Black History Month – Reverend Marshall W. Lee
February 23, 2026History of a House (s) 322 & 324 Fayette Street
Celebrating a Century of Businesses at 322-324 Fayette Street
History Of A Property and Buildings
By Jack Coll
2/23/2026
The duel English Tudor Revival looking buildings located at 322-324 Fayette Street were constructed a century ago in 1926, although early records show that these two conjoined buildings were close to being the site of the borough’s first apartment complex.
In the spring of 1923 Ludwig Kowalkowski, a local contractor, purchased the property that adjoined 326 Fayette, then McCoy’s Drug Store, from Henry M. Tracy, Esq. He proposed the erection of an apartment building to be constructed of brick, three stories, with a 40 foot frontage on Fayette street and extend to a depth of 65 feet.
The building would have six apartments, each with five rooms, a bath and all the modern conveniences and six parking garages in the rear with access from Forrest Street. Work was scheduled to begin on July 1, 1923 and move-in tenants before the end of the year.
It’s unclear why Kowalkowski never followed through on his plans to build the apartments but a year later, 40 year old Jullius Jacobson, proprietor of Jacobson’s Men’s Store located at 69 Fayette Street was the owner of the 322-324 Fayette Street property and in May 1924, Jacobson applied for a building permit to erect the same model apartment building from the same blue print.
Either the permit request was denied, or Jacobson had a change of heart because it was Jacobson who had the two English Tudor Revival looking building erected on the property.
Tudor architecture originated in England during the reign of the Tudor Kings, which began in the late 15th century and carried through the end of the reign of Elizabeth 1, who died in 1603.
The Tudor construction design took off in the United states in the mid-19th century, incorporating some medieval Gothic influences, and maintained its popularity through the 1940’s.
What defines a true Tudor? The homes often feature a steeply pitched roof with multiple overlapping, front-facing gables. Typically, the exterior is brick, Stone, stucco or wood on the main gables or upper floors, with decorative half-timbering, and features tall narrow windows with multiple rectangular or diamond-shaped panes. The front doors are typically not centered and are topped with a round arch. Looking at 322-324 Fayette Street, this is exactly what Jacobson had in mind when the building was completed in 1926.
Jullius Jacobson moved into the 322 property in 1926 and owned and operated Jacobson’s Men’s Store, once located at 69 Fayette Street. He opened his business in the early part of last century and was very active in the community as a member of the Fritz Lodge 420, Free and Accepted Masons, Charity Lodge 190 and Royal Arts Chapter, Norristown. He was also a member in many other organizations including the Jewish Community Center in Norristown and the Conshohocken Chamber of Commerce.
After many years of living at 322 Jacobson moved out and sold the property to James Lynch Jr., who owned and operated a real estate and insurance company for many years. Lynch passed away in the summer of 1994 and shortly after his passing the “Brain Pad Company” moved their offices into 322 where they occupied the building for the next twenty-two years from 1997 until 2018. Shortly after their departure “Sanctuary Blu” opened their very popular boutique selling every thing from clothing, jewelry and rare and unique home décor products since 2019.
“Coll’s Custom Framing,” currently located at 324 Fayette Street is an extremely popular frame shop having won many local and state-wide awards over the years for their design and quality of work.
Long before Coll’s Custom Framing purchased the property in 2001, Dr. James H. Hargreaves and his wife the former Mary Bateman Hargreaves purchased the building in 1926 as a new construction and set-up his residence and doctors office, (in the basement of the building) where he practiced for the next thirty two years until his death in 1958.
Interviewing long-time Conshohocken residences Dr. Hargreaves was a good physician and quite the character. Dr Hargreaves and his wife, and eventually their daughter Lillian lived in the building, the first, second and third floors of the building were the living quarters while his office was in the basement.
Where you see Coll’s Custom Framing Picture Window in the front of the store, at one time was an enclosed front porch when the Hargreaves family lived there. Most evenings Dr. Hargreaves, and sometimes his wife and daughter would sit in the enclosed front porch with the Doctors pet monkey.
Dr. Hargreaves was a staff physician at Sacred Heart Hospital and was a member of Montgomery County Medical Society and a Mason. To Conshohocken residents, whom I spoke with in later years remembered him a kind, soft spoken physician who made house calls throughout his career and was often open to residents for late evening visits even when his office was closed.
