Harrowgate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Harrowgate is a neighborhood in the Northeast section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Harrowgate is located northeast of Kensington adjacent to Kensington Avenue. It is south of Juniata and northwest of Port Richmond. Its boundary with Kensington is not clear, although it is thought to be beyond the intersection of Kensington and Allegheny Avenues (nicknamed "K&A"). Historically the area was an Irish-American working-class community. With all the warehouse space and newly renovated lofts, it is becoming a well known artists community. Harrowgate was founded in 1784 by Capt. George Esterly, a Revolutionary War veteran, when he discovered springs in the vicinity of what is now Kensington Ave. and Tioga St., now the site of Harrowgate Square, a park covering one city block. The spring water was pronounced healthful by Dr. Benjamin Rush, and Esterly established a health spa there, with gardens, overnight accomodations, food and drink, occasional concerts, and coach service from Second and Market Sts. in Philadelphia. The name was copied from a spa in England. The spring dried up about 1800, but the town flourished. Nearby was Cedar Grove, country estate of the Paschall and Morris families. First section of the modest mansion was built in 1746. The Morris family donated the house to the city in 1926, and it was moved, stone by stone, with much of the original furniture, to west Fairmount Park, where it is open to the public.