The way Jason and Delphine Evenchik see it, the Strittmatter Mansion on Sixth Street near Girard Avenue was basically theirs to borrow.
That sentiment is not uncommon among owners of historic homes. Since it was established as a private hospital in 1887, the building has had just a handful of owners, all of whom have treated the property with care. Its many period details — pressed plaster moldings, stained glass, Lincrusta wall coverings and more — have been retained, even as each owner made incremental changes to suit contemporary needs.
When Strittmatter died in 1938, his doctor son took over the Sixth Street practice, which he maintained until his own death in 1986. The younger Strittmatter reportedly saw patients starting at 6 p.m. so that day laborers would be able to get medical care. He’d start his house calls at midnight. The house is more than 6,000 square feet and sits on a 35-foot-wide lot. With eight bedrooms and 3½ baths, it’s a lot to take care of, especially if an owner has a preservationist bent.
The prior owners redid the main kitchen, “which is amazing,” said Jason, noting the Lacanche stove, custom cabinetry and the Sub-Zero refrigerator and Bosch dishwasher hidden behind panels. “You wouldn’t even know they were there. They did a great job of respecting the age of the house.”