In a conversation with Hargreaves daughter Lillian some years ago before her passing in 2008, she explained to me that her father loved the monkey and would sit with it on the front porch, a lot of neighborhood children would come by and stand out front on a regular basis to see the monkey. Also, in the summer months the family would spend a lot of time in the back yard, (For many years now it has been a paved driveway) but back then the backyard was grass with a beautiful garden and her father would keep the monkey on a leash or harness. She also noted that the monkey lived on the third floor in its own room.
Lillian married Fred Kopenhaver, the couple lived in East Norriton on Butchers Lane for more than six decades. (Kind of ironic, she lived on Butchers lane, and Butch runs the frame shop that currently occupies the first floor of her former home) Fred and Lillian had two children, a son James and a daughter Susan Jacovino, and four grandchildren at the time of her death in 2008.
Lillian was a school teacher for many years at the Conshohocken Elementary School. (She taught at the former Hoffecker School, and later with the name change Hervey S. Walker School at Third Avenue and Harry Street) In later years Lillian volunteered with the Peter Wentz Farm as a tour guide.
Following Hargreaves death in 1958, a young very talented hair dresser, Charles Guriano and his wife Mary purchased the property at 324, Fayette Street, the former Doctors house and office, and turned the first floor into a Hair Solon and the second and third floors of the building into a living quarters.
Charles and Mary lived at 324 with their three children Charles, Mary Grace and David for many years. Charles was a United States Veteran and a popular member of St. Matthew’s Church.
In the summer of 2001, the Guarino family sold the building to the Coll family who opened a Custom Frame Shop in the fall of that same year. The Coll’s are the third owners of the building since its construction back in 1926.
The frame shop specializes in custom cut mats with a state-of-the-art mat cutting machine and have brought specialty frame moldings from around the world and continues to market and promote frames designed and produced in the United States as close as Lancaster, New Jersey and New York.
With more than 3,000 molding samples available, and more than 150 mat colors, Coll’s Framing was one of the first shops in the area to frame and encase customers art-work and treasurers one-hundred-percent acid free, protecting the encased products from fading or deteriorating (as much as possible)
The National Framing Association recommends “Archival quality framing for all art-work” and Coll’s custom Framing does just that and provides recommendations for different types of museum quality glass.
The third building attached to 322, and 324 is 326 at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Fayette Street, which is the Deli on 4th.
The building was constructed on an empty lot in the early 1880’s, as H. G. J. Hallowell’s Drug Store. By 1890 Hallowell sold the drug store and property to Thomas McCoy, who’s brother Patrick opened a grocery store at the southwest corner of Fourth Avenue and Harry Street and delivered groceries throughout the latter part of the 1800’s and early 1900’s by horse and wagon, the building still stands.
Thomas McCoy ran his drug store at Fourth Avenue and Fayette Street for sixty years until 1950 when Mr. Doughtery purchased the business and building. Doughtery’s Pharmacy was in business for two decades until 1972. Gold Seal Food Market occupied 326 during the mid-1970’s until Al Silverstreni opened Al’s Deli, later purchased by John and Lynn Strouse, who later sold the building and business to Joe and Loretta Steffy, who later sold to Donald Macintosh, and finally to Stephanie Morinelli in 2019, since then the corner has become known as “The Deli on 4th” a very popular breakfast and lunch destination for sandwiches worth waiting for. Just as popular as the deli, “The Juicery on 4th” serving up a large variety of power drinks, shakes along with dozens of other drinks including your favorite coffee’s .
Congratulations to 326 Fayette Street, Deli on 4th, as the building celebrates nearly 140 of service to the community of Conshohocken and beyond.
And a Happy Birthday, to 322 and 324, celebrating 100 years. If it’s a gift or home “décor” decoration you’re looking for, 322 Fayette Street, is your place to shop.
If it’s quality custom framing, with the largest selection of frames in the Philadelphia area, Coll’s Custom Framing at 324 Fayette Street is your destination.
Thank you for reading. We have two fun events to mention. This Saturday (February 28th, 2026) is the Great Gatsby Conshy Adult Prom. Tickets can be found here: Conshohocken Adult Prom – Great Gatsby Tickets, Sat, Feb 28, 2026 at 7:00 PM | Eventbrite
In April, make sure you get to the Family Trivia Night to benefit the Colonial Neighborhood Council
