# Andorra, Philadelphia

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Neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Andorra Neighborhood Andorra Country United States State Pennsylvania County Philadelphia City Philadelphia ZIP Code 19128 Area codes 215, 267 and 445

**Andorra** is a neighborhood in [Northwest Philadelphia](/source/Northwest_Philadelphia), which is a section of the city of [Philadelphia](/source/Philadelphia), [Pennsylvania](/source/Pennsylvania), United States. Andorra is a part of [Roxborough](/source/Roxborough%2C_Philadelphia%2C_Pennsylvania), being within the borders of the original [Roxborough Township](/source/Roxborough_Township%2C_Pennsylvania) and having the same ZIP Code, 19128. At some point during the 19th or 20th century, Andorra developed a cultural identity as a neighborhood within Roxborough. Andorra (which occupies one of the higher elevations in Philadelphia, on bluffs overlooking the [Schuylkill River](/source/Schuylkill_River)) was named "Andorra" after a fancied resemblance to the [small country of the same name](/source/Andorra) which sits astride the [Pyrenees](/source/Pyrenees) between [France](/source/France) and [Spain](/source/Spain).[1]

Andorra borders [Montgomery County](/source/Montgomery_County%2C_Pennsylvania). Although within Philadelphia city limits, Andorra resembles suburban Montgomery County more than Philadelphia city [neighborhoods](/source/Philadelphia_neighborhoods). Andorra was established and developed in 1950 and therefore has [stereotypically](/source/Stereotype) [suburban](/source/Suburb) characteristics, such as a strip mall, many single or double-family dwellings set back from the street, and apartment buildings on large lots with ample off-street parking.

## History

### 19th century

Andorra was originally the site of two large estates originally purchased by [Henry H. Houston](/source/Henry_H._Houston) in the 1880s.[2] Houston and [Pennsylvania Railroad](/source/Pennsylvania_Railroad) President [Alexander Cassatt](/source/Alexander_Cassatt) lobbied for a railroad connection between [Chestnut Hill](/source/Chestnut_Hill%2C_Philadelphia) and the [Main Line](/source/Philadelphia_Main_Line) suburbs that would have run parallel to Ridge Avenue, but ultimately did not come to fruition.[2][3]

### 20th century

In the early 20th century, Henry H. Houston's son, Sam Houston, made several attempts to sell the estates to institutions; in 1921, Houston unsuccessfully lobbied to use the land to host the [Sesquicentennial Exposition](/source/Sesquicentennial_Exposition).[2] Houston worked with the Roxborough government to create an east–west roadway and two bridges designed by [Paul Philippe Cret](/source/Paul_Philippe_Cret) that would have crossed both the [Schuylkill River](/source/Schuylkill_River) and [Wissahickon Creek](/source/Wissahickon_Creek); the plan was approved in 1927 but was never built.[3] In 1922, plans for the east–west road (the current Cathedral Drive) returned to the drawing board when the [Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania](/source/Episcopal_Diocese_of_Pennsylvania) purchased 100 acres (40 hectares) from the Houston Estate to construct the world's largest Episcopal cathedral.[3] Spearheaded by Bishop [Philip M. Rhinelander](/source/Philip_M._Rhinelander), the Gothic-style cathedral was to be 1000 feet long and contain a 300-foot tall tower with bells cast at the [Whitechapel Bell Foundry](/source/Whitechapel_Bell_Foundry).[3] Ground was broken in 1932, but construction was stalled following the [Great Depression](/source/Great_Depression) and the Episcopal Church's redirected efforts toward the [Washington National Cathedral](/source/Washington_National_Cathedral); only the [apse](/source/Apse) and a side chapel were ever built and are currently home to St. Mary's Church.[3][2]

