-floor primary bedroom suite. While the sights of the Delaware River, Benjamin Franklin Bridge, and views of the city were stunning, the air and noise pollution made sitting on the balcony unbearable.

“Our dream was to enclose the space with soundproof glass so we’d have the view without the noise and pollution,” Beth said.

But they needed Philadelphia Historical Commission approval first. Though it took a lot of back-and-forth negotiating, they got their approval and installed a large, soundproof glass window.

They now enjoy their view from the comfort of a cozy sitting room adjacent to the primary bedroom. A vapor fireplace warms the room with steam, using LED lights to resemble flickering flames through the mist.

The couple also appreciate their two courtyards, the smaller private one behind their home that’s fenced in, and the larger common space to share with their neighbors. Weather permitting, they often eat breakfast in their personal courtyard, enjoying peaceful mornings amid the flowers in their landscaped beds.

The larger space is where they mingle with neighbors for potluck dinners and community gatherings. Neighbors can also reserve the space for personal functions, such as the bridal shower the Logues threw for their daughter-in-law.

“I love our location, our view, the walking distance to restaurants, and being near the water,” said Jim.

And, of course, the history. Through his membership with the Philadelphia Association of Tour Guides, Jim takes advantage of educational programs and specialized tours.

“I love the research and learning about the city,” he said. “It’s a constant job increasing your knowledge base.”

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