Jack & George
An Old Frankford Retailer Resurfaces
Here lived the longtime Frankford branch of the family-owned Jack’s Cameras empire. In its heyday, Jack’s gave shoppers their choice of over four dozen locations throughout Philadelphia, its surrounding counties, and New Jersey. Though their shops no longer proliferate throughout the region, Jack’s continues to operate two branches in Exton and Huntingdon Valley, as well as an outlet in Northeast Philadelphia.
When the old camera shop signage was stripped from the building in 2015, unearthed was a well-preserved glass sign featuring ribbed Luxfer Prism tiling that encompassed a beveled rectangular center plate containing text. In frosted lettering read “HOWARD GEORGE,” the name of the sporting goods retailer who first set up shop in the neighborhood nearly 130 years ago.
Howard George founded the namesake business with his brother, Jonathan Rowland George, in 1893. It did not take long for the brothers to begin modifying the building to accommodate their pursuits; a one story addition was built on the rear of the property in 1908. Howard George vended wares ranging from team sports equipment and fishing supplies to firearms, bicycles, cameras, Victrolas, and electric washing machines.
Jonathan died in 1923 at the age of 44. He suffered from a condition known at the time as General Paralysis of the Insane (GPI), a neuropsychiatric disorder caused by late-stage syphilis infection. GPI patients were not uncommon in psychiatric hospitals during the late 19th and early 20th centuries; however, widespread use of penicillin by the mid 1940s would render the once deadly GPI a curable and preventable illness.
After the passing of his brother, George operated the storefront in tandem with his son, Howard B. George, Sr. In 1954, Howard B. George, Sr. passed away at 58 years old, effectively ending the store’s 61-year run. The elder George would soon follow his son, passing in 1959 at the age of 90.
M&H (Moskowitz & Herbach) Sport Stores briefly took over the old Howard George location after they ceased operations in 1954. The Hungarian immigrants with identical first names (Louis) founded M&H together in 1874. Herbach also founded the still-active electrical equipment supplier Herbach & Rademan in 1934.
Like Howard George, M&H was a one-stop sporting goods retailer who offered a variety of merchandise and outfitted local sports teams.
Howard B. George’s daughter, Marion Bohn, retained ownership of the property after her father’s passing and eventually sold it in 1963.