In the 1940s, Houston unsuccessfully attempted to sell additional estate land to both the [Veterans Administration](/source/Veterans_Administration), [Temple University](/source/Temple_University), and a proposed site for the [Headquarters of the United Nations](/source/Headquarters_of_the_United_Nations).[2] In 1948, the Houston Estate and Planning Commission recruited architect [Eero Saarinen](/source/Eero_Saarinen) to design the master plan for a proposed suburban development called "Cathedral Hills".[3] Houston began development of the Cathedral Hills plan, which was renamed to "Andorra". The development included plans for over 5,000 single-family homes, duplexes, and apartments designed by [Robert Rodes McGoodwin](/source/Robert_Rodes_McGoodwin), although only 400 were ever built. Houston created an "Indenture of [Covenants](/source/Covenant_(law))" for Andorra homeowners, which included stipulations such as no signs larger than one square foot, no “noxious, dangerous, or offensive behavior”, and a ban on raising livestock. Following Houston's death in 1952, the Indenture was transferred to the community, which was eventually turned into the Andorra Homes Civic Association.[2]

## Education

The neighborhood Catholic grade school is Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM).

## Culture

### Public libraries

The [Free Library of Philadelphia](/source/Free_Library_of_Philadelphia) operates the Andorra Branch at the Andorra Shopping Center at 705 East Cathedral Road at Henry Avenue.[4]

### Places of worship

St. Mary's Episcopal Church is home to a non-religious retirement home, known as Cathedral Village. Across Ridge Avenue from St. Mary's are two other locally significant churches: Andorra Baptist Church, headquarters of the Philadelphia Baptist Association, one of the 33 [American Baptist](/source/American_Baptist_Churches_USA) regions; and [Armenian Apostolic Church](/source/Armenian_Apostolic_Church) of [St. Gregory the Illuminator](/source/St._Gregory_the_Illuminator), which serves the [Armenian community](/source/Armenian_American) of Andorra and the immediate surrounding area.

## Transportation

Ridge Avenue, along with Henry Avenue (which splits off from Ridge Avenue in Andorra), are the major thoroughfares in Andorra. Other significant streets are Bells Mill Road, a 2-lane link through Fairmount Park and over the Wissahickon Creek which is the quickest way for cars (trucks or buses are prohibited) to reach [Chestnut Hill](/source/Chestnut_Hill%2C_Philadelphia) from Andorra and Roxborough; Port Royal Avenue; and Cathedral Road.

## Bibliography

- Finkel, Kenneth, ed. (1995), *Philadelphia Almanac and Citizens' Manual* (1995 ed.), [Philadelphia](/source/Philadelphia): [Library Company of Philadelphia](/source/Library_Company_of_Philadelphia), pp. 156–170, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-914076-89-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-914076-89-2)

## References

- [Philadelphia portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Philadelphia)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Finkel 1995](#CITEREFFinkel1995), p. 156.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Preservation_Alliance_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Preservation_Alliance_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Preservation_Alliance_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Preservation_Alliance_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Preservation_Alliance_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Preservation_Alliance_2-5) Cooperman, Emily T. (2008). ["Historic Context Statement for Neighborhood Cluster 2 Roxborough and Manayunk"](http://www.preservationalliance.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/HCSCluster2.pdf) (PDF). *Architectural Research and Cultural History Historic Preservation Consulting*. Retrieved May 2, 2019.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Hidden_City_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Hidden_City_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Hidden_City_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Hidden_City_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Hidden_City_3-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Hidden_City_3-5) Maule, Bradley (June 5, 2014). ["The Unbuilt Vision For A Grand Cathedral Road"](https://hiddencityphila.org/2014/06/the-unbuilt-vision-for-a-grand-cathedral-road/). *Hidden City Philadelphia*. Retrieved May 2, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** "[Andorra Branch](http://libwww.library.phila.gov/branches/branch.cfm?loc=AND) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20080828032425/http://libwww.library.phila.gov/branches/branch.cfm?loc=AND) August 28, 2008, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)." *Free Library of Philadelphia*. Retrieved on November 7, 2008.

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