The family of Cornelius N. Weygandt lived in rented houses for the first twenty years of their residence in Germantown. It was fairly common for middle class families to rent their homes during this period. Some of the first houses that the Fallon Brothers built on Tulpehocken Street were rental properties. In 1883, the Weygandts’ lease for their home on the 200 block of Tulpehocken Street was up. They rented the house from the Catherwood family heirs (living in Pittsburgh at the time) through their trustee the Philadelphia Trust Safe Deposit and Insurance Company whose president was J. Livingston Erringer (in his late 60s in 1883) – the “Old Erringer” that Weygandt mentions. The excerpts below give an insight in the costs of rental houses during this period and also what sort of options the Weygandts had in Germantown. To provide some perspective on the costs the Weygandts had, Henry H. Houston rented out 266 W. Tulpehocken Street and 6129 Wayne Avenue each for $1,200 a year in 1889. The first excerpt has a brief account of the first house the Weygandts rented with Cornelius’s sister and brother-in-law, the Godleys, on W. Walnut Lane near Greene Street.
Wednesday, February 21, 1883
…Lucy and I went out, in the evening, at about eight o’clock, and called on Mr. & Mrs. Joe Perot, and afterwards at Mr. & Mrs. A.G. Elliott’s. The Perots live in the old Button house, at the corner of Main [now Germantown Ave.] & Walnut Lane. We sat while there in the library, a nice old fashioned room, with pretty wood mouldings, chair strip, polished brass lock on the door and a very well carved old wooden mantle, etc. A Mr. & Mrs. Bissell called while we were there, and we left them there, when we took our departure, at about nine o’clock. Bissell is an auditor in the Penna R.R. office, and his wife is a daughter of Elliston Perot, decd. We made quite a long visit at Elliott’s, and did not leave until a quarter of eleven. Their house has been very nicely “done up,” and it looks pretty outside and inside, but is small and has low ceilings. We have an interest in it, as the first house in Germantown in which we lived, having rented it furnished for four months along with the Godleys. …
Monday, July 9, 1883
…I wrote advertisements for a house, this afternoon; and took them to the Telegraph & Ledger, for insertion during the week. I wish to see whether I can better ourselves, before I try to renew the lease of our present house on Tulpehocken Street; and also to be prepared to make a good bargain for myself, by having alternatives to quote to my landlord. ..
Wednesday, July 11, 1883
…After our visitors left, I drove Lucy & Rachel, in the phaeton, to look at the Sykes house, on Clapier St., which is offered to me for rent, at $1.000. pr. annum, by Lansdale, in reply to my advertisement in the name of “Nolen.” Something will also be allowed for repairs. We do not like the situation but the house looks like a very good one. …
Wednesday, July 18, 1883
…Came home in the 4.45 train. Drove out in the phaeton with Corney and Walter. First to Pulaski Street, and then to Fisher’s Lane to look at houses & grounds offered to “Nolen” for rent. I wish to go again to Pulaski Street, with Lucy, to examine 
more carefully the situation, etc. …
Friday, July 20, 1883
…Came home in the 4.45 train. Drove out in the phaeton with Lucy & Corney. Went down Wayne, to Manheim, Pulaski Streets and into the Brinley place, which is offered to me for rent, at $1,000. pr. year. The grounds are very pretty, and four acres in extent, but the house is very small and frame. There is a good view from the porch over the city. Then to Clapier Street & looked at the Baxter & Sykes places, & afterwards, over Duy’s Lane [now E. Wister St.] to Chew Street, Locust Avenue, Cedar street, Church Lane, Ross St. Shoemakers Lane [now E. Penn St.], Green St. etc. home. I think I should like to buy the Brinley place if it could be had cheaply, and build a good house on it. …
Sunday, July 22, 1883
Went out to drive in the phaeton yesterday afternoon, with Lucy & Rachel. We went by Wayne, to School [House Lane], and on School, as far as the Weightman place; then returned on School, and drove on Township Line [now Wissahickon Ave.], Queen, Wayne, Manheim & Pulaski, and into the Brinley place again, where we met W.W. Knight from whom I learn that the place belongs to the Pinckney family, his wife being one of the heirs & owners. There are nearly five acres and $25.000. is the price asked. Too dear for me, as I told Knight. It was dropping rain, while we were out, and shortly after we left the Pinckney place, it began to come down so smartly, that we drove directly home by Pulaski, Manheim & Wayne etc. …
Saturday, July 29, 1883
… Put another advertisement in the Ledger, this afternoon, for next week; for a house & stable etc. I expect to also have one in the Telegraph, next week, but will attend to that on Monday. …
Friday, August 3, 1883
…John Patterson called, and I asked him to see old Erringer as to my rent. Suggested to John to name $1.000. as a fair rent for the place, $1.200. much too high, etc. I lent John $400., for a few days to pay his workmen. He stayed a very long time, talking. …
Tuesday, August 7, 1883
