5857 Germantown Avenue
Samuel Coulston's house

Left: HSP: "Sylvester Coulston's House," Shoemaker Collection, folio 9 (image of wash and ink drawing by John Richards).
Right: HSP: Campbell Collection (compiled by Jane Campbell, circa 1900-1910), vol. 33, p. 152, "Association Property Undeveloped, Haines Street and Germantown Avenue" (photograph). The three story brick building at 5857 is to the left of the YMCA and to the right of the building with its gable end facing the street.

Background:
Samuel Coulston's modest home and blacksmith shop were located just above the YMCA (former First Presbyterian Church). After the house was torn down for the construction of another building, Coulston continued his operations in the shop at the rear of the property at least into the 1880s.

The three-story brick store and dwelling that replaced Coulston's house had a flat roof and a two-register facade. This building was later demolished.

Additional Sources:

• GHS: Johnson, George Clarence. "Pictorial Germantown Road..." includes:
  • p. 88 (text).
  • p. 95 "Wheelright Shop on Main St. [Germantown Road] below Harvey, 1907" (photograph of two-story frame and one-and-a-half story stone buildings behind the buildings facing the street; image identical to photograph in Photo Scrapbook 5, p. 55--see below).
• GHS: Photo Box 11, envelope 8: "First Presbyterian Church, old Blg-5847-5851 Gtn Ave." (photographic print #641 pos. 433 featured in "spaces and Places" exhibit, 1980. Also shows the three buildings above the YMCA/Presbyterian Church, including the three-story brick building which replaced Coulston's home).
• GHS: Photo Scrapbook 5, p. 46: "Building of the Germantown Young Men's Christian Association, 1873-1892. Formerly the Building of the First Presbyterian Church in Germantown. East Side of Germantown Avenue, South of Haines St. (same photograph as in Photo Box 11, envelope 8; however, this image includes slightly more of Germantown Avenue on either side of the YMCA).
• GHS: Photo Scrapbook 5, p. 55: "Coulston's Wheelwright Shop Germantown Avenue below East Haines St." (same photograph as found in Johnson, v. 2, p. 95--see above).
• GHS: Streets Box 1, envelope 1: news column about Enos Springer.
• HSP: Richards, John. Old Landmarks in Germantown and Vicinity, 43a: "Colston Blacksmith" (wash and ink drawing).
• HSP: Shoemaker Collection, folio 9: (manuscript text and image of John Richards' wash and ink drawing, showing Coulston's house and shop and a corner of the YMCA).

   

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