…Dined at Laubers between 12. & 1. o’clock. Lansdale called, and left a card with me, introducing me to Mrs. Sykes, who is living in a few rooms only, of her house, and who will show it to us. Rent $800. John Patterson came in this morning and borrowed $100., on a three months note from our chief, in order to pay me the load I made him on last Friday. John promises to see old Erringer, this afternoon to try to get him down to $1.000. pr. annum for our house. The weather cool and pleasant today. Came home in the four o’clock train. Brought Moffley up from the Depot, to his house, on Wayne Street. I had a short chat with him about real estate, in our neighborhood. He says that I ought to buy the lot opposite to our house, now offered at $45.000., and build a house for myself on the Western end of it and sell off the rest of the land which might be done at a profit. I told him that the price asked is still too high. Drove out in the phaeton, with Lucy & Sophie, on getting home. We drove to Mrs. Sykes’ house, on Clapier Street, and found, on our arrival that Mrs. S. was not at home. She soon came in, however, and took us over the house; which is very large, and has a great many fine rooms. The entrance hall is, however, very small and mean, and the grounds are not as large as we now have, and they are in wretched disorder. The kitchen is in the basement, and is dark, though very large. There are four large porches; one very pleasant one in the second story. Mrs. Sykes is an extraordinary looking woman. She is dressed in a suit of complete black, nun like clothes, with a white fillet around her face (under the chin & over the top of the head) a large black cross hanging to her neck, a round fan of black crape [sic], and such dilapidated shoes!, which were visible to us as she went up stairs. She is a Roman Catholic, and she informed us that Mr. Sykes was received into the church three weeks before his death, which was beautiful, etc. Also that Mr. Sykes was a very handsome man. He was an old rake when I used to see and meet him, and not choice in his conversation. Mrs. Sykes is very voluable [sic] and a great deal to say in praise of her house. She was a Miss Lucy Lamb, before her marriage, and a handsome woman in her day. She is probably about 50. to 55. years old. The rent is very low at $500. I heard on getting home from our drive, that Mrs. VanSchaick has a notion of sending her daughters, Molly & Clara, to the new school, at “Ogontz,” Jay Cook’s former residence. The cost to be $900. each, including the board; with extras, which may bring the total expense up to $2.500. Mrs. Van is trying hard to introduce two girls into good society – so far with very little success. Germantown is a hard place for such people! …
Sunday, August 12, 1883
…Lucy, Rachel and I talked over our house rent, for a good while, after breakfast, and I have determined to see old Erringer, tomorrow, to offer him, as our ultimatum $1.000. pr: year. I spent the rest of the morning, in reading the papers and magazines, on the porch and in the library. We had our usual Sunday dinner of roast beef and vegetables. Some corn from our own garden was very good. After dinner I looked over the architect, Holly’s book on “Modern Homes,” to get suggestions for a house which we should like to build for ourselves. Our chief trouble just now, is to find an eligible lot of two acres, or more, that will suit us both in situation and price; a difficult matter. Finding very little of use in the plans in this book I took up Dicken’s “Pickwick Papers,” which I have not looked at for a long time, and read it during the rest of the afternoon and evening. Took a walk around our grounds, with Corney, after tea. To be early – about 10.P.M. …
Monday, August 13, 1883
…I called upon old Erringer this morning, and I had a chat with him about our rent. I told him about the imperfections of our house; the condition of the bath room and the rotting of the ends of the joists of the first floor, etc.; and I offered to pay a rent of $1.000. a year. He is to confer with one of the Catherwoods, and to advise me as to the result. I also told the old fellow about four houses – being to rent in our immediate neighborhood and about the Sykes house. He thinks that Clapier St. is an undesirable neighborhood; partly on account the ponds near it. … On getting home, I wrote a sketch of a note to send to old Erringer, about the rent of our house; and I read it to Lucy, and Rachel. I remind him, in the note, that, if we leave the house in September, it may be empty for six months at least, at a loss to the owners of $500., at the rent I offer.
Friday, August 17, 1883
…Old Erringer came in, this morning, to say that $1.000. was the lowest rent for our house; but I got him down to $1.000. with the proviso that we are to do the repairs. As I have been doing the repairs for some time past, this arrangement is better for me. I tried to get a lease for two years, but E. insisted on one only, so I conceded it. I am glad this is fixed; as I can now take my vacation without any anxiety on this subject. Graham Elliott rode in the train with me, this morning, and we talked of house building and sites in Germantown. I want to find a good site, now and to being to build a house for myself. …